A very cool card that will have a significant impact on games. However, a low-on-creatures deck will probably make this a priority for removal. Strategically, this can give some opponents a reason to let you live while other opponents will be trying desperately to kill you.
greg2367
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I feel like WAR should give +3/+0 and First Strike,and PEACE should give +0/+4 and lifelink or something. It would just make it all around more interesting to me, and like someone else said the way the card is printed for most decks WAR is just a better choice.
2pcsofcandy
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(8 votes)
Neat art and a fun but not ridiculous ability. This is what I was hoping for/expecting from Commander.
SkyknightXi
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Doran decks are going to be all over the peace option, at the very least. Question is what the other Necra commanders will want to choose...
scumbling1
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(10 votes)
I'm going to need an Emblem for this ability. How can Wizards expect me to remember what I chose? I have to keep in mind where I parked.
Kidding aside, it is odd that they were willing to print a card requiring memorization; they have tended to shy away from such cards for a long time now. I guess they decided that this was a non-standard set of cards, so they didn't need to worry with difficulty judging rule disputes.
Autor
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Beautiful. Lightfull. Justicefull. Angelfull.
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(16 votes)
thank you Wizards, for printing an absolutely beautiful angel that isn't stupid freakin' Baneslayer. I've been eyeing Baneslayer since the spoiler had just the art, but for numerous reasons could not/would not get myself one.
a) Baneslayer is Akroma lite. I'd rather have Akroma. b) any kind of Akroma for 5 is dumb. 5 mana shouldn't be worth an angel that good. 6 or 7 cmc cards at Rare is not the same as 5cmc at Mythic. if you keep doing that, only rich jerks will play your game, wizards. c) even without comparing her to Akroma, I liked her art, but didn't like her abilities. reading Baneslayer feels a lot like reading Emrakul. just throw a bunch of abilities on it until it reads 'pay mana: win'?
for those reasons and a couple others I cant remember anymore, I much prefer this odd, yet interesting, and quite Vorthosy new Angel to be my shopping list target for 'kick ass beautiful flying thing that makes me think of classical music'. Baneslayer can go die in a hole now. This is prettier and Akroma's stronger.
Sparafucile
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(5 votes)
The choice on this card is almost trivial. +3/+0 kills your opponent faster. +0/+3 will still die to anything that would have killed it before the angel hits play if your opponent chooses War. It seems like it's use is more in getting an idea about playskill by seeing who chooses Peace.
Wulfsten
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
@ Darth Parallax: Couldn't have said it better. Everyone I know hates Baneslayer. It impoverishes the game.
sonorhC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
For a global buff, I'd better be playing a whole lot more creatures than my opponents. But if that's the kind of deck I'm using, for that mana cost, I'd rather just get 3 or 4 more creatures instead. I'm having a hard time figuring out what deck this would belong in.
Zoltantf
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is beautiful. Greg Staples, you are the man. Ok, this is pretty much a 9/6 flyer that gives all other creatures +3 in power, for 7 mana. Not bad. It is almost demonic, very black in flavor. With art this pretty, I could care less about the benefit to my opponent. Well done creature overall.
In my opinion this is quite poorly designed in that players will choose peace about 10% of the time.
In any case, tokens doesn't mind another massive pump.
JaFaR_Ironclad
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Obligatory story: My playgroup was playing a six player Two-Headed Giant Commander game (three teams of two); my partner was running a Hazezon Tamar deck geared for productive Warp Worlding, I'm running an Angel-themed Jenara, Asura of War deck. Around turn 8 or so my buddy pops off the warp world, I float my mana in response. One of my opponents (running Kaalia) flips an Archangel of Strife onto the battlefield from the warp; most of us declare war.
I proceed to kick a Rite of Replication on the Archangel, dropping another five of them on my side of the board and multiplying the bonuses, and with the newly +18/+0 bonus for his creatures, my partner drops Akroma's Memorial and proceeds to maul everyone else that turn with a few 19/1 pseudakroma token creatures.
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Players will also choose peace if there's some other negative modifier to consider - for example, if you've got an Elesh Norn on the battlefield, they might opt for peace in order to play more creatures (of course, this is largely deck dependant, with not too many less-than-2-power creatures running around in commander). If they've got a Massacre Wurm under a Soul Foundry or Mimic Vat or something like that, it might be another consideration.
But yes, everyone's right - in a 'general' Magic game, there's very little reason to choose peace over war.
NinjaShadow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I am one of the weird ones that will say peace, seeing as i use it in my flip the power and toughness deck.
Sorenssen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
great art, solid card, medium trigger...
wold be awesome if it had flash or suspend, but is a great buffer with Rite of replicantion(kicked)
ScissorsLizard
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
That's sweet. What a fun, innovative design.
