Did you know that Canopy Cover, a card from
Worldwake that's very similar to Alpha
Authority, doesn't seem to have been errataed to
grant hexproof? I'm not sure why, considering
this card doesn't specify "enchant creature you
control" or some such. Doesn't mean that either
is bad - heck, if you're going Commander with
Uril or Krond the Dawn-Clad, I'm sure they'd
thank you for playing both. I'm not sure Alpha
Authority quite reaches Rancor's level of pure
power, as the power boost is huge and trample is
like green's version of Doom Blade, but there
are times when you might want to evade combat
altogether (and, again, nobody said you can't
use both). And I for one am happy that, despite
the fact that we still don't have that block
with enchantment-centered mechanics, we're
getting auras that you look twice at instead of
more broken equipment.
Today's card of the day is Alpha Authority
which is a two mana Green aura that gives a
creature Hexproof and it can't be blocked by
more than one creature. This has a low mana
cost, prevents the typical two for one of most
removal choices, and works well with a number of
targets that have effects like Trample. However,
it does not have any other offensive or even
defensive boost to benefit non-ideal targets
which leaves it a bit too weak for most decks.
In Limited this can be useful either
defensively to protect an effect creature that
isn't attacking or on a bomb level threat,
preferably one with Trample. By itself it isn't
compelling and outside of a very specific kind
of stalemate involving Trample it is usually a
terrible topdeck, even more so with the reduced
pool of removal available. In Sealed it can be
included when a few appropriate targets are
present, though it can safely be sidedecked in
favor of less situational options. For Booster
it is not really worth drafting until a late on
color choice unless the earlier picks feature
lots of Trample or some other worthwhile target.
Welcome to another new and exciting week of
card of the day reviews here at Pojo.com! This
week, we are feeling green as March has begun,
so we will be looking at some green cards from
Gatecrash this week! We begin by looking at
Alpha Authority from Gatecrash. Alpha Authority
is an uncommon green enchantment that costs one
generic and one green mana. Alpha Authority says
that enchanted creature gains Hexproof and can
not be blocked by more than one creature.
Alpha Authority is such an underestimated
uncommon that I had to bring it more drastically
to people's attention. There are so many cards
that can take advantage of being blocked by a
single creature. Any triggers that gain trample
and Bloodrush would feast on the potential
there.
But the creature I feel greatly should find the
donor of an Alpha Authority is Primordial Hydra,
Should you decide to spare the two mana to
enchant the hydra the turn you play him, he will
be safe from your opponent's targeted spells.
And once he hits ten counters granting trample,
he can only be blocked by a single creature,
meaning your opponent becomes on a short clock.
Because a 20+ power creature will likely not be
stopped by one creature alone.
