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by The scathing sands of Al Mipedim left behind, many of these desert survivors seek a new frontier. Scions under a burning sun, warriors forged in fortitude and honor, walkers unseen between the winds. They now lay claim to this forgotten city in the clouds, awaiting the return of their king.
What Does It Do?
Let's start from the top of the card and work our way inward.
Tribe (Mipedian
) — His tribe gives more possibilities to be covered below.
Rarity (Ultra Rare) — A separate discussion.
Types (Elite Warrior) — Alas, his pairing of types have next to no support, as with almost every subtype that isn't Mandiblor. The Warrior-type was at least given (admittedly weak) support in the latter part of Dawn of Perim block.
Statistics (avg. C75 P40 W35 S90 E60) — A very strong array packing two workable disciplines and energy on par with most modern-day fighting creatures. He'll be able to soak up more hits than many of his tribesman and still be kicking afterwards. Strong courage and high speed are nothing to scoff at either, and they'll open up more options for him discussed later.
Elemental Types (Air
) — The backbone primary element of the Mipedian tribe. This element is very well-supported and will be brought up later.
Mugic Ability (1
) — Why, hello there! Being able to cast Mugic in the format where it matters in a strength that cannot be overlooked.
Abilities Text
Wow. Malvadine's combative and protective abilities are certainly in the making for a metagame contender and open many doors, but we'll get to that in just a second.
Strategic Application:
Since Malvadine is a Defender, it goes without saying that it's wise to keep him in your middle row to protect any support creatures. Maintaining proper board placement will let him remain a loyal shield against oncoming baddies. Another possible tactic is using the Defender ability in a offensive manner: by positioning your creatures in a way that encroaches on the opponent's, they'll be forced to bring the fight to Malvadine by either attacking him or a creature he can defend.
Combos & Synergies:
While Malvadine himself doesn't exactly work in any "combos", he certainly does have a host of creatures that will compliment his strengths. Prince Mudeenu, Champion of the Guard is a Royal that both turns on Malvadine's second paragraph and gives all Mipedians you control Invisibility: Surprise (including himself), ensuring that you will never falter an initiative. Iflar, The Crown Prince makes for an effective and elusive fighter to get under the opponent's skin on your turn, with a solid bodyguard on theirs. Owayki is another Royal that will enhance both Malvadine's speed and Strike potential. Valuable supporting cast creatures like Na-inna, Rebel of the Rao'Pa Sahkk can enable Malvadine to protect them by having the Royal creature type. And while he's not a Royal himself, both versions of Headmaster Ankhyja would do very well alongside the King's Herald: the original will preserve your Invisibility abilities from being ignored and compensate an unfavorable initiative, while the second provided welcome protection against nasty targeting controlled by the opponent.
Countermeasures:
Malvadine's "Element X" ability will probably lean a deck containing him to pack more air attacks than disciplinary ones; elemental hate cards are a solid way to keep him from buffeting your creatures with a neverending stream of damage. Overwhelming him or the Royals he wards with burn or other aggressive pushes of your own are another way to quickly weaken and eliminate him before he can do the same to you. Pouril Forest will remove his Defender, along your creature to slip past into the heart of the Mipedian lines. And of course a well-timed Rhyme of the Reckless can put him down, because it's Rhyme of the Reckless. :roll:
Strengths/Pros:
Having both Strike 10 and an enabled Air 5 makes Malvadine a fighting force to be reckoned with. This means he'll give instant impact on his first attack each combat while maintaining constant pressure throughout the should it go long. He packs strong energy and disciplines to be worked with in your attack selection, and his innate Invisibility can be amplified easily. He has no printed restrictions; you can indeed use up to two in any deck that can hold him.
One great strength of Malvadine lies not in any creatures abilities, but in the wide assortment of Battlegear he can bring into a skirmish. Any copy of him with average courage or higher can pack an Evergreen Tunic to harden his scales by a nice 20 energy. Equipping a Levitaar accelerates him to ludicrous speeds, all the while nickel-and-diming the opposing creature for each hit taken. Tangath's Sword of Khy'at will add a targeted damage ping on top of solid contact, an Aerodrone gives you attack selection every time you make use of his air element and pump, Olkiex' Apron virtually gives him Disarm against Battlegear with innate abilities; the possibilities are a great many and he can be suited with whatever tools most suit your own needs.
The first two things that stuck out to me about Malvadine were that he was a Defender, and that he had a Mugic counter. A favorite and scourge outright in the Advanced Apprentice format, one of the downsides for the Mipedians coming into Masters are the general scarcity of Mugic counters and worthwhile activated abilities among its members, and its lack of creatures with Defender outside of Gaffat-ra for Warbeast decks. Malvadine bridges both of these gaps masterfully. I cannot stress enough that a formidable fighter who is also able to cast Mugic is what you want to be slotting into your decks, especially since the Mipedians have a wide array of general and toolbox tricks and answers —any of which can turn a battle or even an entire game back to your favor. Other fighters like Maliph would never be able to access them.
