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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Hero's Downfall
Image from Wizards.com

 Hero's Downfall
- Theros

Reviewed September 30, 2013

Constructed: 4.00
Casual: 4.00
Limited: 3.88
Multiplayer: 3.88

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

Hero's Downfall
 
I have been waiting almost eighteen years to speak or write this exact sentence: this week we are starting with the first Magic set based on Greek mythology.
 
One of the first books I ever read was a retelling of Greek myths by the famous D'Aulaire, so 2013 will live for ever in my memory. This set is cut from the same cloth as Hesiod's Heroic Age, a mythos that has been referred to as the "morning of the world," and I hope that many of you will find it to be a new morning for Magic as well.
 
Ironically, the first card we're looking at depicts someone in the evening of their personal story. I also almost mistook it at first for something along the lines of Betrayers of Kamigawa's Hero's Demise, but it's actually much more generally applicable. I imagine there are a lot of players of black decks for whom this is the most exciting card in the set, as many such players have gotten used to having to find a way to jam Oblivion Ring and some off-color lands into their decks to deal with planeswalkers. 
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5 


Paul

Welcome back readers todays card of the day is Hero’s Downfall the new premiere removal spell. The versatility of being able to hit creatures or planeswalkers at instant speed is quite powerful and provides black decks with an answer to pesky planeswalkers. While three mana compared to the traditional two for a removal spell is an increase the sheer versatility and lack of other powerful options allows this card to stand head and shoulders above other options and in standard will become the go to removal spell for decks. In modern this card has some versatility being able to hit planeswalkers and traditionally threatening creatures is good but three mana may be too much to hold back for a removal spell compared to the other powerful and cheaper options. In eternal formats this card is just too slow to see much play. In casual and multiplayer this is the upgrade of Murder although the rarity may make it less inspiring to but into decks it certainly is powerful and a strict upgrade. In limited its removal being able to kill any creature at instant speed is amazingly powerful although the planeswalker portion may not be entirely relevant but a handy effect to have none the less. Overall a powerful removal spell sure to see constructed and casual play.
 
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 3.0

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Hero's Downfall which is a three mana Black instant that destroys target creature or planeswalker.  This is an improved Murder, which was a very strong card, that will be played in many mono-Black decks as an easy answer to many threats. The double Black is a small drawback in two color builds, as is the slightly higher cost than more specialized options, but overall this is versatile and powerful and will feature prominently in competitive builds for a long time.
 
In Limited this is a fantastic rare and easy first pick in Booster for nearly any pack as a low cost removal for nearly every non-deity threat in the format.  In a Sealed pool with a decent Black aspect this is an automatic inclusion that is only held back by the double Black in the mana cost and the decent number of Indestructible and regenerating cards in the set.
 
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.5


Skid Rambo

Hero’s Downfall

Destroy target creature OR planeswalker. I love cards that give you options at instant speed. When M14 dropped, the idea of running mono-black in Standard was bleak at best. Now Theros has changed that completely. Hero’s Downfall gives mono-black players the ability to take out a planeswalker without using creatures. The mana cost for Hero’s Downfall makes it a little difficult to splash with other colors but it is definitely possible. Hero’s Downfall is an amazing removal spell, BUT… I totally loathe the artwork of the card. Come on WOTC! Why use a furry leg crushing a guy’s midsection? I’m sure that is how Elspeth will die.
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 5/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5


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