Alara Reborn Spoiler Wrap Up (Mythic Edition)

Posted on April 16, 2009

After a relatively slow start, the floodgates have been opened and the Alara Reborn spoilers are flowing like wine. It seems wizards is determined to reveal each and every mythic rare in the set before the complete visual spoiler graces us late next week. Not much to complain about there! So here now are five of the latest spoilers, all mythic, with analysis.

Jenara Asura of War -A 3/3 flying creature for 3 mana is a good deal even if the mana is mixed. A great ability on top of this is what supposedly puts it into mythic territory. I personally would have kept this card at rare but that's neither here nor there. Having a place to "dump" extra mana into is an oft overlooked virtue. Figure of Destiny comes to mind. My problems with the card - it would be difficult to justify putting four, three or even two of these cards into a deck as the legendary factor makes it a dead card with one already in play. The other issue is the overall cost after pumping her up. A 3/3 for 3 is great. A 4/4 for 5 is okay. A 5/5 for 7.... and we're starting to be on the raw end of a deal here. Creatures that become worse values as time goes on don't appeal to me. While its great to be able to use some of that extra mana at the end of a late game turn, the overall deal sours as time goes on. I almost prefer Rhox War Monk.. for my Bant money but regardless, a great creature if you're playing the colors.

Thraximundar - Grixis has been feeling the love in this block. If it's not getting explicit love, its getting wonderful red/black or blue/black love. Forcing players to sacrifice is a great creature removal option. With all of the color hating, indestructible creatures flying around these days, its sometimes the only option. Pair this guy with a cruel edict or blood pact (or don't) that you may already be playing for a devastating, unstoppable creature removal combo. If Thraximundar lacked haste I'd have to think twice about him but luckily hes right there for you. While the name and flavor text are questionable I'd still give this guy five stars for being one of the most effective mythic legendaries in the block. If you can generate the mana, there are scant other "zombie assassins" you could hope to be on your side of the table.

Defiler of Souls - Nothing is more refreshing after a long, hard, week than the defiling of a few souls. As predicted- mono-colored heads will roll in this expansion. This mythic demon is blessed with an attainable (both colorwise and costwise) six mana casting cost. The payoff is not only a 5/5 flier for that 6 mana, but you'll also be destroying your opponent's creatures at the beginning of your opponent's next turn (hopefully). You'll obviously want to keep this in a strictly multi-colored creature deck but that won't be hard in this block. As stated before, having your opponent sacrifice things as opposed to trying to destroy them is sometimes the only option when you're dealing with indestructables or protection froms. If you're rolling true Grixis I think I would pay the extra one mana for the Thraximundar if you can. You're dealing at least 2 more damage with an ever growing creature and its not limited to mono-colored creatures being sacrificed. But all in all, Defiler of Souls is an affordable, very playable creature, particularly outside the gold heavy Alara block.

Sphinx of the Steel Wind - After the casting cost of about six mana it becomes very difficult to count on a creature coming out in a game without some sort of acceleration. You can count on a serious duel going 5, 6, or if you're lucky, 7 turns. After that, you're on borrowed time and a game can descend into oblivion at any moment. It puzzles me how creatures like this are not legendary and could very easily be so while Jenara, Asura of War has to deal with the legendary rule while trying to play a very possible second Angel. This sphinx certainly turns heads (and drops panties for that matter) but I think you'll be disappointing two separate times if you decide to try and play this guy. First, you'll be disappointed when he's in your opening hand and you don't get to play him due to the staggering 8 mixed mana cost. Second you'll be even more upset when hes instantly removed from the game by black and white or simply bounced by blue. If I were a creature and wanted protection from two colors, neither of them would be red or green. I see few reasons to play this over Akroma.

princeoferadication Prince of Eradication (source) Just in time for the presses tonight! Yet ANOTHER mythic creature! And boy do we have our hands full with this one. The power here is clear enough on the surface but imagine the possibilities in multiplayer! Theoretically this guy would probably end up being at least a 10/10 for five by turn 5. In a dual he would probably be a measly 6/6 or 7/7 by that point but in a tournament setting where players are blazing through 2 to 3 spells per turn he'd be over the top in no time. I consider this to be the best card I've seen so far in the set. The new Tarmogoyf, if you will. Pros go bonkers for "set it and forget it" cards and while it's casting cost is a bit high, the rewards are obvious. Full disclosure, this card is a render of the original which was released in German. The translation was clear enough that I felt comfortable presenting and analyzing it here. Check out the source for the original.