Pointed Discussion

Should see quite a bit of Standard play. I think a WBR deck with this and Exava, among other good creatures, will be able to shine once Innistrad block rotates out.

I'm loving heroic already. Picking it for best Theros mechanic. Also, R/W trample is always a good thing

I have been trying out a proxy of this card since it was spoiled in my Naya enchantment aura deck , so far she has only been useful when I pull Ajani's Chosen or Sigil of the empty throne...

Not too shabby at all.

With cards like this, Phalanx Leader and Akroan Crusader I might just start Flames of the Firebranding my own creatures.

I wish Heroic was "Whenever a spell you cast targets this" rather than "Whenever you cast a spell that targets this" so that Seeds of Strength would become Overrun with him. I can always dream.

Vigilance and first strike always make for an awesome combination. Blocking my creature? Bam, it's dead! And now you're attacking? Bam, that creature's also dead! Their Heroic ability also synergizes super well with itself - I'm really excited to look for this in my boosters!

Dat templating error.

Sounds fun, though. I can't wait to spam Whim of Volrath in casual.

When my buddy and I played the new Heroes vs Monsters DD today, the heroes won every game where this card made it to the field, and we played quite a few (it helped that the Monsters deck kinda lacks sufficient mana ramp...). Enchanting A&C with something even as innocuous-looking as Griffin Guide makes it (and your army) surprisingly powerful -- who wouldn't want to swing on turn 4 with a buffed, trampling horde led by a 6/5 creature with First Strike, Vigilance, Flying, and Trample?

Naya deck with this and Sigil Blessing will be suhweeet.

THIS. IS. AKROS!

i'm putting this up before we have any cards actually spoiled with 'Akros' in the name. :)

it will be amusing to see if anything really awesome comes along! :D

Anthrax and Cyanide?

I like the card, but the names...to me it sounds like some kind of hemorrhoid ointment.
Anax, now with Cymede (tm), relieves itching and burning with the first strike...

According to Anax's story, he was not a warrior born but a warrior made. He defeated two of his greatest opponents, his brother and himself, to claim his righteous position as Akros' future king.

"What must a king do to save his world?"
"Instead ask yourself: What should a free man do?"

Super filthy with Ethereal Armor and Madcap Skills

This compares quite favourably with fan-favourite Mirri, Cat Warrior.

Mirri is a 2/3 First Striker with Vigilance for .

This is a 3/2 First Striker with Vigilance for .

Both are legendary, the CMC is the same, the combined power / toughness is the same, and the specialized cost requires two coloured mana for both, though Mirri is mono-coloured and naturally easier to cast.

The Power / Toughness swap actually improves the creature for aggro and combat (who needs toughness on a first striking vigilante), though making it slightly easier to kill.

In casual constructed (which is where both these cards find a home) the difference may be Pyroclasm or X-spells. There will be times when it dies and Mirri wouldn't, but there will also be times when it wins you the game and Mirri wouldn't.

This leaves the 3rd ability. Mirri has Forestwalk, which is incredibly useful if you find yourself against ramp or other green builds (in particular if you are carrying Rancors, Bonesplitters and Giant Growths) but useless otherwise.

Anax and Cymede have an Heroic 1/3 Overrun ability when you cast a spell that targets them, which requires a specific build to be useful (pump, auras and aggro), but it's not mandatory to build around it. Like Mirri's Forestwalk, if Anax and Cymede's Heroic sits out of the match entirely, you will still have a 3/2 first striking vigilante for CMC .

That's not bad value at all, especially in multi-player, where defensive abilities are of paramount importance.

@darthparralx: boy did it EVER! colossus of akros

Pictured in background: Colossus of Akros.

3/2 first strike vigilance for 3 mana is sweet.
The rest is just icing on the cake.