Don't diss the level up mechanic, man. I think it's a fun and flavourful mechanic that has many cool applications. The Zendikar block has taken inspiration from RPGs like D&D before (in the Adventurer and Quest concepts) so I don't think it's strange that they would introduce levelers to the game. I believe these guys will add to the game rather than detract from it.
This particular specimen is an awesome creature, since you can potentially have a 3/3 First Strike swinging on turn 2! As the game goes on, he'll remain relevant as a mana-sink for when you have no plays. Then, he becomes a 4/4 Double Strike late-game, which is quite amazing to be honest. I like levelers in general because they can remain relevant throughout the game, instead of being quick and dirty 1 or 2 drops that lose their place in the spotlight as soon as bigger creatures make their way onto the battlefield.
chrishocker
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(8 votes)
One of the few usable levelers.
AngelxLegna
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
This is a very good card unchecked. Very good.
SleetFox
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(12 votes)
Why is this rated so low? It's a 1/1 for 1 playable on turn 1, a 3/3 first strike for 3 playable on turn 2, and a 4/4 double strike (which is almost 8/8 first strike) for 8 as early as turn 4. Three competitively costed creatures payable in installments is a wonderful card, so I don't see why it's not voted closer to 5.
Also, it's a girl. Stop calling her a "him."
HairlessThoctar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"One of the more useable levelers." Fixed that for you.
I'm really skeptical as to how Kargan Dragonlord is a mythic and she isn't.
I think a leveler with a reliable "flicker" cards to bounce Venerated Teacher can be viable. Otherwise this card will rarely see double strike.
Still a 3/3 FS for 2 mana is hardly something to scoff at.
faisjdas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A 3/3 FS on T2 is OKAY I guess.
Seriously, this card is amazing on so many levels.
>.>
Balhaza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Student of Brown. Volkan did better looking art than this... So why?? Good card, crap artwork
statiefreez
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(6 votes)
My issue with Level Up isn't the flavor of it. As the creatures of Zendikar battle fight the Eldrazi, it makes sense that they would learn a few new tricks over time. However, most of the cards with the effect are completely useless outside of Limited, due to their high costs for Level Up. Why spend all your mana early game on something that will get hit with a terminate/Doomblade/PTE/Vampire Hexmage/Malestrom pulse/O-ring/Journey to Nowhere/Vendetta/maybe lightning bolt/anything I miss?/ when it tries to attack? Student of Warfare is an exception, rather than the rule. Joraga Treespeaker is one of the few other ones.
Aun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Broken good if you level up just one time
Mumba
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Suddenly I forgot about all other white levelers.
Selez
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Anybody who doesn't see that this card is absolutely-positively-out-the-door-broken is nuts. 3/3 First Striker attacking on Turn TWO. Who the heck cares if it "takes away" your second turn?? It is so messed up that people are actually CRITICIZING this card and really shows where the power-creep has gotten us. I mean, this is the most powerful card in RotE.
persecutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Amazing card
Still can't believe that they put this as a theme deck rare
DonRoyale
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
T1 this T2 Level 2, 3 FS damage T3 Time of Heroes, Level 3, 5 FS damage T4 Level 7, 12 DS damage.
Great against midrange decks, and what I like the most about all the levelers is they each pack a seperate stage of threats that the opponent will have to pace their mana in order to deal with. (For example, Lightning Bolt can deal with this levels 1-6, but once it's at 7, it can be pretty difficult to deal with since it makes that once-desired Bolt a dead draw.
Love this. Want 4, now.
StriderHiryu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
its not rated a 5 because lvl up is not that great against instant removal. Ok turn 1 you play him, turn two you spend two mana leveling him and guess what? he's bolted after he swings and you just wasted two mana. Make sense?
True_Smog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Since when MTG turn into an RPG ? LEVEL UP !? what the hell ?!
At one time I hated level up, as I thought it was inching the game closer to Pokemon, then I realized it's an expansion of Figure of Destiny. Anything that comes from that ferocious little hobbit is awesomesauce. I still like him better than all the other levelers.
