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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Alpha Authority
Image from Wizards.com

Alpha Authority
- Gatecrash

Reviewed March 4, 2013

Constructed: 3.50
Casual: 3.83
Limited: 3.83
Multiplayer: 3.50

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

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Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Alpha Authority

Did you know that Canopy Cover, a card from Worldwake that's very similar to Alpha Authority, doesn't seem to have been errataed to grant hexproof? I'm not sure why, considering this card doesn't specify "enchant creature you control" or some such. Doesn't mean that either is bad - heck, if you're going Commander with Uril or Krond the Dawn-Clad, I'm sure they'd thank you for playing both. I'm not sure Alpha Authority quite reaches Rancor's level of pure power, as the power boost is huge and trample is like green's version of Doom Blade, but there are times when you might want to evade combat altogether (and, again, nobody said you can't use both). And I for one am happy that, despite the fact that we still don't have that block with enchantment-centered mechanics, we're getting auras that you look twice at instead of more broken equipment.

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Alpha Authority which is a two mana Green aura that gives a creature Hexproof and it can't be blocked by more than one creature. This has a low mana cost, prevents the typical two for one of most removal choices, and works well with a number of targets that have effects like Trample. However, it does not have any other offensive or even defensive boost to benefit non-ideal targets which leaves it a bit too weak for most decks.

In Limited this can be useful either defensively to protect an effect creature that isn't attacking or on a bomb level threat, preferably one with Trample. By itself it isn't compelling and outside of a very specific kind of stalemate involving Trample it is usually a terrible topdeck, even more so with the reduced pool of removal available. In Sealed it can be included when a few appropriate targets are present, though it can safely be sidedecked in favor of less situational options. For Booster it is not really worth drafting until a late on color choice unless the earlier picks feature lots of Trample or some other worthwhile target.

Constructed: 2.5
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 2.5
Multiplayer: 2.5

John
Shultis
Phoenix
Gaming

Welcome to another new and exciting week of card of the day reviews here at Pojo.com! This week, we are feeling green as March has begun, so we will be looking at some green cards from Gatecrash this week! We begin by looking at Alpha Authority from Gatecrash. Alpha Authority is an uncommon green enchantment that costs one generic and one green mana. Alpha Authority says that enchanted creature gains Hexproof and can not be blocked by more than one creature.

Alpha Authority is such an underestimated uncommon that I had to bring it more drastically to people's attention. There are so many cards that can take advantage of being blocked by a single creature. Any triggers that gain trample and Bloodrush would feast on the potential there.

But the creature I feel greatly should find the donor of an Alpha Authority is Primordial Hydra, Should you decide to spare the two mana to enchant the hydra the turn you play him, he will be safe from your opponent's targeted spells. And once he hits ten counters granting trample, he can only be blocked by a single creature, meaning your opponent becomes on a short clock. Because a 20+ power creature will likely not be stopped by one creature alone.

Constructed: 5/5
Casual: 5/5
Limited: 5/5
Multiplayer: 4/5


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