Call of the Ring
– LOTR: TALES OF MIDDLE-EARTH
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2023
Ratings:
Constructed: 4.13
Casual: 4.25
Limited: 4.13
Multiplayer: 3.75
Commander [EDH]: 3.88
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
The obvious comparison to be made here is with Phyrexian Arena and Bitterblossom – the classic black enchantment which sits around and gives you a benefit for some cost. I’m probably biased, because of the whole thing about having been a fan of Lord of the Rings for almost 30 years, but I think this is one of the fairer cards in that archetype and, perhaps, the one with the most potential to generate interesting games and table states. The Ring’s emblem grants creatures abilities, generally causing things to happen, as does the ability to draw a card when choosing a new Ring-bearer who’s presumably about to make something happen. And it even has quotable flavor text!
Constructed: 4
Casual: 4
Limited: 4
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
The temptation of The One Ring is certainly alluring, inducing humans and halflings across all ages to act against their own best interests and in the service of power and Evil. As far as “the Ring tempts you” goes, this might be the most cost-efficient way to stack up all of its abilities and get someone to go frolicking about with it in case the last one meets with an unfortunate death experience. Remember that “the Ring tempts you” quits adding abilities after the fourth, but further temptations allow you to keep someone holding on to your Precious. It even can act as card draw each time you select someone to carry the Ring…though remember that you can only select a Ring-bearer if you are bereft of one.
The main thing that helps Call of the Ring is that it costs two mana; the tempo difference between an enabler at two mana and one at three is massive, and slamming this early is a way to quickly balloon a lead or put one together. Remember that the first ability on the temptation makes your creature harder to block; on its own, that represents a clock that must be answered. It’s a dismal top deck in a late game, but it’s a solid card in the early game.
Constructed: 4.25
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.75
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