Weaknesses/Cons:
It would be ignorant to say that this card is without downsides, as every card in the game does have them. However, his cons are none that aren't shared by the majority of creatures in the game. Being unable to be targeted by burn and other nasty effects is a trait that few creatures have, and any cards that uses its elements, disciplines, or even Battlegear can be preyed upon by any of the myriad of hate cards in Chaotic.
One of the actual cons to Malvadine is actually his own ability. He may be a powerhouse protector while you control a Royal, but you do need at least one Royal. This will virtually make him Loyal in most decks without actually having the restriction himself and never a good "splash" creature in mixed armies.
Printings:
The card is a Fire & Stone promotional only, and not one found in scanner tins; calling its circulation "limited" is the epitome of an understatement. This is a card that will make many players' wishlists and maybe come into the hands of a lucky one or two by nothing short of a miracle.
Artwork & Aesthetics:
(DISCLAIMER: I am neither an artist nor a critic)
The use of cool tones of blues and purples works in fantastic complimentary to the orange and pink hues of Malvadine—while the scene in the Storms gives a chilly feel, it makes Malvadine pop out like he's ready for a fight. His pauldron and bracer take up some of the foreground, which does flavorfully nod to his Defender ability even if the artists didn't intend it. His horns, spikes, roaring grimace, and daunting physique only add to the bearing of a strong and capable Mipedian warrior. Khary and Jay did outstanding work as always for this piece.
Final Rating & Conclusion: 8.9/10
Chiodosin1 and I have been playtesting Malvadine's strengths and limits for a while now, and we've found him to be an absurdly good creature to say the least. He has advantageous abilities for combat, he provides tactical board advantage out of combat, and he has the fuel to cast potentially game-changing Mugic should the opportunity arise. I believe I can support the claim that Malvadine is practically everything a Mipedian player could want in a Masters-format fighter, and were he given proper release and distribution would have been very likely to become a staple creature for the tribe. The only thing keeping my own rating from being higher is his rarity (again, a different discussion entirely), but don't let it fool you. If your Mipedian deck needs an all-around solid combatant and unflinching protection to your crucial rear, look no further than the King's Herald.
That about does it for the long and annoying drek you've just read (or didn't read, no judging). If you have any critiques to the review, or additional things you'd like to say about this boss of an Elite, be sure to leave a reply since I'd like to hear your opinions... and it's only fair since you wasted a half hour going through mine.
What Does It Do?Let's start from the top of the card and work our way inward.
Tribe (Mipedian
) — His tribe gives more possibilities to be covered below.Rarity (Ultra Rare) — A separate discussion.
Types (Elite Warrior) — Alas, his pairing of types have next to no support, as with almost every subtype that isn't Mandiblor. The Warrior-type was at least given (admittedly weak) support in the latter part of Dawn of Perim block.
Statistics (avg. C75 P40 W35 S90 E60) — A very strong array packing two workable disciplines and energy on par with most modern-day fighting creatures. He'll be able to soak up more hits than many of his tribesman and still be kicking afterwards. Strong courage and high speed are nothing to scoff at either, and they'll open up more options for him discussed later.
Elemental Types (Air
) — The backbone primary element of the Mipedian tribe. This element is very well-supported and will be brought up later.Mugic Ability (1
) — Why, hello there! Being able to cast Mugic in the format where it matters in a strength that cannot be overlooked.Abilities Text
Malvadine, The King's Herald wrote:Invisibility: Strike 10
While you control a Royal, Malvadine has "Defender" and "Air 5."
Wow. Malvadine's combative and protective abilities are certainly in the making for a metagame contender and open many doors, but we'll get to that in just a second.
Strategic Application:
Since Malvadine is a Defender, it goes without saying that it's wise to keep him in your middle row to protect any support creatures. Maintaining proper board placement will let him remain a loyal shield against oncoming baddies. Another possible tactic is using the Defender ability in a offensive manner: by positioning your creatures in a way that encroaches on the opponent's, they'll be forced to bring the fight to Malvadine by either attacking him or a creature he can defend.
Combos & Synergies:
While Malvadine himself doesn't exactly work in any "combos", he certainly does have a host of creatures that will compliment his strengths. Prince Mudeenu, Champion of the Guard is a Royal that both turns on Malvadine's second paragraph and gives all Mipedians you control Invisibility: Surprise (including himself), ensuring that you will never falter an initiative. Iflar, The Crown Prince makes for an effective and elusive fighter to get under the opponent's skin on your turn, with a solid bodyguard on theirs. Owayki is another Royal that will enhance both Malvadine's speed and Strike potential. Valuable supporting cast creatures like Na-inna, Rebel of the Rao'Pa Sahkk can enable Malvadine to protect them by having the Royal creature type. And while he's not a Royal himself, both versions of Headmaster Ankhyja would do very well alongside the King's Herald: the original will preserve your Invisibility abilities from being ignored and compensate an unfavorable initiative, while the second provided welcome protection against nasty targeting controlled by the opponent.
