I have been waiting almost eighteen years to
speak or write this exact sentence: this week we
are starting with the first Magic set based on
Greek mythology.
One of the first books I ever read was a
retelling of Greek myths by the famous D'Aulaire,
so 2013 will live for ever in my memory. This
set is cut from the same cloth as Hesiod's
Heroic Age, a mythos that has been referred to
as the "morning of the world," and I hope
that many of you will find it to be a new
morning for Magic as well.
Ironically, the first card we're looking at
depicts someone in the evening of their personal
story. I also almost mistook it at first for
something along the lines of Betrayers of
Kamigawa's Hero's Demise, but it's actually much
more generally applicable. I imagine there are a
lot of players of black decks for whom this is
the most exciting card in the set, as many such
players have gotten used to having to find a way
to jam Oblivion Ring and some off-color lands
into their decks to deal with planeswalkers.
Welcome back readers todays card of the day is
Hero’s Downfall the new premiere removal spell.
The versatility of being able to hit creatures
or planeswalkers at instant speed is quite
powerful and provides black decks with an answer
to pesky planeswalkers. While three mana
compared to the traditional two for a removal
spell is an increase the sheer versatility and
lack of other powerful options allows this card
to stand head and shoulders above other options
and in standard will become the go to removal
spell for decks. In modern this card has some
versatility being able to hit planeswalkers and
traditionally threatening creatures is good but
three mana may be too much to hold back for a
removal spell compared to the other powerful and
cheaper options. In eternal formats this card is
just too slow to see much play. In casual and
multiplayer this is the upgrade of Murder
although the rarity may make it less inspiring
to but into decks it certainly is powerful and a
strict upgrade. In limited its removal being
able to kill any creature at instant speed is
amazingly powerful although the planeswalker
portion may not be entirely relevant but a handy
effect to have none the less. Overall a powerful
removal spell sure to see constructed and casual
play.
Today's card of the day is Hero's Downfall
which is a three mana Black instant that
destroys target creature or planeswalker.
This is an improved Murder, which was a very
strong card, that will be played in many
mono-Black decks as an easy answer to many
threats. The double Black is a small drawback in
two color builds, as is the slightly higher cost
than more specialized options, but overall this
is versatile and powerful and will feature
prominently in competitive builds for a long
time.
In Limited this is a fantastic rare and easy
first pick in Booster for nearly any pack as a
low cost removal for nearly every non-deity
threat in the format. In a Sealed pool
with a decent Black aspect this is an automatic
inclusion that is only held back by the double
Black in the mana cost and the decent number of
Indestructible and regenerating cards in the
set.
Destroy target creature OR planeswalker. I love
cards that give you options at instant speed.
When M14 dropped, the idea of running mono-black
in Standard was bleak at best. Now Theros has
changed that completely. Hero’s Downfall gives
mono-black players the ability to take out a
planeswalker without using creatures. The mana
cost for Hero’s Downfall makes it a little
difficult to splash with other colors but it is
definitely possible. Hero’s Downfall is an
amazing removal spell, BUT… I totally loathe the
artwork of the card. Come on WOTC! Why use a
furry leg crushing a guy’s midsection? I’m sure
that is how Elspeth will die.
