I actually really like this card. People say that is doesn't protect against thoughtsieze because it's a turn 2 drop. While that is true, it does protect against the 2nd and 3rd thoughtsiezes. In standard matches against decks running it there is almost always more that 1 thoughtsieze cast. So they are only going to be able to disrupt your hand once, unless they make you discard him, in which case that leaves your arguable more vital cards in your hand. This guy also completely nurfs Satyr Firedancer
This guy is basically giving the middle finger to every other Colour. Screw you, Blue; you can't mill my master. Screw you Black, you can't make my master sacrifice creatures or discard cards. Screw you Red; you can't punch my master in the face. Screw you, Gr...actually, I think Green and I will get on just fine, especially in a G/W hexproof deck.
Yes, it dies to Doom Blade, but does your opponent really want to use their best removal spell on your two-drop?
Grakling
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Turn 3 drop a Swiftfoot Boots and equip it to him, if you really need to keep him around. Or if you feel like you can wait til turn 3 to drop him, you can play the boots on T2, and then this guy T3 and attach the boots, that way he doesn't sit with a target on his head during your opponent's turn.
troll_berserker
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Shouldn't this guy 1/2, not the other way around? Being the Aegis of the Gods after all...
purplebackpack89
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
This is unfair OP. "You have hexproof" should be CMC 3-4. Yes, I know this dies to Deathmark, Demystify and Shock, but it's still OP.
Dabok
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A 2/1 2-drop with extra value is almost always a good starting recipe for a great card. While this doesn't do anything exciting and is rather defensive, you always get something out of it, that's why it is good. 5/5 no doubt
thePROJECTION
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(5 votes)
This is a powerful card. The only problem is that it doesn't fit the meta very well, and there are better cards in older formats. This guy comes down the turn after a thoughtsieze or duress. And I'd rather have a Leyline of Sanctity in EDH. Really bad against mono red, since they can just nuke him down.
2/1 for 1 white mana and 1 colourless is a good hexproof creature for 2 mana, which is hard to remove. In my opinion a good limited card, but greater with some hexproof constructed decks. An easy 5 star card in standard set with limit amount of hexproof cards. It cost 1 colourless, which is easier to use the card with other colours too and it's a bonus.
This will definitely change how people see Modern decks, even if it is just including one Aegis in your sideboard.
The biggest thing between this and True Believer is the cost versus , making this 90% more playable. I bet the dev-team was wondering if they should reprint True Believer ( in the block that introduced Devotion? AWFUL), but had grander ideas. With , you can splash this pretty well in competitive formats.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
"I can't touch you? Well now, you can't touch ME!" - Speaking to True-Name Nemesis
Saakeli
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
You guys are forgetting that this thing dies to a sneeze. Sure giving it hexproof results in some nifty tricks but in sealed play I would've rather taken a Traveling Philosopher
DaLucaray
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
IzzetRaikou, I think you mean:
Gray Merchant doesn't target
-Mono Black
surewhynot
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
His disciples and Athreos himself wear cloths to cover their face. This, along side the flavor text here and the fact that His temple is the Temple of Silence (i.e. moment of silence) makes me feel that Athreos not only sees a great duty in guiding the dead, but He feels empathy and remorse towards them. Very cool.
RazorYeti
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Dies to a lot of things, but what doesn't?
Also, Hexproof is a VAST improvement over Shroud.
Belgarath123
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why is your sword pointing backwards?
Yozuk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why can't I have this in green?
Cyr
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The most interesting part of this card for me is how the name and rules text interact. A creature that shields the gods protects... You, the planeswalker that summoned it. That says a lot about its worldview and perhaps what planeswalkers would be to many in a land like Theros.
I think it would have been a lot more flavorful as a spirit though, maybe even a legendary one. Wouldn't it be cooler if there was this one particular guardian spirit that had so important (or perhaps so righteous) a task that Athreos brought him back?
Comments (27)
~Mono Black Devotion
This guy is basically giving the middle finger to every other Colour. Screw you, Blue; you can't mill my master. Screw you Black, you can't make my master sacrifice creatures or discard cards. Screw you Red; you can't punch my master in the face. Screw you, Gr...actually, I think Green and I will get on just fine, especially in a G/W hexproof deck.
Yes, it dies to Doom Blade, but does your opponent really want to use their best removal spell on your two-drop?
While this doesn't do anything exciting and is rather defensive, you always get something out of it, that's why it is good.
5/5 no doubt
The only problem is that it doesn't fit the meta very well, and there are better cards in older formats.
This guy comes down the turn after a thoughtsieze or duress.
And I'd rather have a Leyline of Sanctity in EDH.
Really bad against mono red, since they can just nuke him down.
3/5, imo
An easy 5 star card in standard set with limit amount of hexproof cards.
It cost 1 colourless, which is easier to use the card with other colours too and it's a bonus.
The biggest thing between this and True Believer is the
Sure giving it hexproof results in some nifty tricks but in sealed play I would've rather taken a Traveling Philosopher
Gray Merchant doesn't target
-Mono Black
Also, Hexproof is a VAST improvement over Shroud.
I think it would have been a lot more flavorful as a spirit though, maybe even a legendary one. Wouldn't it be cooler if there was this one particular guardian spirit that had so important (or perhaps so righteous) a task that Athreos brought him back?
let me just activate my Aether vial in response.