Hans Eriksson – Commander Legends MTG Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

I actually really like Hans just for looking like an extra from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but I’ll talk about that game another time. You all know by now how much I love the viking stuff, and if I start now, we’ll be here all night!

Hans’ game effect has some similarities with the last card named after him, and just in terms of mana, he might actually be one of the cheapest ways in all of Magic to get a huge creature into play. The various black reanimation options might be more efficient in light of him needing to attack, but he certainly avoids the ubiquitous graveyard removal, and that can be relevant in some casual metagames.

Constructed: 2/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander: 4/5

Whilst his perpetual nemesis failed to make an appearance in Commander Legends, the brother to Saffi Eriksdotter makes his Magic debut with an interesting twist on cantripping. You can cheat creatures into play, but they get a cheap shot in on Hans first; a 1/4 is decent enough to survive combat against small creatures, but you draw a card even without a hit. The point of him is less the combat damage and more the fun things that can come out to play with his help, and he plays especially well if you can set him up for success with things like Scroll Rack or scrying effects.

He also pairs well with his sister, amusingly enough, though them being in different colors makes that a bit harder to pull off.

Constructed: 2 (unlikely to usurp Through the Breach, Sneak Attack, or its ilk, but there might be a home for Hans if you play your cards right)
Casual: 3.5 (needs to be built around to make the most of)
Limited: 4 (free creature is best creature)
Multiplayer: 4
Commander: 4