Apparently we live in a world where a 4/4 for
1GW isn't good enough, they have to make it
uncounterable and undiscardable too.
Actually, those abilities only work while it's
in your hand or on the stack. Once you actually
get it into play, it is just a 4/4 for three
mana.
And the abilities only matter if your opponent
tries to make you discard it or counter it. If
your opponent doesn't use a strategy like that,
it's just a 4/4 for three mana,
When i first saw the art for this card, separate
from its game text, I really thought it would be
more of a reference to Loxodon Hierarch than
just the art and less of a "Hey you, use me
against Snapcaster Mage!!!1" card. Yeah, it's
obviously powerful, acts like a roadblock
against half of the recent formats, and it very
clearly picks itself for almost any deck,
especially in tournament environments where
infamous invitational cards are legal. But
frankly, I'm concerned about what this says
about what this says about recent Magic
design and what it implies for future design.
Once a power level as terrifying as this exists,
what are future cards for the decks that like to
start attacking on turn 2 and for competing
midrange decks going to look like?
Today's card of the day is Loxodon Smiter which
is a three mana Green and White 4/4 that can't
be countered and if discarded by an opponent's
effect it is placed into play. This is an
excellent sidedeck card against control and hand
destruction, possibly even in an off-color build
when facing a heavy discard metagame, and is
fairly efficient for the cost even without the
effects. Once in play it isn't very
noteworthy as it has no other benefits, but the
near guarantee of getting it there is value
enough.
In Limited this should always be run in a
Selesnya Sealed as a three mana 4/4 is a clear
bargain while the effects are a bonus that will
rarely be a factor. Not having more
relevant effects makes it a mediocre first pick
in Booster, though it is strong enough as a 4/4
to earn it if the pack has nothing more
impressive in the uncommon or common slots.
Welcome to Pojo.com's card of the day section! We
are closing out this week looking at Loxodon
Smiter from Return to Ravnica. Loxodon Smiter is
a rare green and white creature elephant soldier
that costs one generic, one white, and one green
mana for a 4/4/ Loxodon Smiter cannot be
countered. Loxodon Smiter also says that is a
spell or ability that an opponent controls would
cause you to discard Loxodon Smiter, you put it
onto the battlefield instead of your graveyard.
Like I have said before, Magic is now geared so that players
truly get more than what they paid for when they
drop a spell. And Loxodon Smiter is by far a
great example of that. For starters, a 4/4 for
just three mana is a steal. Then, saying that it
can't be countered would be more than enough for
most people. But then, go ahead and add some
super icing on that cake by saying that should
it be discarded by your opponent, it hits for
free instead. How could anyone not only like the
Loxodon Smiter, but not want to use it whenever
possible.
I know what many people say, the reason it is only three
mana is the fact that two different colors are
required to play it. My response, so what! There
are literally TONS of cards that produce these
colors, and most of them either current or
recent enough that this card is at the top of my
list of playable cards. Selesnya Guildgate,
Sunpetal Grove, and so on and so on.
Worst that I have had the pleasure of doing personally with
this card is being despised first turn by my
opponent. My hand only contained lands, Rancor,
Ethereal Armor, and the Smiter. Since they had
to choose the Smiter, it came out first turn,
second turn, Rancor and Ethereal Armor on it,
swung for eight second turn. Opponent was hoping
for a kill spell that they never found, drew up
another Ethereal Armor, game over. Just some of
the potential behind this guy.
