Tuesday, 26 January 2021

Kaldheim Additions and Conclusions

 

Kaldheim is a cool set. I do seem to like the planes which heavily draw on real historic mythology and culture for their theme. I am a big fan of the look and feel of this set more than anything else. I am interested to see how the god MDFCs work out and I am excited to play with foretell which is a really promising new mechanic. The set is curious in that it has a a very long review from me relative to others yet a fairly low instance of cards I rate highly. The power level is low compared to the sets of the past couple of years. Certainly the top end power, the bottom end power has to be good else my review would be rather shorter! Lots of cards with lots of text and lots of narrow but powerful stuff too. The best card is the foretell Wrath (and the rest of the Pathways of course), everything else is seemingly pretty fair as far as cube goes. No real bombs or format defining cards it would seem which is probably for the best. I just wish there were more one drops of interest and not so many top end things for which space is limited and the bar is higher. Kaldheim offers two one drops, both dorks and both which require mana investment to go above and beyond. At least the blue one is plugging a gap. The white one is just edging out similar cards. 



White seems to have done well out of this set which is good as white has been the least played, interesting, option rich and dynamic of the colours for some time now. Green also gained some things it was in the market for and should gain some decent flexibility as a result. Additions in the right places colour wise for sure. The gods also add a nice amount of flexibility which is what the weaker colours typically lack. Certainly blue has some cool and dynamic gods but blue is already cool and dynamic so doesn't gain quite as much from their addition as other colours will. I think Kaldheim looks like a great example of what a set should be in most repects. Low power isn't great in terms of impact and changing things but it is absolutely for the best for the health of the game overall. Kaldheim hits a hard mark of being interesting while not being all that powerful and that is what we need right now. Not just in light of recent over powered printings but also in the light of the sheer quantity of new cards coming to print. 




Cube Additions


Doomskar

The 4 Remaining Pathways

Kaya, the Inexorable 

Valki, God of Lies / Tibalt, Cosmic Imposter

Goldspan Dragon

Snakeskin Veil

Reidane, God of of the Worthy / Valkmira, Protector's Shield

Toralf, God of Fury / Toralf's Hammer

Usher of the Fallen 

Ascendant Spirit 

Cosima, God of the Voyage / The Omenkeel

Glorious Protector 



Cards to test with reasonable expectations



Bloodsky Berserker

Birgi, God of Storytelling / Harnfel, Horn of Bounty 

Magda, Brazen Outlaw

Old-Growth Troll

Blood on the Snow

Alrund, God of the Cosmos / Hakka, Whispering Raven

Saw it Coming

Esika's Chariot

Basalt Ravager 

In Search of Greatness 

Battle Mammoth 

Toskie, Bearer of Secrets 

Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider 

Crippling Fear



Cards to test with low expectations



Realmwalker

Sarulf, Realm Eater

Havar, God of Battle / Sword of the Realms

Showdown of the Skalds 

Glimpse of the Cosmos

Behold the Multiverse 

Alrund's Epiphany 

Egon, God of Death / Throne of Death

Path to the World Tree

Ravenform

The World Tree

Tergrid, God of Fright / Tergrid's Lantern

Koma, Cosmos Serpent

Esika, God of the Tree / The Prismatic Bridge

Faceless Haven

Draugr Necromancer

Eradicator Valkyrie 

Run Ashore

Axgard Cavalry 

Roots of Wisdom

Divine Gambit

Clarion Spirit

Battle of Frost and Fire 

Cyclone Summoner 

Tundra Fumarole 

Sigrid, God-Favoured 

Resplendant Marshall

Dragonkn Berserker 

Immerstrum Predator 

The Raven's Wandering

Graven Lore

Dream Devourer 

Ruthless Winnower




Cards for the constructed reserves 



Waking the Trolls

Reckless Crew

Rally the Ranks

The Gold Utility Land Cycle of 10

Giants Amulet

Sculptor of Winter

Seize the Spoils 

Masked Vandal 

Elvish Warmaster

Ranar the Ever-Watchful

Pyre of Heroes 

Armed and Armored 

Starnheim Aspirant

Warchanter Skald

Youthful Valkyrie 

Rampage of the Valkyries

Koll, the Forgemaster 

Snow fetchable duals 

Invasion of the Giants 

Binding of the Old Gods 

Tyvar Kell

Spirit of Aldergard 

Quakebringer 

Search for Glory 

Guardian Gladewalker 

Harald, King of Skemfar

Jorn, God of Winter / Kaldring, the Rimestaff

Tibalt's Trickery 

Weathered Runestone 

Giant Ox

Elderfang Disciple 

Bound in Gold

Harald Unites the Elves 

Avalanche Caller 

Karfell Harbinger

Jasper Sentinel 

Smashing Success 

Pilfering Hawk 

Dwarven Reinforcements 

Skemfar Avenger 

Firja's Retribution 

Aegar, the Freezing Flame 

Narfi, the Betrayer King 

Calamity Bearer 

Runeforge Champion 

Righteous Valkyrie 

Vault Robber 

Fearless Liberator 

Fynn, the Fangbearer 

Colossal Plow

Battlefield Raptor

Frost Auger 

Shimmerdrift Veil 

Priest of the Haunted Edge 

Svella, Ice Shaper

Tyrite Sanctum

The Three Seasons

Icebind Pillar

Orvar, the All-Form

Brinebarrow Intruder 

Bind the Monster 

Starnheim Courser 

Icebreker Kraken

Serpent Soul-Jar

Spectral Deluge

Bounty of Skemfar





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