Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender– Wilds of Eldraine
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2023
Ratings:
Constructed: 3.75
Casual: 4.50
Limited: 3.50
Multiplayer: 3.63
Commander [EDH]: 3.63
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Sweet things, I will never get enough!
Syr Ginger might seem to be coming at an odd time, considering there are probably going to be many fewer planeswalkers in upcoming sets than we’ve been used to of late. But let’s get incongruous for the gingerbread person review and on-theme for the faerie tale set, and point out that everything happens when it’s meant to happen. That might feel odd to say in light of some of Wizards of the Coast’s bizarre policies, but even in that context, there are certainly plenty of older planeswalkers for her to beat down – and how good will it feel to smack Jace upside his brooding and complex head with a gingerbread knight? I wouldn’t overlook her artifact graveyard trigger, either – there are plenty of ways to trigger it both in limited and constructed, even if you don’t stray too far from the Food cards’ default play patterns, and she very quickly puts you too far ahead to catch. Syr Ginger would be popular even if all she had was the concept and the amusing art, but there’s a lot more to her than that.
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 4
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5 (she’s a colorless commander who isn’t an Eldrazi and is actively cute. How is that not like the best thing ever?)
I suppose this was inevitable, right? Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender is one of those cards that just makes sense here, and I’m surprised we didn’t get it sooner. t’s pretty interesting, so let’s get into it.
Syr Ginger has two main features: planeswalker hate, and a payoff for Foods (and Treasures, but mostly foods). Being able to make this more powerful (and set up future plays) just by playing the game means it’s quicky going to be more threatening than that 3/1 body…and trample, hexproof, and haste conditionally give this surprising legs late. While Wilds of Eldraine has just one planeswalker, each constructed format features them as a main part of their gameplay to some degree, and the ubiquity of cards like Liliana of the Veil means good things for it. Being able to eat it in a pinch may also come in handy on occasion…three life isn’t the greatest deal, but if this is six or seven life and it’s the difference between living and dying, I’ll definitely take it. Think of it as a bonus, not the main attraction.
I’m cautiously optimistic that Syr Ginger is good enough to see play in Standard and maybe deeper formats. It is lacking if you can’t start swinging with it then and there, but each format has plenty of planeswalkers that are part of its pool of Threats, and this being a colorless artifact opens up some potential with shells like Affinity. And, remember…the anti-planeswalker buff does not compel you to try and drive the planeswalkers off of the board.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 5
Limited: 3.5 (enough Food running around for this to be a threat)
Multiplayer: 3.75 (triggers if an opponent has one, and that’s all this really needs)
Commander [EDH]: 3.75
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