It wouldn't be a new set without some controversy over a new white card. Modern Horizons 2, like its predecessor, is full of reprints, new designs, and creative spins on old mechanics, but it was two callbacks that seemed to draw a lot of ire this time around. Rest in Peace and Leyline of the Void are two of the most iconic graveyard hate pieces in modern, and possibly, in all of magic. Both of these sideboard all-stars saw some call back style creatures printed in the newest supplemental set — Sanctifier en-Vec and Dauthi Voidwalker. Naturally, the parallels between these two mana "hatebears" were drawn, and as is customary, the court of public opinion ruled in favor of the non-white rare. Sanctifier en-Vec has been lambasted for being underpowered and outclassed by its black counterpart, but with a closer examination is the comparison as horribly lopsided as people would like to believe?
While hitting cards at more points in the game is great, that doesn't exempt Sanctifier from its second crime. It only exiles black and red spells — then again — is this really a problem? There's a strange tension with this text. On the one hand, it's extremely easy to build a deck where this exiles no cards from the owner's graveyard whether that deck is mono white or otherwise. On the other hand, this will spare some graveyard synergies and reanimation targets that a commander or modern player would otherwise want to hit. Because modern has more of a meta than a casual commander game, this likely isn't a problem for modern sideboards, but commander doesn't have the luxury of sideboards. Should this have been made a truly one sided piece of graveyard hate for commander? At two mana, I don't think so. There isn't a precedent for unconditional graveyard hate on a two mana creature. At two mana, graveyard disruption usually targets a specific card or, at most, can target a specific player's graveyard. Remorseful Cleric can exile the most cards right away by exiling a single opponent's graveyard when sacrificed. After that, other two mana creatures like Scavenging Ooze Withered Wretch, or Apostle of Purifying Light have to target individual cards one at a time. While more narrow than actual Rest in Peace, the enters the battlefield trigger on Sanctifier en-Vec is still powerful when on a creature at that mana cost. Even when looking at three and four drops many of these cards such as Angel of Finality have to target a single opponent and can't hit multiple graveyards at one time. Sanctifier en-Vec is a powerful card at its mana cost. Could it be better? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean it should be better. As it stands, on a creature, it's a one of a kind effect, and it might even see play in bant or mono white decks in commander. It slots in nicely to a bant enchantress build that might want to exile an opponent's grave while protecting its own, and mono white reanimator is definitely something that can be built. To say Dauthi Voidwielder doesn't have a fascinating upside would be a lie, but the comparison between these two isn't as simple as one may think — especially when considering the importance of enters the battlefield triggers in commander. Both these cards have a fail case, but in a four person game, it's far more likely that the Voidwielder gets destroyed in a four player game than no black or red players. This seems to be a classic case of judging just two ceilings rather than the entire context of both cards. If it goes unremoved, Dauthi Voidwielder has the potential to create some absurd plays, but it also has the potential to do absolutely nothing. Sanctifier en-Vec will always do its job, but sometimes that job won't be sufficient. I honestly can't say if one is better than the other, but in the context of previous printings, the set, and the purpose of these two cards, it's clear to see why they were designed this way. In the end, power is relative and dependent on a variety of factors from meta games to the requirements of a set. What I can say — Sanctifier en-Vec is not a card I plan to ignore for my commander decks,
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AuthorMonoWhiteBorder -- A man who loves MtG and his small dog. Archives
June 2021
Categories"MonoWhiteBorder" and corresponding content is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
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