FogRaider
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
An actual competitor as a one/two drop for mono-white. Attacking for three on turn 2 is good, and it doesn't require huge mana investment like so many of the levelers.
Lunarblade
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best leverer produced so far. Nice.
thornraven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With this and Transcendent Master, WW is looking to be in prime form for standard constructed. Ranger of Eos can fetch this? Heads and shoulders above the rest of the white one drops in T2. Times are changing... 4.5/5 with the potential to become 5/5. We'll see what the pros do.
Ashkaan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When you level to 7 do you lose first strike?
badmalloc
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In limited, where you often have a 2 color deck, you can have a hard time getting her to max level. But still really good.
redcap04
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ashkaan
Yes you lose the first strike ability. That shouldn't be bad since there's very little difference between a creature with double strike and a creature with double strike AND first strike. *cough* Tresserhorn Skynight *cough*
nineyears
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this girls doesnt play around. drop her in your first turn and u can swing for three damage on ur next combat phase. she is a bomb. i remember when i level her all the way up made her fly with elspeth, my opponent tried to terminate her but i brave the element her and kill him on the spot 17 damage. i wanted to laugh so bad but i keep it cool. :)
Anggul
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
3 mana for a 3/3 first strike which can be gotten by turn 2... ze hell? XD
Molly.Llama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Y'know, I say it just looks like a dude with long hair, I mean, look at that facial structure! If that is a woman, I'd walk the hell out of that bar. xD
achilleselbow
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
"he's bolted after he swings and you just wasted two mana."
I wish people would stop to look at the card/think for a minute. If this was simply printed as a 3/3 first strike for 3 mana, would anyone be saying "omg if it gets bolted it was a waste of three mana"? In fact, I bet it would be rated higher just because people wouldn't see 'leveler' and automatically rate it low.
Keiya
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(14 votes)
Everyone complaining about having "to waste their second turn leveling up Student of Warfare" sound ridiculous to me. Would you rather have a solid 3/3 first striker who can attack on turn 2 or have a "stronger" creature come into play, but most likely have summoning sickness?
And the thing about level up creatures-- you don't HAVE to level them up if you don't want to. If you have better cards in your hand that you'd rather use, pay the mana for them instead. The leveling up is nice because as long as the creature's on the field, you can level it up. If you choose not to level it up now, you can do so later and make them stronger. And if the cards in your hand wouldn't benefit you at the moment or you have insufficient mana to play them, you can always just tap the mana and level up rather than having them sit there and do nothing for your turn.
I'm not an avid fan of level up creatures-- this is probably one of the few very usable ones out there. But a solution for those who gripe about their existence: don't play them. Problem solved.
Laguz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I always found the concept of female knights and soldiers and such silly, but i picked this in a draft, and was able to play it on the first turn four times. It never once lived past the third turn. It was flame slashed three times and vendettad once. I was able to do 3 damage to my opponent twice and kill a creature once, and it was completely ineffective once.
Another problem is that in order to get it to its second level, you give up the crucial second turn.
So, as lame as the "dies to removal" argument is, i'm afraid it is quite relevant here, as this girl was one of the least effective creatures in my deck. Based on my results i feel like it deserves a 3/5
shinhawk
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
For all the blind fools trash talking this card saying it'll be hit by bolt, doom blade, etc: There are plenty of ways to protect this card. Vines of Vastwood, Brave the Elements, and Emerge Unscathed will all protect this guy. Will be even harder when a Knight Exemplar is around.
cloneffect
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This girl should form a club with Coralhem Commander - the "standard hates us but we rock the world in extended" (and legacy too, in the commander's case). Great card, fantastic for white weenie, fun, flavourful, and aggressively costed.
