The Planeswalker decks for Magic The Gathering are a nifty little feature of the world famous card game. The decks are pre-built, pre sorted sets of cards that enhance a particular Planeswalker (the heroes of the game). They’re functioning intro decks that also have plenty of cards for experienced players. Basically, there’s something in them for every type of Magic player.
The release for the new Aether Revolt series have a nifty twiddle; the Planeswalker cards are new to the game, but feature existing heroes. The Ajani Valiant Protector set is all about the lion-like Ajani. The character has one of the more interesting backstories in the game but is your standard justice seeking big damn hero. In this new set, his card (which costs a standard 6 mana) lets you buff other creatures throughout play. Easy to usE and fun to work with.
The set is White/Green, both colours traditionally associated with buffing and protecting your summoned beasties. Don’t worry that you won’t have enough White/Green mana; they’ve reprinted Tranquil Expanse for this set, a land card that lets you tap either of those types of mana, though it comes into play tapped. The deck also has Inspiring roar, a white card that gives all your monsters +1/+1. The card Ajani’s Comrade, gives the cat-faced warrior an elvish allow who can’t easily be stopped and gets stronger over play. There’s also a card to help you fetch or recover Ajani from your deck.
The art is gorgeous, but then we expect that from Magic cards.
The Aether Revolt series is mostly about artifacts and magical devices. However, this particular deck in mostly about throwing lots of easily buffable monsters at your opponent. The green/white combo lets you flood the board with beasties. It doesn’t really have much of a resistance to the magical trickery of Black or Blue decks, but who cares, you’ll have all the monsters.
The set comes with a box to store the cards in and two extra booster packs. This let’s you tweak the set as and when you need it.
Ajani Valiant Protector is designed to be rapid and fun to play. It delivers this in spades.
MAGIC THE GATHERING – AJANI VALIANT PROTECTOR / DESIGNERS: BEN HAYES, SAM STODDARD / ARTIST: WILLIAM MURAI / PUBLISHER: WIZARDS OF THE COAST / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