The only problem is that if you choose peace and your opponent chooses war, then your creatures are no better off than they were before- combat doesn't change, your 1/4 Scornful Egotist will still die to his 4/1 Fugitive Wizard. You might as well choose War just so you can hit their life total harder if you get through. The exception comes when fighting burn decks- choose peace and laugh at his Pyroclasms.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I would think that this type of effect would require an emblem
tobiecote
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So a shame that it's not really useful who wants to boost a weenie opponent when you put so much effort to bring this one into the battlefield. One of the most beautiful art for angel! I would love to see on my side but useless
SpencerMcCuhluh
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Definitely love the wallpaper for this; she's basically wearing a thong.
chainsmoker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
1/5 for the ability 4/5 for the thong!
Zielheim
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ScissorsLizard
That's the entire point of her existence. Play her, choose war, and now everyone's creatures will hit harder, making unblockable creatures a bigger threat, and prevents people from swinging wildly.
I'll be honest, I don't like her, at all. Ok, she's got flying, great, but for the exact same cost, I can bring out Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, buff ONLY my guys and give my opponent's a debuff. True, Norn has a bigger target on her head, and she's a legendary and can't fly, but honestly? This has a target as well (especially if you have some way of making a board wipe without hitting your side of the field), not too often are copies going to be made (and even so, depending on the game, that split-second of a debuff from Norn could kill off even MORE creatures), and there's quite a few fliers and anti-flying cards around to prevent it from being THAT useful. If both Norn and this were on the field, Norn would end up in the advantage.
I get that there are uses and times where it's better than Norn, but overall, I just don't like it.
pedrodyl
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Play this, everyone else chooses war. You choose peace. Next turn, drop Doran. Muahahahaha
"I'm going to need an Emblem for this ability. How can Wizards expect me to remember what I chose? "
You chose war.
Fearsomecritter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I have a friend who can never remember what cards are called, but he remembers the art. Whenever I want to reference this card to him I call it "panties angel"
Dragasm
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
While I think that peace should give +0/+4. this is still a great card. It's actually really fun to choose peace then drop a massive burn spell like Chain Reaction and kill all your "war hungry" opponents' creatures whilst your tougher critters stick around. Also, she seems to have lost her pants somewhere in the heat of battle. Awesome
knighthammer18
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This angel works really well with Gisela, Blade of Goldnight as your commander. If you choose peace your creatures are ALOT more survivable. +3 toughness and halve all damage they will take thanks to Gisela. Even if your opponents get +3 power because they choose war your creatures will be much harder to kill. And if you choose war, thanks to gisela you are vertically getting +6 power while your opponents get + 1 1/2. Also works really well with creatures that have double strike, lifelink or trample. Overall a very well thought out card that if played at the correct time, with the correct support can contribute to an overall victory. 4.5/5
BongRipper420
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Except for certain remarkably convoluted combos and situations, I don't understand why anyone would ever choose peace. Ever.
Salient
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
If you play two copies of her, you can choose to be Tolstoy.
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Even if your opponent(s) Isochron Scepter'd a Lightning Bolt and all your other creatures were toughness 3 or less, War would be better.
In EDH, if your other creatures have toughness 3 or less, you either aren't playing a creature-oriented deck, have creatures with high power and low toughness, or a token horde! You probably have some better way to have a token horde survive sweepers and stuff than choosing Peace.
0/5 for Peace 3.5/5 for War because at least it speeds up everyone's "clocks."
Everybody chooses War. Take advantage of it. Even though it hoses the Archangel itself, pack some Ensnaring Bridges.
When they know your deck, they'll know it punishes them for choosing War. Then they'll choose Peace. And you'll still get the advantage. Because War is better. :)
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I like this card. Not tournament worthy, but very good for casual multiplayer games. The ability is unique and flavorful. The art is great too. And you get a 9/6 flyer.
I have her in my Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter commander deck. There, the +3/+0 boost on all my creatures is very powerful with vish kal's sacrifice ability.
Nagoragama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Now, yes or no? It's up to you of course. I will merely confine myself to remarking that a no will be regarded as a declaration of war. A single word is all that's required."
"Alright..... WAR."
HuntingDrake
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Women: This game is not for you. --WotC"
Earthdawn
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Choose peace and then cast Wave of Reckoning (most opponent's will choose war) and lulz.
psychichobo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
As much as I want to like Angels, I think my problem is that most just all look more or less the same (at least in the case of the Mono-White ones). You could swap their artworks around and they'd all still look consistent since few actually depict the effect they provide in the art.
Oh well. Fun creature nonetheless!
Sabisent
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Interesting ability, and a great body.
Plus she is 6/6 which will help her stick around.
Vabolo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's amazing she can have 6 toughness when her spine is that badly contorted. Do her legs swivel around like a turret? That would certainly explain her power- she becomes a flying spinkicker of death!
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Doran loves himself some peace.