RuthieA
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(7 votes)
Personally, I love this card. She is a powerful one mana card, something I appreciate, as I don't like having to wait for five mana to come around to have removal worthy threats on the board. Three damage turn two with one card is AMAZING. As others have pointed out, yes, she dies to removal. So does Baneslayer Angel. That doesn't stop people for paying $35 for her. The really nice thing about levelers is that no matter what turn you get them, they're useful. A turn one Elite Vanguard is nice, but by turn seven, not as great. And, if you have something you'd prefer to play on turn two you can do that instead. Since level up isn't an echo cost or anything like that, you can chose to forgo that early three damage to play your Honor of the Pure, or other two drop card. The nice thing about level up is that it gives players options, and for the terminally mana screwed ways to deal damage.
On the subject of the art: I think that she's actually quite attractive--no, she's not dressed in a chainmail bikini, but let's be honest, if you were fighting Emrakul, the Aeons Torn would you want to? Her armor is functional, and that shows an intelligence that in my view is far more attractive than showing a bit of skin would be.
MTGGameHero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In response to arguments about losing 2nd turn, I wouldn't mind getting out turn 2, 3/3 first strike with haste (since it was out on turn 1) in favor of what other great things you do in turn 2. Then if they let him get to lv 7 and you give him protection this card could end the game pretty fast. If you run this with honor of the pure and knight exemplar it will be effectively out of bolt range, and if they use their removal on it, you can bring out your beasts later such as Baneslayer Angel or Sun Titan.
Carnophage_4ever
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
People giving this card under 4.5/5 obviously never saw a Student of Warfare in action...
ugotpauld
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
3/3 for 3 mana is great anyway, as you can pay this over a few turns if you have spare mana makes this incredable and flexible.
the 4/4 double strike stage doesn't seem to brilliant but good to have anyway
iSlapTrees
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
She looks like Mary Jane from the spiderman movies! :O
Also good in white blue control, level it up just enough so you have enough mana open for their turn :)
Szentekkel
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(5 votes)
I think he is a crap
obvious you put 7 counters on it? be very glad
but waste mana to it is just stupid
and if you dont he dies to almost every removal (like bolt)
oh yeah and if you level it up to max just keep hoping your opponent dont have a bounce spell
that would be very funny
redsoxftw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For those of you questioning level up cards, don't. I built blue-white level up a month ago and I'm using it at FNM tomorrow. It is UNSTOPPABLE in casual, and my friends' type of casual is pretty competitive. 4 Venerated Teachers and training grounds, plus level up cards, some counterspells, scrying, and finishers equals awesomeness.
P.S. This is a great card. (= I wish I had it for tomorrow.
HPS
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is great for UW, GW, BW, and RW combos. People who are turned off by it's 7 counters are -once again- ignoramuses. You only pump this guy to 4/4 as a finisher.
Tips on how to use this guy:
Just level it up into a 3/3 first strike creature, it is a great attacker.
Level it up into a 4/4 double strike creature but only as a finisher.
Pair it with 1 Knight Exemplar and this card is an indestructible threat.
HPS It coasts way to exsact colors to play and level up to be run in most non mono white decks.
Jimmeh92
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
People seem to forget that they made a card quite similar to this. Figure of Destiny. Now while I'm not saying this is as good as Figure, it serves much the same purpose, particularly in the control matchups. Against control decks, this sort of creature is a real headache, because it's large enough to take decent chunks out of your life so they don't have to over-commit to the board. All they have to do is play land, swing, go. End of turn, level. Rinse repeat until it's a 4/4 Double Striker.
TPmanW
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
A great one drop. One of the few that doesn't find itself relegated to the status of dead draw or chump blocker in the late game.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When I first got this, I was upset (I hated white with a passion), and never used it. Then, a little while later, I decided to make a mono-white deck. It was never very good until I got this out. I would give him a Loxodon Warhammer, Lightning Greaves, Kitesail, and whatever else I had out, and make him a gigantic double striker with a slew of abilities. Unfortunately, the deck stunk, and it is currently a much needed finisher in my B/W lifegain until I get more white weenies (or stop getting Omen Machines from my NPH packs, maybe a Puresteel Paladin)
5/5
Gaussgoat
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
This card is a house. I've been on the receiving end of it many times, and each time it makes me cringe. The Knight clan is simply butter added on, since it combos with Knight Exemplar who is also terrifying.
