Last week, we reviewed a more defensive take on
the escalate mechanic, and this one is much more
aggressive, with the cost involved being
reminiscent of convoke and getting better the
more creatures you control. I find it very
attractive because of that level of aggression
and proactivity, and indeed each of its modes
sets you up and/or opens the way to a massive
attack. Even the second mode is less situational
than it used to be, with all the powerful
Aura-based removal that's come out in the last
few years.
Collective Effort is probably the best of the
Escalate spells, because of its escalate cost
(tap an untapped creature; easy enough) and its
modes (two very good, one situational but good).
Being able to kill a creature with 4 power or
greater is always nice; white tends to go wide
with smaller creatures, so having an out against
a large ugly is good. And speaking of going
wide, the third mode (pump your entire team) is
just absurd. It gets better if you have several
creatures, but even pumping one or two makes
this a good rate of return. Destroying an
enchantment is not likely to be as needed
(unless Triskaidekaphobia or the Demonic Pact
decks start throttling the format), but it’s a
welcome option.
What makes Collective Effort good is that it is
all three in one card. Flexibility in one card
slot is an amazing quality; it’s why cards like
Qasali Pridemage and Orzhov Pontiff have homes
in Modern. I think this card is positioned to
make waves in Standard.
