Add it in a deck with something like Sovereigns of Lost Alara (because of the colour and Exalted), and whip together an exalted deck, including such notables like Angelic Benediction, and you've got something that is very powerful.
Nagoragama
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(10 votes)
It's a shame they decided to commission new art for this card, because the old art is vastly superior to this one.
MrBarrelRoll
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(9 votes)
Bleargh, it's just as bad as the new Knight of the Reliquary versus the old one. And it was made by the same dude. Can someone politely ask him to stop remaking iconic Bant cards? Much thanks.
divine_exodus
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
Rafiq!! What happened to you?!
Radagast
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(9 votes)
The artwork is BLAH! Horrible, with tiny head syndrome... looks almost badly Photoshopped in place.
ScepterofEternities
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(6 votes)
This art can never compare to the old one.
sonorhC
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
Darth, his lion showed up in the old art, too. He's dismounted, but it's still there right behind him.
Ideatog
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
The new art makes ole' Rafiki look like he has breasts.
I guess if you're into that kind of thing...
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
what a boss edh general
starfox444
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Ferlord If you want to fiddle with decks like that, google "Mythic Conscr.iption"
Shadoflaam
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It was suuuuch a bad idea to put him in FTV. There is no possible way to beat the old art.
I thought this was "From the Vault: Legends," not "From the Vault: Shards of Alara"
j_mindfingerpainter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Let's see here, this is the third time I attack with Rafiq, and all your creatures suck, so you haven't blocked him at all... whoops, I win the game. True in EDH or Modern. Thanks to exalted, however, I'm sure there's a way to win in 2 attacks.
But seriously, what did WotC have against Michael Komarck's version?
adrian.malacoda
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@Superllama12
This FtV set was developed with EDH in mind. I don't play EDH, but my understanding is that EDH players prefer multicolor Generals, and Alara block has by far the strongest mulicolor theme.
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Is it just me, or was a lot of the new art from FtV: Legends just...
Underwhelming?
MrBarrelRoll, the old art on both cards was made by the same dude as well (Micheal Komark). Somebody should tell him to continue to continue doing iconic bant cards.
Trygon_Predator
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
The friend of the many... Yup, Rafiq is Arabic for "friend". Interesting how the very Medieval-European Bant has a lot of Arabic or Arabic-sounding names.
LeoCantus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Why did anyone want to give Rafiq new art? His old art was one of the best pieces in the game.
Why are people hating on the art? This is Wayne Reynolds' style! I personally love this one (and the old one as well).
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Dear art critics: you know, if they had to put in ANOTHER Alaran in the set, at least they gave Rafiq a horse...er...I mean...lion o.o Reminds me of Knight of the Reliquary in DD: KvD. Yes, the old art IS better. BUT! Every Knight needs a steed. That's always been a rule, and it's STILL a rule. :) 9/13/2011
2 Years Later... EDIT: Hmmm...You know....I am beginning to think that FTV: Legends is going to AGE a lot better than From the Vault: Dragons did. :P
See....yes, there were all these Alaran cards in it? And we really didn't think we needed/wanted half of them in the set? But now here were are, and so far I still can't think of a Commander I'd rather have in these colors than Rafiq. He's the Go-To man for the colors. He might rise in value sometime when you least expect. He's very customizable, good with a Tokens strategy combined with Sublime Archangel, or good as an "All-In Me" Superhero guy, and you can slide Kond into the 99...when you would probably not want to run Kond as the Commander..
Kiki-Jiki and Ulamog were actually already good picks, and darn it if we haven't seen any other reprints of Eldrazi Titans since then...if by the end of the 20th Year Anniversary celebrations, demand for FTV: L hasn't picked up, I'll be surprised. We'll have to see what is in the 2nd Wave of Commander.
I don't think Kresh is the ONLY Commander for his colors....ditto about Sharuum, although she's much more highly played.
I think if they'd left the Alaran Vault members to Progenitus and Rafiq, they would have done well.
A Shard Legend (Rafiq) A Guild Legend (Momir Vig) A 5-Color Legend (Progenitus) A Colorless Legend (Ulamog) A Hybrid Legend (Oona) A Weatherlight (Captain Sisay) An Elder Dragon (Vaevictis Asmadi or Palladia-Mors) with two changes for Sharuum and Kresh, this is looking a lot better..?
I mean...this was ALMOST a good set, and while it's overloaded on Shards Legends, of the many present, a couple of them deserve to be here. I think Rafiq is one of them.
I also think this set would have profited greatly from including a Glissa the Traitor or Skithyrix the Blight Dragon. Yes, recent cards, but they actually left a big impact on people.
GrimjawxRULES
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Medomai the Ageless is absolutely absurd with Rafiq and Finest Hour. If he goes unblocked you'll deal 28 damage and take 4 extra turns for a total of 8 additional combat steps for Rafiq to do his thing and wreck face.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wonderful synergy with Civic Saber, allowing him to effectively attack as a 14/4 as early as turn 5 — or 4, considering you're playing green.
jhTheMan99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Unbelievable as Commander, I love when I attack my friends and they go "how much" and I say oh... 8 or 10 or 12 commander damage and they're like "what the heck"
Comments (29)
I guess if you're into that kind of thing...
If you want to fiddle with decks like that, google "Mythic Conscr.iption"
turn 2: rhox war monk
turn 3: This.
not game winning but still very fun
But seriously, what did WotC have against Michael Komarck's version?
This FtV set was developed with EDH in mind. I don't play EDH, but my understanding is that EDH players prefer multicolor Generals, and Alara block has by far the strongest mulicolor theme.
Underwhelming?
Reminds me of Knight of the Reliquary in DD: KvD.
Yes, the old art IS better. BUT! Every Knight needs a steed. That's always been a rule, and it's STILL a rule. :)
9/13/2011
2 Years Later...
EDIT: Hmmm...You know....I am beginning to think that FTV: Legends is going to AGE a lot better than From the Vault: Dragons did. :P
See....yes, there were all these Alaran cards in it? And we really didn't think we needed/wanted half of them in the set? But now here were are, and so far I still can't think of a Commander I'd rather have in these colors than Rafiq. He's the Go-To man for the colors. He might rise in value sometime when you least expect. He's very customizable, good with a Tokens strategy combined with Sublime Archangel, or good as an "All-In Me" Superhero guy, and you can slide Kond into the 99...when you would probably not want to run Kond as the Commander..
Kiki-Jiki and Ulamog were actually already good picks, and darn it if we haven't seen any other reprints of Eldrazi Titans since then...if by the end of the 20th Year Anniversary celebrations, demand for FTV: L hasn't picked up, I'll be surprised. We'll have to see what is in the 2nd Wave of Commander.
I don't think Kresh is the ONLY Commander for his colors....ditto about Sharuum, although she's much more highly played.
I think if they'd left the Alaran Vault members to Progenitus and Rafiq, they would have done well.
A Shard Legend (Rafiq)
A Guild Legend (Momir Vig)
A 5-Color Legend (Progenitus)
A Colorless Legend (Ulamog)
A Hybrid Legend (Oona)
A Weatherlight (Captain Sisay)
An Elder Dragon (Vaevictis Asmadi or Palladia-Mors)
with two changes for Sharuum and Kresh, this is looking a lot better..?
I mean...this was ALMOST a good set, and while it's overloaded on Shards Legends, of the many present, a couple of them deserve to be here. I think Rafiq is one of them.
I also think this set would have profited greatly from including a Glissa the Traitor or Skithyrix the Blight Dragon. Yes, recent cards, but they actually left a big impact on people.