When you look at white weenie in general, this card fits in perfectly, and gives you a potentially huge threat for very little cost. Sure it can be bolted, but it can also swing for horrendous amounts of damage if left unanswered.
5/5
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
ok ok ok STOP. I'm not even going to talk about the level-up issue, that's been covered.
SHE has BOOBS! retards... (*sigh*)
TherealphatMatt
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Call it a 3-drop 3/3 first strike and then you realize how batshit crazy this guy is.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
lol, why would I ever invest 7 mana into this thing when I could just leave it at a 3/3 first striker and it would already be good enough
It's a one drop that can either become a 3/3 first strike with haste (essentially) on the second turn or can just be a simple 1 drop knight, I run 4 in my knight deck because it's A) cheap, B) able to compete late game (only one of few 1 drops to do so might I add), and C) a bloody knight (coat of arms). I don't even bother leveling it up to level 7 unless I can't do anything else with the mana because Kinsbaile Cavaliers got that covered. I'm honestly having a hard time finding any negatives to say about this card.
I mean sure as a few pointed out, lightning bolt will kill it, but does that mean youre saying it's a bad card because of the simple fact that it's not a hexproof, indestructible, with protection from everything, and a tap ability to win the game.
And also if your really going to level it to 7 (which you only do if this is your late game), then you probably have a Knight Exemplar somewhere in there to make her nice and indestructible.
I mean sure you can look at it as, it can be bolted, but so can a lot of things, overall great in mono white, competitive mid-game in a multi-color deck and a great addition to any knight deck, simply the best level up card in the game.
Phage123
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I pulled a foil one of these; happiest day of my life.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4/4 Double Strike is absolutely terrifying, especially with a casting cost and leveling cost so cheap.
Aremath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not quite strictly better than a 3/3 first strike haste for {W}{W} (since if you draw it too late, it won't have haste), but it can become even better, and the best part is, if you play it T1, your second land drop can be whatever you want. Not hard to answer with burn, but it wins most fights against early-game creatures.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
3 mana for a 3/3 first strike is brutal, especially on a payment plan. Only Porcelain Legionnaire compares for such brutal efficiency I think.
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Arachibutyrophobia Because then if the game is stalling out, you can roflstomp them with your 1(or 3)-drop.
This card is awesome. Makes me so happy to land it turn 1 against a blue deck. Whatcha gonna do now?
BongRipper420
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run him with some success in my Competitive Modern Knights build. He drops too early for my opponent to safely use a Path to Exile on, so he tends to get a lot of damage in. He's good.
Easily the best level up creature if you ask me, at least in 60 card formats. In EDH, Lighthouse Chronologist can be a house.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Would a 3/3 haste first strike for be broken? This is pretty similar to that, and has the option to meld into a 4/4 double-striker..
Let me put it this way, this card is one of the only cards that can end the game on turn 5, without any help. Try to think of other creatures that can end the game by turn 5...
Comments (57)
This particular specimen is an awesome creature, since you can potentially have a 3/3 First Strike swinging on turn 2! As the game goes on, he'll remain relevant as a mana-sink for when you have no plays. Then, he becomes a 4/4 Double Strike late-game, which is quite amazing to be honest. I like levelers in general because they can remain relevant throughout the game, instead of being quick and dirty 1 or 2 drops that lose their place in the spotlight as soon as bigger creatures make their way onto the battlefield.
Also, it's a girl. Stop calling her a "him."
Fixed that for you.
I'm really skeptical as to how Kargan Dragonlord is a mythic and she isn't.
But whatever, two figures in the same set!
Still a 3/3 FS for 2 mana is hardly something to scoff at.
Seriously, this card is amazing on so many levels.
>.>
Still can't believe that they put this as a theme deck rare
T2 Level 2, 3 FS damage
T3 Time of Heroes, Level 3, 5 FS damage
T4 Level 7, 12 DS damage.
