Dragon's Maze Previews

[Dominic Appleguard]

On the flipside, Avacyn will rotate out of standard before Emmara does.

[Kapol]

On the flipside, Avacyn will rotate out of standard before Emmara does.

That's not a big compliment. Even not factoring in Avacyn, Emma is still just flat-out bad. Hell, the 7/7 trample uncommon for 7 mana is better in my opinion, Duskdale Wurm. Or Giant Adaphage.

At 5 mana, I'd play her just because of her 5/7 body. But even then, her 'ability' would be worthless more often than not, even in my token deck I feel. By the current point I would normally have either Cathar's Crusade or Collective Blessing out anyways.

[Kapol]

Both spoilers are 100% on the mark. I'm incredibly disappointed. Emmara was the champion I was looking more forward to too. :/ I like every champion for one reason or another except her. Hell, Teysa is better about tokens than she is.

[Dominic Appleguard]

Yeah, it's not great.
Apparently, the Daily MtG feature is promoting her as a Commander. So I guess her advantage over Avacyn is...she's in the right colors.

Le sigh.

[Kapol]

Still would rather just play Avacyn and stick to mono-white. Or use Ghave, who actually makes tokens, with her as just another card in the deck. Alternatively, I don't care because I never play commander. Guess this'll teach me not to get excited for stuff.

I guess I'll just vent my anger somewhere for a while. Sorry for bitching all.

In fact, I'm going to add in that I do think the red bloodrush guy is alright. He's not great, since you have to pay 3 mana to get him back, but at least he's reusable bloodrush. I'd also love to have a 1-word promo of Wake The Reflections. That seems like a solid card if you play tokens, since it's a 1-cost sorcery to clone any token you have. It's better than... well... yea.

[Dubious_wolf]

yeah even "illness in the ranks" just knocks her to pieces. which I run in my Zur deck.

"Very suboptimal, are you running preordain?"

[Utilitarian]

I do like Wake the Reflections.

And to me the problem with Emmara as a commander if you're playing Tokens is... wouldn't you rather just play Trostani? Same color, same flavor, way cheaper, two abilities that are likely going to be far more relevant.

[Kapol]

I do like Wake the Reflections.

And to me the problem with Emmara as a commander if you're playing Tokens is... wouldn't you rather just play Trostani? Same color, same flavor, way cheaper, two abilities that are likely going to be far more relevant.

Again, I suggest Ghave. He allows you to play Emmara, as well as some black cards that're useful. And Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant can work with any of them better than Emmara does.

[Utilitarian]

I'm not saying Ghave isn't a good choice. Ghave is a great commander. What I'm saying is it's silly for them to promote this lady as a commander when they JUST PRINTED a card in exactly the same colors that does far more far better for that exact archetype.

[Lemegeton]

i am quite shocked at Emmara being real. what i have loved about the other champions is thinking about where they can be good in different decks. Emmara works in 1 very specific deck and thats it.
surely to god when you look at the power of the other champions wizards could have easily added some token generating ability to Emmara to make her somewhat relevant. an ETB effect to give you 2 1/1 tokens in addition to her protect ability would have been so much better. she is that bad i dont even think she is worthy of being called a junk rare.

[ArchieO]

Its the cost, if she was a 4/6 for 3WG that did the 2 1/1 tokens etb thing she would be fine

[Lemegeton]

Its the cost, if she was a 4/6 for 3WG that did the 2 1/1 tokens etb thing she would be fine

yeah that would make so much more sense. or at least have a (T) populate ability or something.

[Drecon]

I really like Emmara for limited actually. If you're drafting a populate-heavy deck you can really dominate combat. Attack without repercussions and on blocking they are practically indestructible.

Not really great for constructed, although she might be nice as a commander. Not as good as Trostani, although in specific situations she might be better because of her huge body (yes, I'm calling her fat, sue me).

[Utilitarian]

I like the Skylasher (or whatever it's going to end up being in english). Sure it's a small body for a rare but it skill eats lingering souls tokens

Also hahaha... Reap Intellect! Expensive but oh man if you pulled that off... especially if you had like, Aetherized them the turn before or something? Jeeze

Profit/Loss: Hey did you like Zealous Persecution? Now it costs 4 more!

Down/Dirty is interesting because it's the only Fuse card so far with zero synergy between its sides

Dragonshift: Yo dawg, I heard you like dragons

[Jenelmo]

Down/dirty is not the only card with zero synergy between the sides as wear/tear doesn't have synergy either

[Kapol]

I really like Emmara for limited actually. If you're drafting a populate-heavy deck you can really dominate combat. Attack without repercussions and on blocking they are practically indestructible.

Not really great for constructed, although she might be nice as a commander. Not as good as Trostani, although in specific situations she might be better because of her huge body (yes, I'm calling her fat, sue me).

The only problem with that is that, at least in my experience, drafting (or even getting in sealed) a populate-heavy deck isn't that easy. You have to get a lot of token producing cards, many of which are sub-optimal. That's from RTR too, where you had 3 packs where it was one of the main focuses. Now it's one of three, with DGM having some stuff to make tokens, but not a whole lot (and a good deal of it is rare or uncommon, making it harder to get). So trying to get 'the token deck' in limited is going to be difficult I'm guessing.

Then there's the fact there's a good deal of removal in the three sets, which will quickly eat her up. And the fact you have to be able to get to 7 mana, draw her, and then be able to play her to be of any help. I see her being alright in limited due to being huge, but only that. Her ability will come in no use more often than not I think, and she's pretty bad even as a big body alone.

The problem with commander as well is that there are so many more ways for people to deal with your creatures. They can still make you sac the tokens, blow up your board, etc.

[Jenelmo]

If you want to make a green white token commander deck i think that Rhys the Redeemed or Tolsimir Wolfblood is going to work better than Emmara

[Lemegeton]

If you want to make a green white token commander deck i think that Rhys the Redeemed or Tolsimir Wolfblood is going to work better than Emmara

thats exactly why she is so bad. the exact role wizards have designed her can be filled with MUCH better cards.

oh and by the way

HOLY FUCK have you seen Reap Intellect. like a souped-up version of slaughter games. Dimir has got some serious power.

[Kapol]

HOLY FUCK have you seen Reap Intellect. like a souped-up version of slaughter games. Dimir has got some serious power.

Except it costs one extra at least. And it can only be cards in the opponent's hand to start with. And it can be countered. And there's no guarantee of getting anything unless you look at their hand first.

[Lemegeton]

HOLY FUCK have you seen Reap Intellect. like a souped-up version of slaughter games. Dimir has got some serious power.

Except it costs one extra at least. And it can only be cards in the opponent's hand to start with. And it can be countered. And there's no guarantee of getting anything unless you look at their hand first.

yeah but against control decks it will be very strong. they are bound to have a counter in hand you will want to get rid of. i like it

[Kapol]

If they have counters in hand, more often than not they'll just counter it.

[Dubious_wolf]

Dimir will always be too expensive.

[Lemegeton]

If they have counters in hand, more often than not they'll just counter it.

well i am obviously not going to cast it if they have enough untapped mana to counter j/k

[Kapol]

That's the problem, if you're playing a good control player, there'll be almost no time when they're tapped out. You can't even do it in response to them tapping out for a Revelation.

[Utilitarian]

That's the problem, if you're playing a good control player, there'll be almost no time when they're tapped out. You can't even do it in response to them tapping out for a Revelation.

If I were running this card in Standard I think I'd want to have Dispel in the board against controls. tap out minus one to cast this guy and then counter the inevitable counter yourself