Selvala, Eager Trailblazer – Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2024
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.88
Casual: 4.25
Limited: 4.50
Multiplayer: 3.75
Commander [EDH]: 4.00
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
We’re all on a road that just don’t seem to end when it comes to Magic – there’s no set that is completely devoid of value, but there are also many sets that don’t fully deliver (whatever exactly that means to different people). We all have ups and downs, but many of us stick with the game anyway, and I think Selvala would understand the concept. The frontier and the horizon call, as clearly as a trio of powerful singers; what we’ve just seen is known, fixed, but the next milestone could bring anything. Even legendary creatures in cowboy hats.
It’s cool to see the Mercenary creature type come back in such a big way in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, a way so far divorced from its past Phyrexian baggage; especially when it’s supporting white and green go-wide themes (those colors’ creature types tend towards the more, shall we say, altruistic). And considering Selvala’s colors, you’re going to be triggering it a lot. It’s also fascinating to look at her strategic implications in this light, as it’s possible to make a deck that can take advantage of both her triggered ability and her mana ability, where your opponent won’t be sure which one is going to kill them first. When you consider typical aggro decks, it’s very easy to get her to tap for two mana and quite easy to get three, and beyond that you’re looking at broken territory.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
Selvala’s back, this time with a bigger body and a bigger potential mana production value. Despite being rooted in Selesnay colors, Selvala can work in anything that has its toes there, and on her own she can potentially produce three different colors; creating a 1/1 for each creature spell can add up, and the mana production trigger means you can stack the Mercenaries in a way that adds up.
Selvala’s interesting as a sort of curve-topper that also doubles as mana production, though a 4/5 body with vigilance means she can put in work offensively. The army ina box” archetype is pretty impactful, though you do need to have several other creatures to make this work, and a four-mana mana generator is…a bit underwhelming. In general, mana production is better if it’s on a lower point on the mana scale. I feel you can make this better as a sort of curve-topper than as a stepping stone.
Constructed: 3.75
Casual: 4
Limited: 5
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 4
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