Countermeasures:
Malvadine's "Element X" ability will probably lean a deck containing him to pack more air attacks than disciplinary ones; elemental hate cards are a solid way to keep him from buffeting your creatures with a neverending stream of damage. Overwhelming him or the Royals he wards with burn or other aggressive pushes of your own are another way to quickly weaken and eliminate him before he can do the same to you. Pouril Forest will remove his Defender, along your creature to slip past into the heart of the Mipedian lines. And of course a well-timed Rhyme of the Reckless can put him down, because it's Rhyme of the Reckless. :roll:
Strengths/Pros:
Having both Strike 10 and an enabled Air 5 makes Malvadine a fighting force to be reckoned with. This means he'll give instant impact on his first attack each combat while maintaining constant pressure throughout the should it go long. He packs strong energy and disciplines to be worked with in your attack selection, and his innate Invisibility can be amplified easily. He has no printed restrictions; you can indeed use up to two in any deck that can hold him.
One great strength of Malvadine lies not in any creatures abilities, but in the wide assortment of Battlegear he can bring into a skirmish. Any copy of him with average courage or higher can pack an Evergreen Tunic to harden his scales by a nice 20 energy. Equipping a Levitaar accelerates him to ludicrous speeds, all the while nickel-and-diming the opposing creature for each hit taken. Tangath's Sword of Khy'at will add a targeted damage ping on top of solid contact, an Aerodrone gives you attack selection every time you make use of his air element and pump, Olkiex' Apron virtually gives him Disarm against Battlegear with innate abilities; the possibilities are a great many and he can be suited with whatever tools most suit your own needs.
The first two things that stuck out to me about Malvadine were that he was a Defender, and that he had a Mugic counter. A favorite and scourge outright in the Advanced Apprentice format, one of the downsides for the Mipedians coming into Masters are the general scarcity of Mugic counters and worthwhile activated abilities among its members, and its lack of creatures with Defender outside of Gaffat-ra for Warbeast decks. Malvadine bridges both of these gaps masterfully. I cannot stress enough that a formidable fighter who is also able to cast Mugic is what you want to be slotting into your decks, especially since the Mipedians have a wide array of general and toolbox tricks and answers —any of which can turn a battle or even an entire game back to your favor. Other fighters like Maliph would never be able to access them.
Weaknesses/Cons:
It would be ignorant to say that this card is without downsides, as every card in the game does have them. However, his cons are none that aren't shared by the majority of creatures in the game. Being unable to be targeted by burn and other nasty effects is a trait that few creatures have, and any cards that uses its elements, disciplines, or even Battlegear can be preyed upon by any of the myriad of hate cards in Chaotic.
One of the actual cons to Malvadine is actually his own ability. He may be a powerhouse protector while you control a Royal, but you do need at least one Royal. This will virtually make him Loyal in most decks without actually having the restriction himself and never a good "splash" creature in mixed armies.
Printings:
The card is a Fire & Stone promotional only, and not one found in scanner tins; calling its circulation "limited" is the epitome of an understatement. This is a card that will make many players' wishlists and maybe come into the hands of a lucky one or two by nothing short of a miracle.
Artwork & Aesthetics:
- Artwork (Lines by Khary Randolph, colors by Jay Axer):
(DISCLAIMER: I am neither an artist nor a critic)
The use of cool tones of blues and purples works in fantastic complimentary to the orange and pink hues of Malvadine—while the scene in the Storms gives a chilly feel, it makes Malvadine pop out like he's ready for a fight. His pauldron and bracer take up some of the foreground, which does flavorfully nod to his Defender ability even if the artists didn't intend it. His horns, spikes, roaring grimace, and daunting physique only add to the bearing of a strong and capable Mipedian warrior. Khary and Jay did outstanding work as always for this piece.
Final Rating & Conclusion: 8.9/10
Chiodosin1 and I have been playtesting Malvadine's strengths and limits for a while now, and we've found him to be an absurdly good creature to say the least. He has advantageous abilities for combat, he provides tactical board advantage out of combat, and he has the fuel to cast potentially game-changing Mugic should the opportunity arise. I believe I can support the claim that Malvadine is practically everything a Mipedian player could want in a Masters-format fighter, and were he given proper release and distribution would have been very likely to become a staple creature for the tribe. The only thing keeping my own rating from being higher is his rarity (again, a different discussion entirely), but don't let it fool you. If your Mipedian deck needs an all-around solid combatant and unflinching protection to your crucial rear, look no further than the King's Herald.
That about does it for the long and annoying drek you've just read (or didn't read, no judging). If you have any critiques to the review, or additional things you'd like to say about this boss of an Elite, be sure to leave a reply since I'd like to hear your opinions... and it's only fair since you wasted a half hour going through mine.
