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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!


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Thalia, Heretic Cathar
- Eldritch Moon

Reviewed July 5, 2016

Constructed: 4.25
Casual: 4
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4.25

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

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David Fanany

Player since 1995

Thalia, Heretic Cathar
 
I've been playing a lot of 93/94 recently, much of which involved trying to make Kismet do something. It's in an odd sort of place, where it doesn't lock out attackers like Island Sanctuary or Moat but is a little on the expensive side for aggressive decks, meaning that it doesn't compare so well with Armageddon. Reading Thalia's game text, I feel like someone inside Wizards may have been working on that same issue for twenty years or so, because she enters play at an excellent point for aggressive white decks, fights like a much more expensive creature, and eliminates any chance of emergency blocking for ever. And she somehow looks even cooler than her original incarnation, too!
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
EDH/Commander: 4/5

James H.

Thalia, Heretic Cathar (7/5)

Out of all of the Eldritch Moon cards spoiled in the first week, Thalia stands out as being one of the most flagrantly powerful. If she were just a 3/2 with first strike, she'd be on the verge of being playable, but her second ability is going to be absurd, especially in wider formats. Keeping creatures tapped down the turn they come into play makes it harder to mount an effective defense against her and her allies...but locking down nonbasic lands is extremely good. It basically neuters the fetchlands (from Zendikar and Onslaught/Khans of Tarkir), meaning that an early Thalia basically can lock your opponent down long enough for you to run them over.

I think Thalia will probably fare better outside of Standard, in formats such as Modern and Legacy.  These formats can power her out faster, and they rely more on awkward mana bases that she's able to punish. She's no slouch in Standard, though, thanks to being a 3 power first striker. Her only true downside is that 2 toughness; while creatures might not have an easy time taking her down, red's seemingly endless array of burn damage options certainly won't.

Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4
Commander: 4.5


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