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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Anafenza, the Foremost
Image from Wizards.com

Anafenza, the Foremost
- Khans of Tarkir

Reviewed Dec. 12, 2014

Constructed: 3.88
Casual: 3.75
Limited: 4.07
Multiplayer: 3.68

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

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Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Deck Garage

Anafenza, the Foremost

A solid body that comes down early (if you can manage the color requirements), helps bolster the rest of your team, and... nerfs your opponents' reanimator strategy? Why? I mean, it's not a drawback, but it seems awfully random and doesn't mesh with anything else the card is trying to do. Does this have some reference to the storyline? Are we even still doing storylines for non-planeswalkers? If so, where do we read them?

Constructed- 4
Casual- 4.5
Limited- 4.75
Multiplayer- 4.75

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Anafenza, the Foremost
 
There are a number of mechanical reasons to put Anafenza in a deck. Her power and toughness compare favorably to basically any creature of any color, with only things like Doran (who specializes in combat and has no other abilities) and Tarmogoyf (who's widely considered to be a literal design mistake) coming close. Her ability that triggers on attack provides a boost to other attackers that's difficult to address, short of removing both the other creature and her. In some settings, her second ability that exiles dying creatures can shut down entire decks, making her an analogue of Samurai of the Pale Curtain with a much faster beatdown clock (and not that much harder to cast in the modern era). It's hard to make a deck that takes advantage of both at once. But either one by itself is powerful enough that you'll be glad she's around when you need it.
 
Also, is it just me, or is her chariot being pulled by one of the goats from Nobilis of War's art? It's a little distracting.
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Anafenza, the Foremost which is a three mana White, Black, and Green 4/4 Legendary that when it attacks puts a +1/+1 counter on another tapped creature and exiles creature cards if they would be placed in an opposing graveyard.  This is a solid card for a very specific deck design that also has two supported types in human and soldier.  The color requirement will keep this out of most decks and the effects aren't enough to really design around, but if playing a deck with the colors anyway it is a strong addition as a three mana 4/4 and both effects can be quite beneficial.
 
In Limited the color requirement is a notable drawback, but the three mana 4/4 body and +1/+1 counters it produces make it quite viable in the format.  The second effect has some uses, though it is very situational and unlikely to make an impact in most games.  In Booster this is a risky and somewhat weak first pick as it demands three colors to draft while not offering equally valuable field presence.  For Sealed it is definitely worth including if two of the colors are strong and the third is a compelling splash, though by itself it is not enough to force the design around.
 
Constructed: 3.0
Casual: 3.0
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 3.0

Mattedesa

Deck Garage
Anafenza, the Foremost
 
A 3/3 for 4 already gets some high marks. The color requirement is a bit strict, and even in decks with all the fancy new lands, there are going ot be times when you can't get the colors quick enough, so that is a real concern. But once you do get him out, he gives an improved battle cry to your team. And since Abzan is the clan of +1/+1 counters on creatures that give benefits to all other +1/+1 creatures, you can give your team first strike or flying or deathtouch pretty quickly without having to waste time using the outlast ability. Anafenza's the kind of creature that your opponent must deal with quickly or things will get out of hand!
 
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0

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