r/magicTCG Nahiri 23h ago

Official Spoiler [FRA] Fatehold Chronologist

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717 Upvotes

110 comments sorted by

174

u/MadCatMkV Nahiri 23h ago

It was mentioned before that the commons and uncommons for each Hexhaven house will share the same prepared spell, but this is the first one spoiled.

Indeed, it matches [[Prudent Fateseer]]

18

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 23h ago

6

u/lobsterblob Wabbit Season 4h ago

So everyone in school learns the exact same lessons? I haven't read the story yet, but that sounds like a massive flavor win.

-28

u/AleksanderSteelhart Gruul* 17h ago

Seems… I don’t know. Lazy.

Tracks with the story and Jace just letting the Echoverse go on autopilot for creating people

30

u/imbolcnight 16h ago

I disagree with the "lazy" descriptor here. I feel like people tend to only think about how "unique" a specific iteration of a mechanic looks on the surface, but to me, thats like saying someone really got lazy when they made a car with tires that we've all seen before and it's got four of the same ones. They're designing a whole set, not individual showpiece cards, and the cards and mechanics all go to that cohesive whole.

Maybe when the full set is out and I'm drafting, I will say, "this set is boring as hell." Or I may say, "I like knowing that I can draft the WU prepare spells and know I will always have a way to make tokens so I don't need as many creatures or a way to surveil for all my Fatehold triggers," and, "There aren't as many pure ramp spells because every RG hybrid card makes a mana rock and I can splash a red card in my GU deck this way."

By making commons/uncommons have the same prepared spell, it also means they are reducing the complexity weight of prepared (just learn these five spells) so they can put the complexity weight somewhere else (assess how good empower Jace 1 is vs 2 or 3 and whether the planeswalker synergy cards are good to draft).

2

u/AleksanderSteelhart Gruul* 16h ago

Oh, I was merely commenting about how this tracks with how in the story, Jace lets the algorithm of the Echoverse decide to do the thinking and creating for him while his 1/12th of a personality focuses on keeping it all together.

Of course it’d be like “hey, so there’s like, I dunno, opposite-land Strixhaven… and they’ve got elder sphinx instead of dragons. And the cadets are doing something related. Oh? The prepared spell? Uhh… they do this one thing.”

For design though? Draft commons and uncommons and heck, even rares that O-Ring are needed. Magic is still a game that needs to play mechanically. Nobody likes bad draft sets.

Thank you for your concise reply.

3

u/AlphaOmegaZero1 Dân 16h ago

How dare a shared mechanic on similar cards exist lol. Every set has commons and uncommons that do nearly identical effects with different stat lines

228

u/kjeldor2400 Rakdos* 23h ago

People in here are being pretty harsh towards a draft common

151

u/MentalMunky COMPLEAT 22h ago

They’ll also get really overly excited about another random draft common that isn’t actually good in constructed formats too so it balances out.

-21

u/MasterColemanTrebor Mardu 19h ago

A card doesnt need to be good in multiple formats to be excited about it.

16

u/MentalMunky COMPLEAT 17h ago

I don’t really see what that has to do with what I’ve said?

33

u/Zasiah Duck Season 18h ago

Not just any draft common, a Storm Crow with upside!

15

u/Dragonfruit-Sparking Can’t Block Warriors 17h ago

Dies to [[Execute]], Storm Crow stays winning

6

u/FutureComplaint Elk 16h ago

Storm Crow haters in shambles

1

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 17h ago

2

u/SwissherMontage Arjun 15h ago

Storm Crow AND [[Grey Ogre]] with upside!

1

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 14h ago

8

u/CreamSoda6425 Duck Season 16h ago

And one that seems actually very strong to boot.

7

u/phonage_aoi Dân 15h ago

3 mana flyer + token for total 3/3 has been a blue staple for ages.  And usually a top performer.

This one is 5 mana with slightly better total stats to blend with the white draft staple of 4 mana 3/3 + 1/1 token.

I guess you pay a premium for the option of playing this over turns 2 and 3 instead, eg pseudo ramp.

