Now that previews for MTG Foundations are in full swing, it’s clear that this set is a celebration of everything Magic is and should be. Every element that defines the game, from its iconic creature types to its signature color-aligned mechanics, is present and correct here. There are even a number of returning legendary creatures, like Niv-Mizzet and Krenko. Among these icons, a fan-favorite legend from Tarkir is also making a return: Mardu’s mightiest, Alesha. Now going by the moniker Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate, this fearsome Warrior is ready to make an impact on multiple MTG formats.
Alesha, Who Laughs At Fate MTG
- Mana Value: 1BR
- Rarity: Rare
- Stats: 2/2
- Card Text: First Strike.
Whenever Alesha attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Raid — At the beginning of your end step, if you attacked this turn, return target creature card with mana value less than or equal to Alesha’s power from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Alesha’s return to Magic is a big deal, for a number of reasons. For those who were playing during Khans of Tarkir block when she made her debut, you’ll know just how important the character is. Alesha was introduced in a groundbreaking Magic Story piece called The Truth of Names. This story established Alesha as Magic’s first-ever trans character and marked a milestone moment in representation for the game. Her original incarnation, Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, is widely beloved by many players as a result.
Of course, the fact that the card is extremely powerful in Commander doesn’t hurt either. Original Alesha was known for two things: attacking and reanimating creatures. Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate brings both of these elements to an MTG Standard nine years removed from Khans block. While she’s no longer a Mardu Commander, I think the new Alesha is even better than the original.
For starters this one grows bigger with each swing, attacking as a 3/3 First Strike the first time and only getting bigger from there. This scaling is useful in a vacuum, but it also fuels Alesha’s second ability. At the end of your turn, if you attacked, you get to reanimate something based on Alesha’s power.
This ability is much better than it might look at first. It only cares that you attack in a given turn, not that Alesha is the creature to do it. That means you can reanimate something the turn Alesha comes down if you have something else to attack with. If you’re curving out, your opponent will likely be forced to let your two drop through, since if they trade you’ll just get it right back. That’s pretty incredible as a tool for Aggro decks.
Destined For Glory
Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate looks efficient enough to see play in multiple MTG formats. To get the obvious out of the way: yes, Commander is a given. Original Alesha is incredibly popular in the format, and this new version is much more efficient. Not having to pay two mana to reanimate easily balances out the more restrictive pool of possible targets. As Alesha gets bigger the restriction becomes less of a problem, anyway.
Standard is a much less certain prospect. While Alesha is certainly powerful, there are very few Rakdos decks on the radar in the format right now. Rakdos Aggro would be a natural fit, playing a creature suite entirely made up of two drops. The deck’s tiny 0.7% meta share at present doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, however.
Crazy as it sounds, Alesha alone could be enough to push such a deck over the edge. Making your deck more resilient against removal and board wipes is always good, and Alesha does that on a very aggressive body. Many have pointed out the synergy with Enduring Courage too, which is absolutely delicious. Getting to swing with a 5/3 Haste/First Strike and reanimate a five drop is pretty outrageous value.
Interestingly, Pioneer is looking like a more likely home for Alesha than Standard at the moment. Both Rakdos Prowess and Rakdos Midrange are top-tier decks in the format, and both feature plenty of excellent Alesha targets right out of the box. Getting back a Kroxa or Bloodtithe Harvester on turn three should be enough to end most games, and Alesha can do far more than that if left unchecked. Expect to see her tested in Pioneer soon, at the very least.