Hyena Umbra and Gryff's Boon are also perfectly playable without special support. They have such low costs for allowing smaller creatures to remain relevant, including in-built mechanisms against card disadvantage.
Ah, right - Paradise Druid. I actually forgot it existed since it is such a recent addition and since I have not been actively working on my CU/be since. Agreed, it is plain better. I had Servant of the Conduit in mind as the main competition where its stats are relevant but the main ability is less suited for dedicated ramp and such.
Somehow, I managed to gloss over Eidolon of Inspiration despite having been vaguely interested in it when I first saw it.
Interesting how no one else is interested in Ilysian Caryatid. Is a 1/1 mana dork for 2 still too steep, even if it is for rainbow mana which gets doubled once a relatively easy condition is fulfilled?
In my opinion, Lampad of Death's Vigil is pretty terrible, yes. Unlike Goblin Bombardment, it both has a mana cost and only hits players. You could certainly play it in an Aristocrat's deck to double up on the drain per death. Had it been even a 2/1, I think it would have been worth considering but as a 1/3, it just does too little without you having a full board already and/or leaving mana open to sac in response to combat damage or removal.
Finally getting around to getting an overall feel. I will admit - while I enjoy some mechanics, the repeated pseudo-Heroic and emphasis on Constellation do limit the applicability of the set. If the payoff for the 'first spell on an opponent's turn' cards was better, I think they might be interesting but the resulting flash support is also a decent boon in principle.
Likely Inclusions: Anax, Hardened in the Forge: Crazy good deal for the mana cost. Chainweb Aracnir: Enough targets for the base version; coming back so much bigger with Escape is nice. Ilysian Caryatid: Rainbow mana is still good; doubling up on it when you have a mid-tier creature is great. Renata, Called to the Hunt: Good enough base stats and a great effect to keep other cards relevant later into the game.
Under Consideration: The Birth of Meletis: Much of the time, the decks that want Wall of Omens want steady access to lands. Omen of the Sun: Decent enough value for the cost when you want tokens. Alirios, Enraptured: Good value for the cost and blink synergies but not very interesting at any given time on the field. Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea: One extra mana on a removal spell can make or break a turn. Has the ability to grow big but does not synergise well with its own colour. Whirlwind Denial: Countering abilities is still very rare in this format despite there being many strong ones (mainly triggers) and that makes even a 3 mana counter worth considering, given how it also just often acts as a basic counterspell. Though, ETB effects are answered just the same by any counterspell at all so I would need to check what other options there are. Agonizing Remorse: Non-land targeted discard is already strong and often costed higher. GY hate as a bonus. Elspeth's Nightmare: Has the potential for good value but is slow with it and both abilities are highly conditional. Mire Triton: Role-player; deathtouch is very versatile on a small but passably high power creature. Mogis's Favor: Versatile, including option for repeated removal. Pharika's Spawn: Good Escape mode; passable vanilla base creature to act as a roadblock in particular. Underworld Rage-Hound: Really annoying drawback versus token decks but otherwise, a decent early attacker with mid- to late game value. Nyx Herald: By itself, probably still worse than Hungry Spriggan but working on itself helps and maybe there are enough alternative targets. Omen of the Hunt: I know Cultivate provides more direct value but Flash is nice and ramp decks want to filter out many plays once they have enough mana available.
Cards I like: Reverent Hoplite: Value through Devotion is always nice but it is a terrible top deck. Sentinel's Eyes: I like recyclable, decently costed auras. Omen of the Sea: The extra scry can come in a pinch later but I have enough cantrips and prefer them at 1 mana. Stinging Lionfish: Stats do not get there, given how occasional the effect is and how it requires extra synergies to be good. But a cool card. Dreamshaper Shaman: Slow and high mana cost. I do not think it would have been broken if its ability had no associated mana cost. Would have played it then. Irreverent Revelers: One of the better artifact destruction options for red. Destiny Spinner: Good baseline stats; supports an archetype I cannot say I can get behind enough to make it worthwhile. Acolyte of Affliction: Boring but solid. Devourer of Memory: Solid aggressive card and mana sink. Siona, Captain of the Pyleas: Looks satisfyingly deep and you can always play Pacifism effects to increase her hit rate.
Honestly, for that exact kind of effect, I think I prefer Elspeth's Nightmare. For 3-mana, killing an early beater or an utility creature, delayed targeted discard, and incidental GY hate is a decent deal. It being a permanent also means there are means to abuse and bounce it before the mostly redundant final effect resolves. Mainly Vedalken Mastermind but I never mind more synergies with it.