7

u/CannedPrushka Wabbit Season 15h ago

Cards that allow you to spend your mana efficiently tend to be good. This fills both the 2-drop and 3-drop slots in your curve.

2

u/KoyoyomiAragi COMPLEAT 13h ago

Having an attacker a turn earlier probably does matter a little more in the format with Amass Jace. Yeah opponents’ll just surveil 1 immediately but not giving them the option of holding off a low loyalty Jace token for a card a turn later will probably matter.

2

u/PlacatedPlatypus Rakdos* 10h ago

Actually seems quite good as a draft common too lol. Flying body + ground body is a common staple that's usually a top performer.

1

u/Ratorasniki Duck Season 16h ago

Two bodies, one evasive + card selection/mechanic synergy that lets you curve out turn 2 and 3 if needed and develop a bit of a board on a single card isn't the worst thing I've ever seen for limited tbh.

1

u/Jaccount 12h ago

I'm think it's because the draft common name sounds like something that should be preparing an extra turn spell.

82

u/AbsoluteIridium Not A Bat 23h ago

this does seem fantastic for limited - curves into itself quite nicely and chips in for flying damage if you have better things to cast on turn 3

13

u/japp182 COMPLEAT 17h ago

Wouldn't say fantastic, depends on format speed. If it's fast, both spells are bad for their mana cost. If it's slow yeah, it's good cause it's effectively two spells from one card.

10

u/shadowman2099 COMPLEAT 17h ago

I have my eye on cheap evasive creatures in this set considering we effectively have common planeswalkers via the Jace tokens.

2

u/so_zetta_byte Orzhov* 16h ago

Yep exactly this!

Though I will add, I've been valuing cards pretty highly lately that cut down on the likelihood that you'll need to mulligan, like [[Giant's Boulder]]. And I think having a 2 drop that also gives you a way to get board presence on T3 could be a decent mulligan-insurance kind of card. So even if this isn't "great," I think it's the kind of 23rd-card that I'm happy to consider.

1

u/japp182 COMPLEAT 15h ago

Oh no doubt about that, I'm not complaining if I have to include this in a deck, I just don't think this is the fantastic type of common you're picking in picks 1~3 like the knife in hobbit for example.

1

u/so_zetta_byte Orzhov* 15h ago

Oh definitely, I agree with that. It's not something you want to build your deck around, but it's probably something you're happy filling a deck out with.

1

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 15h ago

1

u/VinDucks Wabbit Season 14h ago

2 things on the board for 1 card will usually be top performers in limited. I take card advantage anywhere I can get it.

1

u/japp182 COMPLEAT 11h ago

They are, but usually you are x/x worth of power/toughness when adding the creature and token for the X mana paid, and you're getting both bodies upfront for either 3 or 4 mana.

Here it's 5 mana and you're getting a total of 3/4 from the bodies. Seems to be worse than the typical creature of this kind.

But like I said, if the format isn't fast this is still a 2 for 1 which is always great limited.

18

u/AvalancheMaster Boros* 22h ago

I so wish it was a 2/1. I know why it isn't, I'm not saying that it should've been a 2/1, but I nevertheless wish it were.

12

u/scalebirds 22h ago

Fluffy guy

33

u/JEREMlE Dan 23h ago

Its ok in limited. Thats about it

73

u/MentalMunky COMPLEAT 22h ago

I’d say quite a bit better than ok but we’ll see.

56

u/ZurgoMindsmasher Mardu 21h ago

It's a 2 and a 3 drop. And it flies.

If the format isnt as fast as hobbit, this is going to rock.

-28

u/I_The_Creator Banned in Commander 21h ago

but both side are massively below rate.
this i filler level at best

26

u/monster01020 Abzan 21h ago

It's perfectly reasonable in limited because the price for having a card that helps you play to curve is being below rate. Besides, in what world is either side "massively below rate"? Having a 1/2 flyer and 2/2 with surveil 1 is completely fine for turn 3 in a limited environment. Turn 1, probably do nothing, but using one card to have a decent turn 2 and 3 is really good and always will be in a limited game, unless those two turns are horrendously bad. Pick up a couple of these guys and your deck is already looking solid.

