Spider tribal? In my Commander group? It's more
likely than you think. Consider that the
Commander format at large is often full of
flying creatures and the accompanying tricks -
how many generals are themselves angels and
dragons and the like? Consider that spiders are
in the exact right colors for the best mana
acceleration, and some of the best card drawing
and protection from opposing removal. Consider
that those same colors are great at making use
of the graveyard, and include nonsense like
Doubling Season and Corpsejack Menace. In that
light, I don't see how Ishkanah can be anything
but a hit.
The last time we reviewed Ishkanah, I had my
misgivings about if she was going to make it in
constructed formats. Turns out that she did.
A 5 mana 3/5 with reach, again, is a bit behind
the curve, but 5 mana for a total of 7 power and
11 toughness, all with reach, is a much better
rate of return, particularly with how
flying-heavy Shadows Over Innistrad block has
wound up being. Five mana is just high enough to
avoid the bogeyman of the format, Spell Queller,
and delirium is very easy to turn on. Her
additional ability is largely ancillary, but it
provides a way to end a game that's going long.
Ishkanah is quite good, and she plays better
than she looks. The next question is if she'll
keep up in Kaladesh; I suspect she will, thanks
to her large body and the prolific flying
creatures of the set.
