The Reality Chip – Kamigawa: Neon Destiny
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2022
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.42
Casual: 3.67
Limited: 3.50
Multiplayer: 3.50
Commander [EDH]: 3.75
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
This is an odd card, and not just because it’s both an equipment and a Jellyfish. I think it’s because it makes me unsure whether I’m playing Magic, or some kind of game based on The Matrix or Ghost in the Shell. You have a curious tradeoff with it: you can have the extra information any time you want, but you don’t get the extra cards unless it’s attached to something . . . but then you lose the early wall. But the gameplay sequence that implies, where hopefully you’re shifting gears after surviving an early storm because of your 0/4 wall, is just fine for the right kind of deck. And note that I described it as a wall, but it’s technically not a Wall like the Jumpstart pack leverages: a two-cost creature with four toughness is a pretty risk-free attacker to enable Neon Dynasty‘s ninjas.
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
Commander [EDH]: 4/5
Besides that particularly odd typeline, The Reality Chip is an interesting twist on Future Sight, which let you use things from the top of your library. It only lets you play things if it’s attached to a creature, but the overall investment is the same as for its forebear (albeit for one less blue mana), and it also lets you synergize with the “modified” batching mechanic of Neon Dynasty. I think that this isn’t a star, but it has several interesting things it can do as a result of its typelines, and I believe it’s seen some Modern play already in decks with lots of gizmos and gadgets. This probably won’t win you the game on its own, but The Reality Chip can make for a lot of chaos if you can get it up and running, as being able to dig through your library speeds you into the things you really want to cast. I’m not wholly confident on how good this is, but it’s intriguing, and I think there’s a place for it.
Constructed: 3.25
Casual: 4
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.75
Love this card for blue, I think it really give blue a one up in the ramp category that historically goes to green. Attaching to a creature is easy, it can go on a 1/1 token solely for the ability to play lands and casts spells from the top of your library. It’s no Oracle of Mul Deya or Courser of Kruphix but still for two mana you can’t go wrong with this card. I’d be surprised if this did not see play in blue control decks in standard, it gets past the red instants that deal three mana too!
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5/5
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