Bbone37
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@scumbling1- just write a note if you have trouble remembering/cannot trust the people with whom you are playing. One can write notes.
@pedrodyl- you choose first. not only is that logical because you are active player, but the rules on the card specify that you choose first.
Once I get my hands on a load of Conspiracy cards, I will be making a cube. This will be in that cube. I think it will be a lot of fun.
Comments (42)
Kidding aside, it is odd that they were willing to print a card requiring memorization; they have tended to shy away from such cards for a long time now. I guess they decided that this was a non-standard set of cards, so they didn't need to worry with difficulty judging rule disputes.
Lightfull.
Justicefull.
Angelfull.
a) Baneslayer is Akroma lite. I'd rather have Akroma.
b) any kind of Akroma for 5 is dumb. 5 mana shouldn't be worth an angel that good. 6 or 7 cmc cards at Rare is not the same as 5cmc at Mythic. if you keep doing that, only rich jerks will play your game, wizards.
c) even without comparing her to Akroma, I liked her art, but didn't like her abilities. reading Baneslayer feels a lot like reading Emrakul. just throw a bunch of abilities on it until it reads 'pay mana: win'?
for those reasons and a couple others I cant remember anymore, I much prefer this odd, yet interesting, and quite Vorthosy new Angel to be my shopping list target for 'kick ass beautiful flying thing that makes me think of classical music'. Baneslayer can go die in a hole now. This is prettier and Akroma's stronger.
In any case, tokens doesn't mind another massive pump.
My playgroup was playing a six player Two-Headed Giant Commander game (three teams of two); my partner was running a Hazezon Tamar deck geared for productive Warp Worlding, I'm running an Angel-themed Jenara, Asura of War deck. Around turn 8 or so my buddy pops off the warp world, I float my mana in response. One of my opponents (running Kaalia) flips an Archangel of Strife onto the battlefield from the warp; most of us declare war.
I proceed to kick a Rite of Replication on the Archangel, dropping another five of them on my side of the board and multiplying the bonuses, and with the newly +18/+0 bonus for his creatures, my partner drops Akroma's Memorial and proceeds to maul everyone else that turn with a few 19/1 pseudakroma token creatures.
But yes, everyone's right - in a 'general' Magic game, there's very little reason to choose peace over war.
wold be awesome if it had flash or suspend, but is a great buffer with Rite of replicantion(kicked)
The only problem is that if you choose peace and your opponent chooses war, then your creatures are no better off than they were before- combat doesn't change, your 1/4 Scornful Egotist will still die to his 4/1 Fugitive Wizard. You might as well choose War just so you can hit their life total harder if you get through. The exception comes when fighting burn decks- choose peace and laugh at his Pyroclasms.
4/5 for the thong!
That's the entire point of her existence. Play her, choose war, and now everyone's creatures will hit harder, making unblockable creatures a bigger threat, and prevents people from swinging wildly.
I'll be honest, I don't like her, at all. Ok, she's got flying, great, but for the exact same cost, I can bring out Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, buff ONLY my guys and give my opponent's a debuff. True, Norn has a bigger target on her head, and she's a legendary and can't fly, but honestly? This has a target as well (especially if you have some way of making a board wipe without hitting your side of the field), not too often are copies going to be made (and even so, depending on the game, that split-second of a debuff from Norn could kill off even MORE creatures), and there's quite a few fliers and anti-flying cards around to prevent it from being THAT useful. If both Norn and this were on the field, Norn would end up in the advantage.
I get that there are uses and times where it's better than Norn, but overall, I just don't like it.
Serra Angel
Empyrial Archangel
Baneslayer Angel
"I'm going to need an Emblem for this ability. How can Wizards expect me to remember what I chose? "
You chose war.
Also, she seems to have lost her pants somewhere in the heat of battle. Awesome
In EDH, if your other creatures have toughness 3 or less, you either aren't playing a creature-oriented deck, have creatures with high power and low toughness, or a token horde! You probably have some better way to have a token horde survive sweepers and stuff than choosing Peace.
0/5 for Peace
3.5/5 for War because at least it speeds up everyone's "clocks."
Everybody chooses War. Take advantage of it. Even though it hoses the Archangel itself, pack some Ensnaring Bridges.
When they know your deck, they'll know it punishes them for choosing War. Then they'll choose Peace. And you'll still get the advantage. Because War is better. :)
I have her in my Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter commander deck. There, the +3/+0 boost on all my creatures is very powerful with vish kal's sacrifice ability.
"Alright..... WAR."
--WotC"
Oh well. Fun creature nonetheless!
Plus she is 6/6 which will help her stick around.
@pedrodyl- you choose first. not only is that logical because you are active player, but the rules on the card specify that you choose first.
Once I get my hands on a load of Conspiracy cards, I will be making a cube. This will be in that cube. I think it will be a lot of fun.