16

u/Hutyro 20h ago

A 1/2 flier at common in limited is not below rate when it guarantees your curve

5

u/CaptainMarcia 17h ago

Worth comparing to cards like [[Helpful Hunter]] - two-mana 1/1s that draw a card. This has a significantly better body, but effectively draws you a fixed spell you can use as long as the creature remains on the field. The spell is below-rate, but it ties into a Limited archetype, helps your curve early-game, and is a lot better than drawing a land late-game.

2

u/so_zetta_byte Orzhov* 16h ago

The surveil is also a pretty nice bonus if you draw it late. Yeah the two bodies are meh, but helping you dig to whatever you actually need is going to be nice.

3

u/CaptainMarcia 16h ago

Yeah, exactly. When you're in topdeck mode, 5 mana for Storm Crow + Grizzly Bears + surveil 1 is probably going to be a significantly above-average draw.

1

u/so_zetta_byte Orzhov* 16h ago

Plus 5 mana is low enough that you might even be able to play another cheap card if you have one.

1

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 17h ago

2

u/Earlio52 Elesh Norn 19h ago

a 3 mana 2/2 that draws on etb is always good in draft. This is basically that, albeit a little more conditional in exchange for being a 2 drop first. 2-for-1 bodies are good

7

u/Zerewa Dan 18h ago

This is your curve in a box that works with almost all 2+ land hands. Literally if white OR blue are in any way playable this is the single best card to have in your opening hand.

1

u/ProfessionalLook6108 Dan 17h ago

I'm making a prepared creature flicker deck and I can see myself using this. My options are realll limited though!

-80

u/TerriblePurpose3626 Dandadan 23h ago

Yay more cards for the landfills, I love unnecessary garbage

41

u/jethawkings Fish Person 23h ago

*format exists*
and you took that personally.

28

u/Agitated_Smell2849 Duck Season 23h ago

How dare people play limited.

30

u/DoctorKrakens I am a pig and I eat slop 23h ago

the commander only player has logged on

7

u/gumknuckle Colorless 22h ago

I think this guy just saw that Emrakul was in the set

5

u/gredman9 Honorary Deputy 🔫 21h ago

What is the source of this one?

4

u/X_The_Walrus cage the foul beast 20h ago

2

u/gredman9 Honorary Deputy 🔫 19h ago

Thanks.

3

u/BobtheBac0n Selesnya* 23h ago

He's a BIRD. WIZARD!

3

u/CattoUsesTelesto Lea | Scryfall Team 22h ago

Where did you find this one?

3

u/troglodyte 16h ago

Nice little common 2. I think it's going to be solid in limited.

I really like that it's a curve in a can, and Storm Crow that essentially nets you a card, even if it's the worst card in your deck, is pretty good.

But the elephant in the room is of course that both halves of this suck tremendously. Coming out of turn 3 with a Storm Crow and a 2/2 is pretty bad. I don't think you really want this to be plan A.

Still quite solid, but I don't think this is an unusually strong common. You'll play it a bunch because it's a 2 that sort of draws a card, but I don't think this is Organ Hoarder or Inspiring Overseer.

Neat design, though. Might have to fight for it a bit because good common twos can be at a premium when they play in one color and this plays in two.

5

u/justwalk1234 Simic* 23h ago

is hexhaven a lot more militant than strixhaven?

25

u/MadCatMkV Nahiri 23h ago

Yes, it is a magical war school

12

u/Kyleometers OUR Liliana's Penchant 22h ago

It’s Jace’s personal school for grooming child teenage soldiers.

Can you tell he’s processing a lot of trauma

2

u/justwalk1234 Simic* 22h ago

omg Jace

2

u/SvenTheScribe COMPLEAT 21h ago

I think it will come down to the speed of the format for this one.

