Another card that is way too *** boring. Really? This is the best they could come up with? An amazing powerful angel that could probably barely see the tiny human in front of her face (check the art) and it costs 5cc at sorcery speed to exile a creature or enchantment? Why didn't they do something in her flavor? Like 4WW "Name a color, exile all non-land permanents of that color." That would have been amazing and flavorful (and rare/mythic, as befitting the judgment of an immensely powerful, mythic creature). This is bad and flavorless. It could just be "Craig's Judgment" and it wouldn't seem any different.
wolfv
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
i would have preferred this card as an uncommon, and at least 1 colorless cheaper.
M0NGUS
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
This card has decent power.
However, it is poorly designed because it stretches the White color pie at common. White's creature removal is normally aura or exile related, and it is fair in that regard. The problematic part is that White does not normally get unconditional creature removal, especially at common rarity. Its problematic to see white muscling Black's portion.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Hmmm I don't know, it exiles and works on both enchantments and creatures.. that's not to bad actually. It can be used for enchantment removal in a crisis, and the rest of the time its just plain regular removal. It also only takes white, unlike mortify that needs white and black and doesn't exile the target.
Khias
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If your main boarding 4 Paths and 4 O-Rings and you still need more removal I could see it being used, but really past those 2 you're going another color usually for removal. I think WIzards must have just decided white doesn't really need any more removal.
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Probably a little better than people here are giving it credit for, but it is definitely not great. In limited it is decent creature removal for white though, and doubles as a Disenchant.
Meh.
2.5/5
GrimGorgonBC
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
One or two less mana would have made a big difference on this card. Disappointed that they gave this card Iona's name.
Oleander
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I actually kinda like the card. The art is beautiful, in my opinion, simple and elegant which will make it a great foil card. As for what it does, I can see it as being useful only in drafts, outside of that, you have much better alternatives that can be cast at the same speed (Oblivion Ring, anyone?). It'd have been greatly improved as an instant, at least giving it some edge. As for the use of Iona in it, it works. You folks are forgetting that powerful entities like angels, demons, gods, goddesses, etc. don't often show themselves in their true form, and it makes no sense why an angel who's passing her judgment on a wicked soul would appear to him in her massive form, because then, the wicked person can't see the look in her eyes or the steely resolve on her face as she condemns him to wherever. Plus, Iona in the art is in the sky, flying, so it's impossible to tell how far away she truly is, because as you all have stated, she's massive, and seeing something massive from a distance makes it appear smaller in stature.
Haze01
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When I opened this during the pre-release, I thought it was weak. Now I know why; I've recently been playing with Odyssey's Second Thoughts which I feel has a much better effect for the same cost. That said, I did manage to exile my opponent's Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs with this card at the pre-release, and that might not have happened if I had Second Thoughts instead.
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pretty artwork, but five mana for removal is simply too much...
I really prefer far more versatile removal for three mana, even if it can be negated by other removal. At least against red and black you don't have to worry about your Oblivion Ring anyways.
TheTraitorKing
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
The art sucks, and the card is mediocre.
darkfury
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
name: bad, sorry, but Iona doesnt feel better then a bad uncommon to me, anything to do with the color hate angel is bad. art: terrible, this is the easiest example as to why you keep painted artwork out of photoshop, t doesnt work effect and speed: over costed, no drawbacks, could be instant for this price
blindthrall
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Compared to Mortify this is weak.
True_Smog
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Expensive, slow white removal spell ?! am I dreaming ? it should be "rare".
Selez
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This card is for limited, no exceptions.
driftingsmoke
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
love love love this in limited.
the art is phenomenal as well. pink is in.
Tommy9898
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I don't like the art, I've seen it closeup but even on the computer you can tell; Iona is soooo made with some old computer graphics. She looks like she belongs in an old playstation game. I miss way back when, when the art was art. The original shivan dragon for example.
LMTRK
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
In my opinion this card has the best art in all of Wolrdwake - I am pleased to see I am not the only person who likes it. :)
(and yes, it does look amazing as a foil)
As for the gameplay side of things: yes, it would have been more powerful/competitive if it was an Instant, but what Sorcery wouldnt?
This card is great in ZEN-WWK Limited: it is versatile enough to hit creatures, auras and quests, and since it exiles rather than destroys, it is the bane of Zendikons, Nissa's Chosen, creatures with Regenerate, and black decks that run Dead Reckoning and Soul Stair Expedition etc. And with all the mana accel in the format, 5 mana isnt actually as much as it sounds...
