Promise of Loyalty – Final Fantasy / Commander 2021
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2025
Ratings:
Constructed: 1.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 3
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Promise of Loyalty is intended more for multiplayer formats – in fact, it has no versions that aren’t part of a Commander set – and that’s where it shines the most. You’ll notice that it does technically deal with all the opponent’s creatures in a 1v1 setting, albeit in a roundabout way. The card’s main weakness is that opponents will just choose something that has abilities they need or that affects the game in some other way; that’s not so much of a problem in multiplayer, because the design of the card encourages people to send them at anyone but you. There is some potential value to preventing attacks in a more unique way than something like Pacifism, and more opponents will be prepared to interact with enchantments than with unusual counter types, although bouncing the creature works in both cases. If it were cheaper, you might see it in some fringe Legacy decks (it’s not legal in Modern or Pioneer).
This card’s Final Fantasy illustration is a great example of that internet meme about “images you can hear”. Every time I look at it, the Final Fantasy X opening cinematic starts playing in my mind and the song “To Zanarkand” gets stuck in my head. The game can’t fail to leave a mark.
Constructed: 1.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 3
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5
One part board wipe and one part politics, Promise of Loyalty is a fun way to create a little chaos at a table by thinning things out and protecting yourself from the remnants. it’s a slight upgrade on board sweepers in general by forcing sacrifices, which is slightly trickier to thwart. That said, five mana is starting to get a bit high, and while the creature left can’t come for you, it can still be a nuisance all the same. It’s still workable, though, and in a pinch, you can really make this work.
Constructed: 1.25 (too slow for a Legacy board wipe)
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
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