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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!


Image from Wizards.com

Baneslayer Angel
M10

Reviewed July 17, 2009

Constructed: 3.75
Casual: 4.00
Limited: 4.50
Multiplayer: 4.00

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Baneslayer Angel

Jaw-dropping power. White has never been good at getting big creatures, which is what makes this powerhouse so surprising. If you're playing white, at least in part, then you probably want this. Even GREEN doesn't get 5/5's this powerful for five mana. What happened with that?

Constructed- 4
Casual- 4.5
Multiplayer- 4.5
Limited- 5

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Baneslayer Angel

The most common reaction to this angel's game text is something along the lines of ". . . really?" But she's real, and she's spectacular. Following in the footsteps of Akroma and her keyword overkill, Baneslayer Angel is a worthy addition to any collection and almost any deck. The protection ability looks like flavor-based window dressing - until you remember that one of Alara's five mini-planes was ruled by dragons and another one by demons . . .

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Paul Magic The Gathering COTD: Baneslayer Angel

Welcome back faithful readers today’s card is one I hope I pull from my soon to be acquired booster box, Baneslayer Angel. With the official release date of Magic 2010 upon us there are as always a handful of chase rares, Baneslayer Angel being near the top of the list. A 5/5 flying first strike, lifelink, protection from dragons, protection from demons all for five mana. A 5/5 flyer for five mana is a heck of a deal the added abilities are just gravy on such a huge creature.

The inclusion of protection from demons and dragons while highly flavorful is nearly useless unless staring down an army of changelings. Baneslayer Angel is a great finisher card for control decks or any white decks that need a huge creature for a minimal mana investment. In standard white decks are looking highly impressive, and I’m guessing Baneslayer Angel will see an extensive amount of play as a relatively cheap finisher with a slew of impressive abilities. In extended this card may see play as well seeing it is highly efficient huge bodied angel. Eternal formats a relatively small chance but anything is possible. In casual and multiplayer this creature dominates the skies and is a great addition to angel decks and should be popular with Timmies and Spikes alike. In limited an absolute bomb pick it for the monetary value, to prevent an opponent from getting it, and to totally dominate the skies. Welcome to the era of M10 it looks to be an exciting and historical standard format.

Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno Today's card of the day is Baneslayer Angel an impressive and dangerous addition to the list of White angels. Comparing it to Serra Angel, the soon to be rotating out of standard Angel of Mercy, and Battlegrace Angel which all have the same color and converted mana cost shows what a powerhouse this card is. Serra Angel has Vigilance while Battlegrace has the same power and toughness and Lifelink when attacking.

Baneslayer has First Strike and the powers of Battlegrace on defense.
Angel of Mercy is pretty much weaker in every way aside from the slightly better mana cost at one less White mana and it gives life when it enters the battlefield instead of needing to deal damage. Any deck looking at a big white creature should seriously consider Baneslayer as a go to choice in Standard format.

Constructed for Standard the only reason to play a different angel is if you really value Vigilance or have a pure Exalted deck. Otherwise Baneslayer is extremely well priced.

Casual is all about bomb cards and this angel does well enough. No serious combinations or tricks though as her powers are pretty straightforward. There are cards with more mechanical fun to slip into a casual deck and the rarity is a bit of a deterrent.

Limited if you get this card you probably want to play White. In sealed it is hard to ask for much more than the package you get here and if she sticks around you probably have a won game. In booster draft getting this in your opening pack is a gift and you probably want to draft fairly heavily into the color. Just watch the packs as they come around to gauge if other players are skewing White as well. In later packs unless you can't live without another card in the pack take this card anyway. You do not want to sit there facing an opponent's Battlegrace Angel, especially after passing it for a Lightning Bolt that won't even kill it. The only drawback is the double White in the mana cost, but for all of her benefits this is a small price to pay.

Multiplayer is a format where Serra Angel shines due to her Vigilance.
Subtracting that from Battlegrace Angel keeps her a bit weaker here as her Lifelink and First Strike can be outweighed by numerical superiority. Still a powerful card, but not as high of a choice as other formats.

Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 3.0

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