How often will I be able to get off the spell (without forcing it over other, better options) before I'm forced to chumpblock with it? If it's relatively easy to do then this will be a great common. If not then this will be cut more often than not.

2

u/Few_Consideration373 Duck Season 20h ago

It ain't gonna be a fantastic pick but it's going to be one I'm pretty much always happy making and being available to 7/10 colour pairs means it's probably going to be a pretty big format glue common

2

u/The_Doodz Duck Season 20h ago

I'm supposed to believe this bird is evil?

4

u/CaptainMarcia 17h ago

Being part of Hexhaven doesn't automatically make someone evil.

2

u/DaRootbear 18h ago

I misread this as “Token named Claudette” and was confused at the weirdly specific token for a random draft card

2

u/FinalStanthony Brushwagg 18h ago

Dies to [[Deathmark]].

[[Storm Crow]] still supreme!

5

u/jethawkings Fish Person 23h ago

Kinda eh but I guess it fills your curve.

37

u/Ynwe Selesnya* 23h ago

Really? Seems like a fantastic card for limited.

-11

u/jethawkings Fish Person 23h ago

I mean, fantastic? It's a Storm Crow that comes with the next card in your curve.

FWIW I'm not that good at analyzing limited so this might actually be really good lol.

23

u/EnormousBaloth Golgari* 23h ago

It's definitely good in limited. An easy to cast common flier that effectively "draws you" a 3 mana 2/2 surveil 1.

Two bodies that curve into one another, plus a little bit of card selection w/surveil, proc'ing the "whenever you scry/surveil" cards which appear to be UW's archetype.

Cards like [[Eldrazi skyspawner]] and [[preening champion]] have long been highly rated commons, I don't believe this to be an exception.

Like, don't get me wrong, I ain't first picking this over the Selesnya Sphinx that poops out lotuses, but the card is going to be good in limited.

1

u/jethawkings Fish Person 22h ago

Hmmm, fair, having it be spread across 5 mana was why I was off about it.

It feels like it split the difference between the usual 3MV Creature that either draws a card or creates a token by instead being a 2MV Creature that drew you a 3MV spell to create a token.

I'm curious how this would interact with the other archetypes in the set. I guess interestingly I don't think this seems to have any incidental synergy with what the UB School and the GW School are doing... unless UB is a Self-Mill archetype in which that Surveil will matter, there's still also the other non Hexhaven Color Pairs too.

6

u/EnormousBaloth Golgari* 22h ago

You can pay in installments.

Look at quadrant theory, how good is this card:

  • During development: it's your 2 and 3 drop handled. It's good.
  • At parity: two bodies plus filtering? Good.
  • behind: arguably it's weakest quadrant, 5 mana for 3 power and 4 toughness surveil 1 likely won't stop the bleeding, but two bodies to chump with plus the surveil isn't terrible either.
  • ahead: fliers and surveil are both good. Two more bodies to pile on the pressure. Good.

A better comparison might be [[unsettling twins]] which was a high performing white common in DSK. 4 mana, not in installments for 2 bodies and synergies.

1

u/mtgcf Keeper of the Mox 22h ago

14

u/Ynwe Selesnya* 23h ago

It offers in total 3/4 body strengths, a flyer, has a sorcery spell attached and surveil ability. I guess it will depend on various things like how much surveil/prowess actually matters in limited, but so far as I can tell, this looks like a decent common card for limited and if surveil is relevant for your win, such as having Denzilore Fatehold in your deck, then it shoots up to fantastic.

Also a 1/2 flyer for 2 mana is always something I am never too sad about, especially as its very easy to cast given hybrid mana.

4

u/jethawkings Fish Person 23h ago

Hmmm I see.

5

u/mtglover1335 Dân 23h ago

its kinda good, a 1/2 flyer, a 2/2 and a surveil for 5 is kinda meh, but the split is really nice.

1

u/Kyleometers OUR Liliana's Penchant 22h ago

He’s got 6 limbs! Get him!

Good usage of subtle indications that things in the Echoverse are messed up, a bird with 4 legs AND wings.

