Wavebreak Hippocamp – Theros Beyond Death MTG Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

In some Magic settings of the past, casting spells on other people’s turns was strong enough that it didn’t need a separate card that incentivized it. This was mainly when you had cards like Fact or Fiction around, and most decks couldn’t really match the instant-speed play or counteract it. That’s not what the current Standard, nor most other Magic settings, are like now – blue still has the most instants, but they’re nowhere near as overwhelming as they have been at other times. That means, in a strange way, that Wavebreak Hippocamp might actually have better prospects now. When you can’t rely on both answering plays and gaining card advantage just by playing during your opponent’s turn, a card that helps you do one of those things could be a big deal. The Hippocamp is obviously very fragile and does little on its own, but anything that promises a constant stream of card advantage is worth experimenting with. There was recently a Simic Flash deck in Standard, and a card like this could be interesting in such a deck, although not having flash itself could make it awkward.

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
EDH/Commander: 4/5

Given blue’s proclivity towards being a reactive color, it’s kinda cool to see some newer support for the most obnoxious parts of blue’s arsenal. Wavebreak Hippocamp does just that, cantripping the first spell you cast on an opponent’s turn. Like countermagic. Countermagic replacing itself is pretty legit, not gonna lie. And seeing as how it triggers on each of your opponent’s turns, this is a nice way to further your attempts to do Nothing.

The downside is apparent: that body won’t be winning any awards, and it does telegraph your strategy rather cleanly. It’s not as if they can often stop it completely, and Wavebreak Hippocamp can get you some nice value on its way out, but every color can readily maul a 2/2 with no protection whatsoever. I’m not sure if this is a Standard card, but there might be a home for it in Pioneer and Modern somehow, as a bit of extra engine grease for a deck type that can sometimes be wanting for just a touch more gas.

Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.75
Limited: 3 (can be built around, but it’s not going to probably be a house)
Multiplayer: 4
Commander: 4

Phat
Pack
Magic
YouTube

Hello everyone and welcome back to Pojo’s Card of the day, we’re looking at some of the new cards coming out in Theros Beyond Death and today is another preview from the new set!

Today we’re looking at a particular card that is of a very small creature type called HorseFish, Wavebreak Hippocamp!

This card screams combo on it, but the resilience of the creature leaves much to be desired. It’s only a 2/2 so it’s extra susceptable to various forms of removal. However the types of decks that want it aren’t usually the decks that are going to play it. It might be decent enough if Izzet Phoenix makes a resurgence in Theros. The main decks that are playing spells on an opponents turns are counter control.

Where I think this card will shine is in Multiplayer Formats where you can draw cards over multiple players turns.

In Limited and Cube draft in general I don’t think this card is going to be very strong, card draw is incredibly few and far between in Booster Draft and in all honesty I think this is going to be a card that sits at the bulk bin.

Constructed 1/5 – The amount of decks that are good with it are few and far between and most simply wouldn’t want this card.
Limited 2/5 – A non-flying wind-drake with trinket text that probably won’t turn on most of the time.
Multiplayer / Commander 4/5 – The value of this card goes up a lot more thee more turns there are and you’re able to interact more.
Cube 1/5 – Not worth the spot in a 360, let alone a 540 … maybe a 720?

Phat Pack Magic is a channel dedicated to Magic: the Gathering and creating awesome coverage of local events for formats like Cube, rare pack drafts, and now FNM Pioneer videos! Check it out at YouTube.com/PhatPackMagic