Re: Daxos the Returned - Enchantment Speed Bumps Galore
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:18 am
Another month, another set. I've got very mixed feelings about AFR - on one hand I can acknowledge that the cards are mechanically cool and call back to Magic's fantasy roots in a way, on the other it's still the first instance of a full blown IP crossover and I don't like that. For now I get to breathe a sigh of relief as nothing makes its way into Daxos and I get some extra time to make peace with external stuff openly parading on cardboard. Yeah yeah, we already had lots of tropes on cards, this is just a baby step onward, but it crosses a certain line that I didn't expect to mind yet somehow do.
That said, two cards stick out above the others:
That said, two cards stick out above the others:
- Robe of Stars is very close to being a proper include. The deck likes to operate at instant speed, and having " : phase Daxos out" in the arsenal is pretty good. The Robe itself also happens to be a two-drop, so it's a coveted pre-Daxos play if encountered early, and the incidental toughness boost is not too shabby either. It is however a non-enchantment, a little bit on the mana intensive side, and also an external IP set card. It might make its way in eventually.
- Warlock Class is the sole class worth writing home about. Early game it's a flexible allocation Strategic Planning, and late game it can sprout a damage doubler. Thing is, I'm pretty sure both Cathars' Crusade and True Conviction have the late game oomph base covered better, even if this has a little early game cantripping to its name. Still a somewhat reasonable include.
- Interesting stuff - Fey Steed doubles down on shifting Shapers' Sanctuary to white, which is nice. However, it comes on a four drop creature. A cheap enchantment closer to the original would deserve more consideration. Immovable Rod is an unpleasant repeatable permanent hoser. Teleportation Circle doesn't have enough fat rocks to reset, and the list is not ETB minded, but it's nice to see this be printed. Thorough Investigation is technically a card, but we've got Greed we can access that does this better.
- Redundancy creep - Feign Death < Malakir Rebirth. Guardian of Faith < Teferi's Protection. Loyal Warhound < Knight of the White Orchid. Minimus Containment < Oblivion Ring. Moon-Blessed Cleric < Idyllic Tutor.