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Pearlthorn Dragon Knight
Valor
Omens: Chrysotic Plague
Reviewed January 12, 2007
Constructed: 4.9
Sealed: 5
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst. 3 ... average.
5 is the highest rating
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That Guy That
Plays DreamBlade |
Pearlthorn
Dragon Knight
Ok, so to top off the week, we get a rare that I
finally like. I'm sure others will agree just by
looking at him. I assumed he was Janus before
this though, because if you look at it, you can
see what I thought to be another head right
behind it, and thats the classic trademark for
Janus: two faces. Now this guy fits a hole in
the Janus curve pretty nice. Baxar gave Janus
Unspeakable Brothers. Now as an 11 drop, we get
something more secure. With stats of 6 - 11/11,
this thing has great stats and pretty close to
Noble Dragon. However, this fits more into
Janus's union theme well with its effect. Rally
2, a spawn phase ability for two spawn, brings
two adjacent allies into this cell with him if
you can. Now for flat out valor, Im uncertain
whether he will be included over Angel of
Sunrise, considering both have their ups and
downs. Spawn phase movement made me think of
Kitsune, our friend from the powerful Bloodcut
lineage. However, the same discussion can be
made for choice at the 11 spot, although Angel's
utility shines more here. Finally, for the band
it should see play in, I think it is just what
they needed. A way to group the pieces together
to ensure blades for Janus Warpstrike cannot be
stressed enough, seeing as the Madness aspect
keeps them apart alot of the time. With Arch of
Triumph (which coincidentally has flavor text
linking to Janus), its potential jumps a little
higher. The big plus in this ability makes it
possible to strike before shifting, and possibly
strike again. Of course, there are downsides to
it being "adjacent" allies. Make of it what you
will, I like it.
Constructed: 3.5/5 - Have yet to see how the
upcoming Janus works with him, but i think the
results might be pretty good (not Kitty Tier
though)
Sealed: 4/5 - Very solid drop, so if you have a
decent amount of fodder to ensure he's out at
mid-game, then definitly include him.
Artwork: 4/5 - His flavor text is funny, the
idea is cool...but the way its second head is...
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Charninja |
Pearlthorn
Dragon Knight
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And while
he was a little late on getting us gifts, he
definitely pulled through. Ladies and gentlemen,
I present to you the single best Janus figure we
currently have, AND what is pretty much
guaranteed to be one of the best pieces in
Chrysotic Plage, AND is one of the best pieces
out there.
This is what big Valor pieces should be. Just
like with Angel of Sunrise, Pearlthorn Dragon
Knight has great stats and an awesome ability.
PDK has Rally, and Rally is GOOD.
First things though, 11VV getting 6 11|11 is
definitely cool. Only Inscirbed Axebeast and
Noble Dragon have 6 power in Valor, and all
things considered... he beats them soundly.
Inscribed Axebeast is too reliant on being in a
losing situation (or in a situation where you
are letting your opponent way too much
leniency), and while Noble Dragon IS good...
he's just not as good as this.
But... of course... he does have some serious
competition with the aforementioned Angel of
Sunrise. Is Rally better than Haste?
...
*shudders*
That's not a debate I have any interest in
dealing with. I like my body parts right where
they are, thank you.
Anyway, anyway, enough dillydallying, let's get
on to what Rally does.
For 2 spawn points, you can pull two adjacent
allies to the same cell as PDK. Sweet swarmage
all mighty. If we ever get some more Chargers
(especially Janus ones), we just got a nice
combo, but it works quite well enough in a
standard kitsune/hammer band already. And
consider that you are going to have three pieces
in that cell, you could easily be topping 12 or
13 dice in the strike, and there ain't much that
will survive that. Probably even make a
Ragedrake whimper, so you KNOW that is cool.
Does kinda weaken board position, but when you
need to take out a Drake or Ogre, you need to
take out a Drake or Ogre. If you have to, you
could always just skirmish something out to
reclaim some board strength.
I am a bit confuzzled though. Faceless King
already has Rally Lost, and yet it's a
completely different ability. I guess it's kinda
like Gambit or something, with it having
different meanings depending on what comes after
the keyword... or whatever WotC decides just
because they decide it.
I only have one caveat: 11 Defense AND 11 Life.
Your opponent just has to roll 11 to have their
way with the guy. I'd much prefer it if PDK had
at least 12 Life so it would take a bit more
work to take him out.
Constructed: 4.9/5 He is great, and his ability
is awesome. If you are paranoid about Haste
Gambit giving your opponent that one extra
point, he makes the perfect alternative, and if
Valor ever gets support for a swarm based band,
he'd be great. Heck, it doesn't even have to be
all Valor. With Baba Yaga's Hut the way it is,
it's friggin sweet in ANY kind of swarm band.
Limited: 5/5 If you can tell Me one reason why
you shouldn't play him out of the box... you are
wrong.
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