With each new Magic set rapidly following the one before it, many players are fatigued mentally trying to keep up. I was one of them, trying my best to wrap my mind around the influx of cards into the competitive formats and how they each impact the metagame. I did not kick this feeling until fairly recently, when I realized the positive impact that this has had on the newer formats. The affinity I had for four sets a year, slow-paced production Magic, was nothing more than an old man reminiscing about the past. I am not keen on having a trillion different versions of the same card in each set; however, the additional options at our disposal could make for a more interesting metagame in the newer formats.
Since I love Magic, I am giving Wizards of the Coast (WotC) a mulligan for all the bannings that had to take place in Standard. If they take the energy to thoroughly playtest their creations, utilizing the ringers they now employ, then the format can be saved. Not only that, but there are also additional sets being produced each year at a much faster pace than before, which could lead to a more diverse Standard. In addition to diversity in deck selection, the metagame could constantly change with the scales being tipped by a new banger just a couple of months after the last set became legal. This is an exciting prospect for me and is why I welcome this new set of previews from Phyrexia: All Will Be One.
Beyond Elesh Norn
Blue Sun’s Twilight
When the few cards were released to the world, I immediately scoured for broken blue cards. I was not impressed with Blue Sun’s Twilight, as it is missing a few key elements to make it in competitive play. Sorcery speed is always the first demerit a new blue card could receive. If it were an instant, it would be broken, so I do not blame the creators. The mana cost is too steep for the effect, requiring seven mana to take a five-drop and get a bonus copy with it. It is a cool Commander card, but nothing I will sleeve up for a tournament.
Phyrexian Obliterator
Phyrexian Obliterator is a blast from the past that put a smile on my face. I enjoy seeing the staples of old make a comeback, especially one that fits cleanly into an already-strong Mono Black Aggro/Midrange package. It is a perfectly designed card, requiring a strict mana investment and rewarding players for playing one color. The drawback for me is that it is not a role-player for control decks and is confined to creature-based strategies. In those decks, it could be a force in competitive play. The thought of disruption, into Liliana of the Veil, into Phyrexian Obliterator is terrifying for some people. If you are not packing clean removal for it, Phyrexian Obliterator will take you out in a handful of painful turns.
Koth, Fire of Resistance
I did not expect much from Koth, Fire of Resistance when considering its control application. I was shocked to see that each planeswalker ability is relevant for control players and this card could fit into red-based versions in Standard.
It is worse than Chandra, Torch of Defiance, a fair comparison from a few years ago. It has a similar first ability, providing card advantage for the user. You either get a Mountain that is very useful, or a land in the late-game that is unnecessary. The middle ability is very similar to Chandra’s, where it zaps a creature right off the battlefield for the cost of three loyalty. The ultimate, in similar fashion again, ends the game very quickly. This will likely not end up in any of my decks, but it is a decent planeswalker for Standard.
Jor Kadeen and Slobad
There were a couple of other red cards from the set, Jor Kadeen, First Goldwarden and Slobad, Iron Goblin, but neither sparked my interest. These two cards do not fit my criteria of imminent threats or possible tools of control. Maybe I’m missing something, but I am not impressed by the general strength of either of these cards. In the world of aggro, a creature with an ability like Jor Kadeen probably needs haste to be considered for competitive play. It is a decent creature, assuming that Equipment is a prevalent thing, but I do not think it gets it done. For Slobad, it is a costly creature for bland stats and a medium ability. I would be shocked if either card actively participated in a competitive metagame.
The Mother of Machines
The card that I was most impressed by in these previews was Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines. It takes a lot for me to get excited about a creature with no enters-the-battlefield or leaves-the-battlefield triggers these days. It is a fierce world out there, with high-powered creatures and dynamic removal around every corner. Taking a full turn off to cast a creature with no immediate payoff, and then having it answered immediately, is an unmitigated disaster in the current state of Magic. A creature must be very special to skirt by that rule.
Elesh Norn is.
Elesh Norn is a tough creature, requiring seven damage to take it off the battlefield. When combat or red spells try to dispatch it, they are facing an uphill battle. I love big-toughness creatures in control decks, because blocking the turn after such a creature resolves is an important series for survival. This seven-toughness stat makes Elesh Norn playable as a creature, even though it has no other defense built in. With four power, it can also put a hurting on an opponent or their creatures. The five-mana price tag is well spent on the general body of the creature if the ability is strong enough to warp gameplay.
The ‘Yarok Thing’
The abilities of Elesh Norn are scary, especially when building a deck around them. It has the Yarok, the Desecrated thing going for it, causing every permanent that enters the battlefield for you to trigger an additional time. Entire decks were built around Yarok, a creature with less powerful stats and one less game-ending ability. Just like with Yarok, Elesh Norn can end the game in a matter of turns if left unchecked. The development of enters-the-battlefield triggers is well-thought-out by the team at WotC. These abilities were not meant to be doubled, and doing so can put you well ahead of the opponent with one use.
Building a shell around Elesh Norn is a simple task. Looking at what is available in Standard, Historic, and Pioneer, there are opportunities for it to shine with what is already at our disposal. Elesh Norn may be a bit too slow and a liability for Pioneer, but it could make its mark in the other two with just a little effort. I will begin to compile a list of permanents that generate card advantage and/or decimate an opponent’s battlefield with the help of Elesh Norn. Even in Standard, there are plenty of options in the Esper colors to build a deck that harness the power of this new weapon.
Stopping Triggers
The Yarok ability is not the only superpower of Elesh Norn. The second ability is almost as strong, as it prevents the opponent from having their permanents trigger when entering the battlefield. This is an effect that many have dedicated sideboard slots to produce. Even in Modern, there are decks that fall apart when their permanents lose their triggered ability. Having this built into Elesh Norn gives it huge upside and separates it from Yarok in power level. Not only that, it only costs white mana, a deal when looking at a comparable creature with three different mana symbols.
Having a strong body, an ability that an entire deck can be built around, and a detrimental ability to many threats across formats makes Elesh Norn the best card previewed so far. If there are enough enters-the-battlefield triggers that can accompany Elesh Norn in Standard, it will be a competitive deck right out of the gates.
The drawback is its fragility against traditional removal spells, a negative that many new creatures are facing. We have been used to seeing creatures with utter resiliency that either cannot be killed or have done irreparable damage even if taken out. It is refreshing to see Elesh Norn and Phyrexian Obliterator, two creatures that are traditionally vulnerable, in the initial preview cards. I look forward to seeing the next batch of previews, hopefully containing some tools for the return of the Phyrexian Praetor.