Admittedly, the discard targeting non-creatures is more limited but those tend to be the cards you want off an opponent's hand through other means anyway. It might turn out to be too niche because both abilities are conditional but I am interested in others' opinions.
The 'Devotion is power' demigods seem quite passable indeed. Personally, I am also vaguely interested in Whirlwind Denial since it is mostly a single blue mana hard counter on spells and abilities. Countering storm and the like is hardly coming up in this format but I think we have not had too many counterspells that also target abilities before.
I am quite hopeful since each of Devotion, Escape, and Sagas is a mechanic I quite like. However, Daxos is definitely not something I would personally really see myself adding. Even though it could be decent enough as a ground clogger in a life gain stall.
Interesting how no one else is interested in Ilysian Caryatid. Is a 1/1 mana dork for 2 still too steep, even if it is for rainbow mana which gets doubled once a relatively easy condition is fulfilled?
In my opinion, Lampad of Death's Vigil is pretty terrible, yes. Unlike Goblin Bombardment, it both has a mana cost and only hits players. You could certainly play it in an Aristocrat's deck to double up on the drain per death. Had it been even a 2/1, I think it would have been worth considering but as a 1/3, it just does too little without you having a full board already and/or leaving mana open to sac in response to combat damage or removal.
Likely Inclusions:
Anax, Hardened in the Forge: Crazy good deal for the mana cost.
Chainweb Aracnir: Enough targets for the base version; coming back so much bigger with Escape is nice.
Ilysian Caryatid: Rainbow mana is still good; doubling up on it when you have a mid-tier creature is great.
Renata, Called to the Hunt: Good enough base stats and a great effect to keep other cards relevant later into the game.
Under Consideration:
The Birth of Meletis: Much of the time, the decks that want Wall of Omens want steady access to lands.
Omen of the Sun: Decent enough value for the cost when you want tokens.
Alirios, Enraptured: Good value for the cost and blink synergies but not very interesting at any given time on the field.
Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea: One extra mana on a removal spell can make or break a turn. Has the ability to grow big but does not synergise well with its own colour.
Whirlwind Denial: Countering abilities is still very rare in this format despite there being many strong ones (mainly triggers) and that makes even a 3 mana counter worth considering, given how it also just often acts as a basic counterspell. Though, ETB effects are answered just the same by any counterspell at all so I would need to check what other options there are.
Agonizing Remorse: Non-land targeted discard is already strong and often costed higher. GY hate as a bonus.
Elspeth's Nightmare: Has the potential for good value but is slow with it and both abilities are highly conditional.
Mire Triton: Role-player; deathtouch is very versatile on a small but passably high power creature.
Mogis's Favor: Versatile, including option for repeated removal.
Pharika's Spawn: Good Escape mode; passable vanilla base creature to act as a roadblock in particular.
Underworld Rage-Hound: Really annoying drawback versus token decks but otherwise, a decent early attacker with mid- to late game value.
Nyx Herald: By itself, probably still worse than Hungry Spriggan but working on itself helps and maybe there are enough alternative targets.
Omen of the Hunt: I know Cultivate provides more direct value but Flash is nice and ramp decks want to filter out many plays once they have enough mana available.
Cards I like:
Reverent Hoplite: Value through Devotion is always nice but it is a terrible top deck.
Sentinel's Eyes: I like recyclable, decently costed auras.
Omen of the Sea: The extra scry can come in a pinch later but I have enough cantrips and prefer them at 1 mana.
Stinging Lionfish: Stats do not get there, given how occasional the effect is and how it requires extra synergies to be good. But a cool card.
Dreamshaper Shaman: Slow and high mana cost. I do not think it would have been broken if its ability had no associated mana cost. Would have played it then.
Irreverent Revelers: One of the better artifact destruction options for red.
Destiny Spinner: Good baseline stats; supports an archetype I cannot say I can get behind enough to make it worthwhile.
Acolyte of Affliction: Boring but solid.
Devourer of Memory: Solid aggressive card and mana sink.
Siona, Captain of the Pyleas: Looks satisfyingly deep and you can always play Pacifism effects to increase her hit rate.
Admittedly, the discard targeting non-creatures is more limited but those tend to be the cards you want off an opponent's hand through other means anyway. It might turn out to be too niche because both abilities are conditional but I am interested in others' opinions.
I am quite hopeful since each of Devotion, Escape, and Sagas is a mechanic I quite like. However, Daxos is definitely not something I would personally really see myself adding. Even though it could be decent enough as a ground clogger in a life gain stall.