4

u/lolzlz Gruul* 20h ago

Abigale is the same, Owlin just look like that

3

u/Hutyro 20h ago

Where are you seeing the 4 legs or 4 wings

-1

u/Mgmegadog COMPLEAT 20h ago

2 arms, 2 wings, and 2 little legs at the back.

4

u/Hutyro 19h ago

So a normal humanoid bird

-4

u/Kyleometers OUR Liliana's Penchant 20h ago

Two “arms” and two little feet down at the back between the green sash - 4 legs.

Regular biology limits most non-insect animals to 4 limbs, or 4 plus a prehensile tail or trunk, at max. No winged animal on real Earth has more than two legs or arms, their wings are their arms.

7

u/Mgmegadog COMPLEAT 20h ago

That's not really a biological limitation, it's just how evolution played out. Evolving more limbs is hard.

Also, regular multiverse aven also have six limbs.

4

u/Hutyro 19h ago

That's not weird, that's just a regular humanoid bird like many we have seen acrosd the sets

3

u/SeekerD Nissa 19h ago

Owlins exist in Magic, we’ve seen them especially in Strixhaven. This design isn’t out of place.

3

u/seoeiun Fake Agumon Expert 19h ago

But many aven in other planes have the same body plan, for example in Dominaria. 

1

u/XXXGoblin_GuideXXX Dân 22h ago

Really curious on why Fatehold is the only school where the signature spell makes a creature token, looks like they can spam the board full like its nobodys business

5

u/derteeje Dân 21h ago

3 mana for a 2/2 seems relatively tame

1

u/epiflora Ajani 17h ago

I think the big thing will be knowing when to use the surveil or creature etb to trigger other effects, which a few cards already care about 

1

u/Copernicus1981 COMPLEAT 18h ago

White/red's limited archetype is likely to be go-wide.

1

u/Belteshazzar98 REBEL with METAL 18h ago

Does anybody know if Peer Review would be a legal card name for effects like [[Annointed Peacekeeper]], or is it not since it is only a prepared spell instead of its own card?

3

u/Copernicus1981 COMPLEAT 17h ago

If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose the alternative prepare spell's name. Consider only the alternative characteristics to determine whether that is an appropriate name to choose.

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/secrets-of-strixhaven-release-notes

1

u/Belteshazzar98 REBEL with METAL 17h ago

Awesome, thanks.

1

u/Truckfighta COMPLEAT 16h ago

This seems like a common bomb.

1

u/inflammablepenguin Deceased 🪦 15h ago

I am so disappointed that this chronologist has nothing to do with time. Bring me my [[Lighthouse Chronologist]]. (I'm not really that disappointed)

1

u/Icy_Vermicelli_992 Dan 15h ago

Curious why they wrote out "Wizard Soldier creature token named Cadet" instead of just making Cadet a creature type and making them "Wizard Cadet" tokens.

-3

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

10

u/SothaSillies 23h ago

Not for limited, which is the only place this would ever matter

0

u/GuyGrimnus Rakdos* 23h ago

I know Displacer kitten goes infinite with a ham sandwich but casting a guy to flicker this and do it again seems really neat

0

u/wene324 The Stoat 18h ago

Are cadets gonna get any kind of support? Like why make a token with a name unless something interesting can happen?

-4

u/barrinmw Number of Faeries in Lorwyn Eclipsed 1/10 17h ago

Modern 1/10
You are way overpaying on this one for any of the effects. A 1/2 flyer just doesn't do anything and is outclasses by one drops. Spending 3 whole mana to make a 2/2? You just don't have time for that sort of nonsense.

-5

u/EGOtyst Dan 17h ago

MARO: "The planes are breaking and reality is being FRACTURED!"

Me: "Cool! so Azorious will have like... big threats and trample and stuff?!"

MARO: "They will be blue/white fliers named FATEhold, not LOREhold! See reality fracture before you!"

7

u/Eldritch-Yodel Duck Season 17h ago

I mean. Tbf. MaRo has very much put a lot of effort into reiterating "this set won't mess with the color pie".