Jukai Naturalist – Kamigawa: Neon Destiny
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2022
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.50
Casual: 3.50
Limited: 3.33
Multiplayer: 2.83
Commander [EDH]: 3.33
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
After years of being told that we can’t have enchantments as a mechanical theme – or maybe they stopped, I haven’t been on Mark Rosewater’s Tumblr since the first Theros block – we had the cool stuff in Theros Beyond Death, and now we have this guy. He’s the right colors for Enchantress decks, he’s an efficient card, and he has the ability that makes all the somewhat awkwardly-costed auras that act as removal and the build-around global enchantments a little less awkward. (If we’re “allowed” to have Goblin Electromancer, we’re “allowed” to have the equivalent for enchantments.) And of course, there are ever more creatures that are also enchantments – he’s pretty well-costed for some kind of enchantment-based Zoo deck that just floods creatures into play and overwhelms the opponent. I don’t think the pieces to make that a high-tier deck are quite there right now, but I wouldn’t bet against them coming along.
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander [EDH]: 3/5
The obvious home for Jukai Naturalist is in all sorts of Enchantress decks, thanks to stacking cost reduction at a low point on the curve, though he’s quite serviceable as a body on his own. A 2/2 with lifelink may not win many games, but he’ll pull his weight early and help you in late-game attempts to go off. He is fairly narrow, but Selesnya/Bant Enchantress can be quite potent, and this certainly is an auspicious set for him to show off his talents.
Constructed: 3.5 (narrow, but solid)
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4 (the body is solid early, and the heavy enchantment focus of the set makes this a strong pick)
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 4 (one of these early can really help you to take over a game)
Beautiful card for Enchantress strategies, specifically in commander, but can be used in any WG enchantment based deck. Perfect casting cost, perfect attack/defense, and the added bonus of having lifelink is pretty rad. Outside of enchantress or enchantment heavy strategies it is a pretty bad card that won’t do anyone much good. Theros being out of the rotation doesn’t help the play-ability either…Neon Dynasty has a strong enchantment focus which should help in limited, not technically a “build around me” card but one that is going to steer you in a specific direction.
Constructed: 4/5 (Enchantress) 1/5 other
Casual: 2/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 2/5
Commander [EDH]: 4/5 (enchantress) 1/5 other
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