“Vraska the Unseen” is a new Planeswalker from the
“Return to Ravnica” set. As our first Green/Black Planeswalker, there isn’t all
that much to compare her to. Vraska can protect herself reasonably well, so
pretty much any deck that wants both black and green can play a copy or two.
She has a fair cost for what she does, at 5 mana.
Her +1 ability is an amazing deterrent: any creature that
damages Vraska in the next turn dies. Your opponents won’t want to lose a
creature just to take a couple counters off of Vraska, but any creature that
would one-shot her, you’re likely happy to trade her for. And since, if you
come out of the gate with her +1, she’ll be at an impressive 6 to start, it
will take some work to get rid of her. Vraska’s -3 is solid, if pricey. Destroy
target nonland permanent; there isn’t much simpler and nicer than that.
Finally, there’s Vraska’s -7, which is a little unimpressive to me. 3, 1/1
Assassins that will make a player lose if they successfully hit, may sound big
and game-winning, but more likely, the assassins (which don’t even have
deathtouch), will just get blocked by those creatures that were distinctly
avoiding Vraska. In order for Vraska’s -3 to wipe enough guys out to let the
Assassins through, it’ll take a loooong time.
Vraska is so good at protecting herself that her offense just
isn’t really worth it. She’s still quite a solid card, because she can build up
so many counters and then just start shooting your opponent’s troublesome
permanents. In all, she’s a very good control card, but that just isn’t what
your average midrange green-black deck needs; she’ll just be a big distraction
there. If a 5-color control deck rises out of our return to the City of Guilds
(which Chromatic Lantern makes me highly suspect), count on Vraska to see some
play there.
Good:
-(+1) ability is quite innovative
-(-3) ability is always relevant
-Excellent at protecting herself
Bad:
-(-7) is underwhelming
-Black/Green decks, which seem to be mediocre midrange,
don’t really want her +1 or -7
(Projected settled value: 20-25$) As of 09/13/12
Scully Rating: 7.8
out of 10
