Luxior, Giada’s Gift – Streets of New Capenna
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2022
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.33
Casual: 4.33
Limited: 2.50
Multiplayer: 3.17
Commander [EDH]: 3.50
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Speaking of the Twenties, since Elspeth seems to collect exotic weapons everywhere she goes, I kind of want her to stay in New Capenna for a while, throw social functions with all the most fashionable people, and have them on display in the lounge as conversation pieces. Although I suppose that might be a safety hazard, considering they tend to be designed to kill gods, demons, and Phyrexians (not to mention how many gods, demons, and Phyrexians are still unkilled on other planes).
This sword is also interesting in that Gideon’s “thing” is now marginally less unique. Granted, most planeswalkers are not as optimized for wading into combat personally, but you can certainly take advantage of any specific cost-loyalty combinations that exist. For example, Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner will have insanely high power and toughness for a three-cost card. It also supports the drive to use more keyword counters and the new shield counters, though the less aggressive cost and the requirement for more support cards makes that a little hit-and-miss for tournament play. I am sure that we’ll see it dealing damage at casual tables, and maybe even in the right kind of Standard deck.
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 5/5
Limited: 3/5 (requires very specific support cards, but there might be a way to do it if you pick it early enough in a draft)
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander [EDH]: 3/5
Luxior, Giada’s Gift is…interesting. Let’s start with that. For two mana, it makes your planeswalkers into creatures, protecting them from being damaged by things that’d hit their loyalty, but also opening them up to creature removal. Still, there are a lot more things that protect creatures instead of just planeswalkers, and this is affordable enough that, if you play your cards right, you can make for a massive swing.
There are also other fun things, like infinite combos with Devoted Druid (and the other cards sharing the mechanic, like Barrenton Medic)…though the question is what Devoted Druid doesn’t go infinite with these days, but who cares? It’s more expensive to stick this onto a creature, but seeing as how it’s able to do a lot of damage on the right creature, that seems minor, and it’s actually feasible to curve into Luxior on turn 3, with a Devoted Druid, to get all of the mana. It’s also a one-mana artifact with a host of tutors, like Urza’s Saga, and so there’s a lot that this little stabby thing can accomplish.
There’s a chance I’m overvaluing Luxior, but it offers a unique effect at a competitive rate, and I’d be surprised if it didn’t see play somewhere. Between infinite mana, infinite damage prevention, and all the combat planeswalkers it plays well with (like any Gideon), this may be my pick for sleeper hit of the set.
Constructed: 4 (there’s some feasible way to break this, even if it’s not in Standard)
Casual: 5
Limited: 2 (unless you open Luxior anda planeswalker, good luck making the most out of this)
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 4
Another card designed around flavor, it’s different and like nothing we’ve seen before. One mana equipment cards are hard to come by and this one fits perfectly within the bant counter theme of the set. Immediately I think of the Pierre commander precon deck when I think of this card. The design of this card is pushing you towards putting it on a card like Elspeth to make her better and more viable. Ob Nix and Vivien are too good on their own to use this card. If you’re going with bant colors this will find a perfect home, I’d consider grabbing one to upgrade the Pierre commander deck to utilize the different counters it can provide! My main issue with this card is in limited. Being a mythic it’s going to be tough to get a planeswalker to use it on so you’ll have to settle for using it on creatures. In the right strategy it’s going to be a powerful card but you have to get cards that provide counters to really get the full value from it!
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2.5/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5/5
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