I wouldnt run it in constructed (for obvious reasons), but that doesnt change the fact that I love this card. :)
~ Tim
ClowWizardEriol
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Unmake, Swords to Plowshares, and Path to Exile are more efficient than this card in eliminating creatures. Even within the Zendikar-Worldwake block, Journey to Exile might be more usable. There are other white cards that are cheaper to cast to eliminate enchantments. This is a card that will be used in booster drafts (limited formats), but I doubt it will be used in other formats.
I really do not like the artwork on this card. Jason Chan portrayed Iona, Shield of Emeria very well. I think Mr. Bierek, the artist, missed the mark on this version of Iona. Iona in this picture looks like a low-level 3D rendering (i.e. read as "bland") without as much armor and anatomic detail (i.e. wings) as Jason Chan's version. While each artist is going to have their own vision of a character, I think this art falls short on creative potential.
PoliticalCorleone
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
...Poorly flavored, considering how powerful Iona is.
I think it'd be better if they kept the cost but changed it to this:
Exile target permanent.
aba1
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
it would be useful if it didn't cost 5 just to use I don't know about most people but with path costing 1 journey to nowhere costing 2 and oblivion ring costing 3 this costs wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to much 4 is viable but no one if going to wait till turn five likely turn 6 for this thats where your dropping your main stuff
thornraven
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If Path and O ring disappear after Scars of Mirrodin is released, this will be become more popular. Finally! removal spells are going to become so much less powerful than they have been. No Path, no terminate, no o rings, NO MAELSTROM PULSE! among others. My favorite creatures will live longer!
I made a mono white deck with all the prominent white removal spells in standard plus this. I found that casting Iona's Judgment is really fun! No joke!
dude . . .its the recession..its just way too expensive. seriously cut us some slack
Toversnol
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This should be at least an instant... cuzz 5CMC and sorcery is just too much for exiling a creature or an enchantment. Its ok for Draft or Sealed Deck but constructed noo waaay.
MasterOfEtherium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Sorcery But Whatev, In Limited....Decent
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Expensive, but the ability to permanently get rid of any threatening creature or irritating enchantment is pretty handy. Plus, unlike the other exiles for , this won't rape your bank account!
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At those prices should be any perm. Would pay double white for that.
Mr.Freshness-Timmy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art is pretty and it gets rid of annoying theros gods. Might be good for future edh
Comments (30)
However, it is poorly designed because it stretches the White color pie at common. White's creature removal is normally aura or exile related, and it is fair in that regard. The problematic part is that White does not normally get unconditional creature removal, especially at common rarity. Its problematic to see white muscling Black's portion.
Meh.
2.5/5
I really prefer far more versatile removal for three mana, even if it can be negated by other removal.
At least against red and black you don't have to worry about your Oblivion Ring anyways.
art: terrible, this is the easiest example as to why you keep painted artwork out of photoshop, t doesnt work
effect and speed: over costed, no drawbacks, could be instant for this price
the art is phenomenal as well. pink is in.
(and yes, it does look amazing as a foil)
As for the gameplay side of things: yes, it would have been more powerful/competitive if it was an Instant, but what Sorcery wouldnt?
This card is great in ZEN-WWK Limited: it is versatile enough to hit creatures, auras and quests, and since it exiles rather than destroys, it is the bane of Zendikons, Nissa's Chosen, creatures with Regenerate, and black decks that run Dead Reckoning and Soul Stair Expedition etc. And with all the mana accel in the format, 5 mana isnt actually as much as it sounds...
I wouldnt run it in constructed (for obvious reasons), but that doesnt change the fact that I love this card. :)
~ Tim
I really do not like the artwork on this card. Jason Chan portrayed Iona, Shield of Emeria very well. I think Mr. Bierek, the artist, missed the mark on this version of Iona. Iona in this picture looks like a low-level 3D rendering (i.e. read as "bland") without as much armor and anatomic detail (i.e. wings) as Jason Chan's version. While each artist is going to have their own vision of a character, I think this art falls short on creative potential.
I think it'd be better if they kept the cost but changed it to this:
Exile target permanent.
Finally! removal spells are going to become so much less powerful than they have been. No Path, no terminate, no o rings, NO MAELSTROM PULSE! among others. My favorite creatures will live longer!
I made a mono white deck with all the prominent white removal spells in standard plus this. I found that casting Iona's Judgment is really fun! No joke!
Might be good for future edh