Great against midrange decks, and what I like the most about all the levelers is they each pack a seperate stage of threats that the opponent will have to pace their mana in order to deal with. (For example, Lightning Bolt can deal with this levels 1-6, but once it's at 7, it can be pretty difficult to deal with since it makes that once-desired Bolt a dead draw.
Love this. Want 4, now.
Yes you lose the first strike ability. That shouldn't be bad since there's very little difference between a creature with double strike and a creature with double strike AND first strike. *cough* Tresserhorn Skynight *cough*
I wish people would stop to look at the card/think for a minute. If this was simply printed as a 3/3 first strike for 3 mana, would anyone be saying "omg if it gets bolted it was a waste of three mana"? In fact, I bet it would be rated higher just because people wouldn't see 'leveler' and automatically rate it low.
And the thing about level up creatures-- you don't HAVE to level them up if you don't want to. If you have better cards in your hand that you'd rather use, pay the mana for them instead. The leveling up is nice because as long as the creature's on the field, you can level it up. If you choose not to level it up now, you can do so later and make them stronger. And if the cards in your hand wouldn't benefit you at the moment or you have insufficient mana to play them, you can always just tap the mana and level up rather than having them sit there and do nothing for your turn.
I'm not an avid fan of level up creatures-- this is probably one of the few very usable ones out there. But a solution for those who gripe about their existence: don't play them. Problem solved.
Another problem is that in order to get it to its second level, you give up the crucial second turn.
So, as lame as the "dies to removal" argument is, i'm afraid it is quite relevant here, as this girl was one of the least effective creatures in my deck. Based on my results i feel like it deserves a 3/5
On the subject of the art: I think that she's actually quite attractive--no, she's not dressed in a chainmail bikini, but let's be honest, if you were fighting Emrakul, the Aeons Torn would you want to? Her armor is functional, and that shows an intelligence that in my view is far more attractive than showing a bit of skin would be.
the 4/4 double strike stage doesn't seem to brilliant but good to have anyway
Also good in white blue control, level it up just enough so you have enough mana open for their turn :)
obvious you put 7 counters on it? be very glad
but waste mana to it is just stupid
and if you dont he dies to almost every removal (like bolt)
oh yeah and if you level it up to max just keep hoping your opponent dont have a bounce spell
that would be very funny
P.S. This is a great card. (= I wish I had it for tomorrow.
Tips on how to use this guy:
Just level it up into a 3/3 first strike creature, it is a great attacker.
Level it up into a 4/4 double strike creature but only as a finisher.
Pair it with 1 Knight Exemplar and this card is an indestructible threat.
Pair it with 2 Knight Exemplar and just go berserk with it.
Works well with Honor of the Pure, Ranger of Eos, Noble Hierarch, Birds of Paradise, and many others.
5/5
When you look at white weenie in general, this card fits in perfectly, and gives you a potentially huge threat for very little cost. Sure it can be bolted, but it can also swing for horrendous amounts of damage if left unanswered.
5/5
SHE has BOOBS! retards... (*sigh*)
I mean sure as a few pointed out, lightning bolt will kill it, but does that mean youre saying it's a bad card because of the simple fact that it's not a hexproof, indestructible, with protection from everything, and a tap ability to win the game.
And also if your really going to level it to 7 (which you only do if this is your late game), then you probably have a Knight Exemplar somewhere in there to make her nice and indestructible.
I mean sure you can look at it as, it can be bolted, but so can a lot of things, overall great in mono white, competitive mid-game in a multi-color deck and a great addition to any knight deck, simply the best level up card in the game.
Because then if the game is stalling out, you can roflstomp them with your 1(or 3)-drop.
This card is awesome. Makes me so happy to land it turn 1 against a blue deck. Whatcha gonna do now?
Easily the best level up creature if you ask me, at least in 60 card formats. In EDH, Lighthouse Chronologist can be a house.
This is pretty similar to that, and has the option to meld into a 4/4 double-striker..
Let me put it this way, this card is one of the only cards that can end the game on turn 5, without any help. Try to think of other creatures that can end the game by turn 5...