Ajani, Mentor of Heroes: Hit or Myth?
Economics forum
Posted on April 9, 2014, 12:17 a.m. by BoromirOfGondor
What do you thing this juggernaut will be priced at?
Not exactly Earth-shattering, but he essentially costs W1 turn 5 if you have an untapped Gyre Sage when he comes in. There's some ramp there, even if Gyre Sage isn't my favorite card in the world.
April 11, 2014 7:24 a.m.
Could be set up faster, but Junky T2 or T3 Gyre Sage
, T4 Corpsejack Menace
(note this will double eveol sage), T5 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
and then have at least 8 green mana to spend. Archetype of Endurance
or a big (i.e. huge with Corpsejack Menace
) Mistcutter Hydra
?
April 11, 2014 7:29 a.m.
I've been testing a Bant aggro deck (I know right) that plays like this pretty consistently:
T1: Breeding Pool , Elvish Mystic pass
T2: Plains , Sylvan Caryatid pass
T3: land, Ajani, Mentor of Heroes use his counters ability to pump sylvan caryatid
Though he is unprotected, only the fastest aggro decks can deal enough damage to him to kill him that fast. And for the following turns I have a Sylvan Caryatid that is a minimum 3/6 to block with and I'll use his "dig" ability to go get whatever I need.
Granted burn and counters suck for me but there is a reason he was costed at 5 I think. Any higher and he's unplayable but any lower, even 4 CMC, and hes a little too powerful. IMO of course
April 11, 2014 8:44 a.m.
I agree @ChiefBell. That is so useful. If he's at risk to be killed I just dig to find anothernif he's inportant to my overall strategy. Or I dig for my wincon.
April 11, 2014 11:11 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #7
He will most likely go into Bant or Junk Midrange which has A LOT of removal so he shoudln't have to protect himself as Supreme Verdict , Detention Sphere and spot removal will take care of threats prior to him landing.
He then tutors for another card (replacing itself) even IF he gets a Hero's Downfall or Detention Sphere himself
April 11, 2014 4:28 p.m.
SwiftDeath says... #8
@harrydemon117 it is true that he likely replaces himself with his +1 but at 5 cmc it is not that great unless you are specifically curving from a supreme verdict into Ajani. However at that point I feel like you want something more. I'm not entirely sure what that is but I feel Archangel of Thune is a better curve out of supreme verdict then Ajani. It could be included in Bant Walkers but that is the only deck that I feel would want it over other threats and answers because it can fetch out that Kiora or Jace you may need.
Also your reason that the deck would play cards like Hero's Downfall and Detention Sphere is valid but keep in mind that other decks will play the same types of cards and can use them to get to or take out your walkers as well.
April 11, 2014 7 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #9
I'm liking his tutor ability combined with Courser of Kruphix .
April 11, 2014 8:17 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #10
I don't like Archangel of Thune because there are WAY more answers out there for her over Ajani:
Mizzium Mortars , any black spot removal, board wipes, etc
Against ajani (or other planeswalkers for that matter) there are:
Hero's Downfall , Detention Sphere , or creature/burn damage (but most burn would require 2 spells and you just 0 for two'd your opponent due to Ajani netting you a card)
He's another "draw engine" that dodges Notion Thief as well as it doesn't say "draw" on his ability. IF he lasts after his first turn, he can pump the creature you just tutored for. Both of his abilities are + so he builds to his ultimate rather quickly. Compare him Elspeth, Knight-Errant at building up loyalty. (comes in at 4, both abilities are +1 and ultimate is -8)
He doesn't DIRECTLY protect himself, but he helps you find something that will and then buffs that up each turn if you so desire.
Coming in at 4 and then going straight to five also means that Stormbreath Dragon can't kill him right away. You would to use Advent of the Wurm (assuming no other field presence here) to kill him with combat damage the turn after he has been played (or a big Mistcutter Hydra )
April 14, 2014 9:28 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #11
Probably the only walker who won't get ultimated the first chance you get. I'd rather have the card draw, or the counters.
I suppose, if he was up to 10 loyalty, and I wasn't top-decking, I might activate it, but then it'd be back to using those +1s
April 14, 2014 9:20 p.m.
I ulted him against a buddy of mine as we were testing new decks. He was running a fast R/W weenie aggro build and I was running a bant midrange that I concocted. My frontline creature base being Elvish Mystic and Sylvan Caryatid into Courser of Kruphix pretty much stopped him cold. I used his dig to find my threats and then once I played them, switched to his pump ability. I ulted because I could. Nothing more. It was basically win more at that point.
He then tested me against a MBD deck. This one was rough. I managed a turn 3 ajani and then watched as he dropped a Desecration Demon . My hopes were dashed until I drew a Kiora, the Crashing Wave . Those two combined were just what the doctor ordered. Lock down DD with kiora and dig for threats with ajani. Match made in heaven. Made it turn 5 and then Hero's Downfall ed my kiora so he could get back in with DD (Pack Rat had not made an appearance yet). Eventually overwhelmed him with a monstroused Fleecemane Lion that I was able to dig with ajani cast and monstrous on the same turn. Following turn pumped and then attached Unflinching Courage on my lion.
I like the new ajani very much. He isn't OP but he's powerful.
April 14, 2014 10:05 p.m.
Chandra pyromaster also won't be ulted on the first chance. Oh yeah, Ajani Goldmane and Jace Beleren .
rache says... #1
Outside of standard I am not impressed
April 10, 2014 11:43 p.m.