These rare throwback legendary cards have been some of the most innovative, flavorful designs in the set. I wish they could've used some of the slots of the more boring rares to do more cards like this.
Kestia is awesome in so many ways. First legendary creature with Bestow. First legendary Nymph. And they even gave her the Nyx border! Color me impressed.
Edit: Also just realized that she's the first legendary enchantment creature that isn't a god.
Seriously, aside from maybe Jodah and Urza, this is the character I've been most waiting for to receive a card. Great abilities, great creature type, and they even put her in the right colors. I'm undeniably satisfied with this card.
I like how they kept Palladia-Mors as a big beater with flying and trample like her original card, as well as giving her a few new abilities to boot.
Like someone mentioned above, with the way that the card is worded, it seems like the hexproof is gone for good once she deals damage. That's a bit of a shame, but it makes sense for power-level reasons.
I'm so hyped for this card! I'd definitely love to see them do more pre-sparked planeswalkers like this (PLEASE give us an Ugin in this set!). I'm also hoping that future core sets will continue to tell stories from the past.
I love both artworks for this card, but I find it interesting that they chose blues for the background since Bolas is most often framed with golds and oranges.
Finally! I was going to be really upset if they didn't give Josu a card after his important-ish role in the story. Ten mana for 20 power across nine menacing bodies seems pretty sweet.
Finally! This is the card I've really been waiting to see, and I am not disappointed. The artwork is fantastic!
Interestingly, the flavor text is very similar to a passage from The Gathering Dark, one of the Ice Age novels I just so happened to reread recently.
Through the centuries there are a number of legendary figures that have come to us from the time of the Dark--figures, such as Ith, the horrific Rag Man, Vervamon the Elder, and Tivadar of Thorn. Yet one figure is an enigma among these enigmas. Time and again throughout the period of the Dark--and up to the end of the Ice Age itself--there is reference to a folk figure known as Jodah. It has been suggested that Jodah is the surname of a family of sorcerers, or a honorific title of respect, or that Jodah is a previously unknown Planeswalker. The fact remains that Jodah (be he one or be he many) is today regarded as one of the founders of magic as we now know it. --Arkol, Argivian scholar
It's so cool that the flavor text is actually a reference to the novel, considering that much of it and Jodah himself have been largely ignored within the game up until now.
This set is a Vorthos's dream come true. The sheer number of references to Magic's past are insane. There's even some really obscure stuff in here. Jodah finally has a card, there's a new Umezawa, a reference to Kolo Meha. And that's not even mentioning the subset of enchantments that are specifically designed to represent events from the novels and stories of Magic's past. I don't know if I've ever been more excited for a set.
As much as I loved the development of the heroes in this story, I found a few bits about the villains to be particularly interesting as well. Specifically, some of Baan's observations about Tezzeret and the way that Tezzeret basically "turns off" his anger at a moment's notice seems to imply that his outbursts are a little more calculated the what they appear. It was also great how Baan commented that Tezzeret didn't actually seem menacing during the outburst, but appeared much more devious and cunning once he'd "calmed down."
Also, as much as I dislike Baral, I loved his line after his defeat about all makes being monsters. It's almost like he sees the "monstrous" parts of himself in other mages, which makes him want to take them down even more (or at least that was my interpretation of it). It actually made me feel for him a little bit.
Edit: Also just realized that she's the first legendary enchantment creature that isn't a god.
Seriously, aside from maybe Jodah and Urza, this is the character I've been most waiting for to receive a card. Great abilities, great creature type, and they even put her in the right colors. I'm undeniably satisfied with this card.
Like someone mentioned above, with the way that the card is worded, it seems like the hexproof is gone for good once she deals damage. That's a bit of a shame, but it makes sense for power-level reasons.
I love both artworks for this card, but I find it interesting that they chose blues for the background since Bolas is most often framed with golds and oranges.
Interestingly, the flavor text is very similar to a passage from The Gathering Dark, one of the Ice Age novels I just so happened to reread recently.
It's so cool that the flavor text is actually a reference to the novel, considering that much of it and Jodah himself have been largely ignored within the game up until now.
Also, as much as I dislike Baral, I loved his line after his defeat about all makes being monsters. It's almost like he sees the "monstrous" parts of himself in other mages, which makes him want to take them down even more (or at least that was my interpretation of it). It actually made me feel for him a little bit.