While we should all still be soaking in Lorwyn Eclipsed, the MTG hype train is proving relentless this year. Regrettable TMNT leaks aside, we’ve also seen a big chunk of other future sets, too, thanks to last week’s surprise Nuremberg Toy Fair reveals. Alongside nine Commander decks, this event also revealed a pair of Scene Boxes for MTG Marvel Super Heroes. Within these, Loki, God of Lies can be found, who offers a ton of sneaky potential, both in the command zone and the 99.
Loki, God Of Lies As An MTG Commander
– Mana Value: 1RR
– Type: Legendary Creature – God Sorcerer Villain
– Rarity: Rare
– Card Text: Whenever you cast a spell that targets only a single creature, gain control of that creature until end of turn. If it’s your turn, untap that creature and it gains Haste until end of turn.
– Stats: 3/3
Loki, God of Lies may look simple on the surface, but underneath sits a surprisingly sophisticated Mono-Red Commander. Turning all of your single-target spells into Act of Treason is incredibly efficient, as even these days three mana is the going rate for such an effect. With Loki, you can have it for just one, with a draw on top, by employing single-target cantrips like Ancestral Anger.
Beyond just being surprisingly affordable, there are a ton of different directions you can take this ability. One is simply to use Loki as a way to apply extra aggression. Staying low to the ground with spells like Crimson Wisps and Impolite Entrance will let you chain through your deck and steal multiple creatures a turn. Since you’re removing blockers while adding to your own attackers this way, it’s not hard to push for a straightforward Aggro win.
Alternatively, you can play Loki a bit more politically. Since his ability works on opponents’ turns, too, you can use instant-speed spells like Expedite to steal surprise blockers. This is a great way to mess up all kinds of plans, since you can nab utility creatures like Esper Sentinel or Solemn Simulacrum, killing off one opponent’s attacker while denying another value.
You can also employ some extra-sneaky tricks to make Loki’s theft effect more permanent. With Conjurer’s Closet, you can blink a stolen creature before it goes back and keep it for good. While this doesn’t work on Commanders, it’s great against everything else. If you don’t have Closet to hand, you can simply offer up stolen creatures to a sacrifice outlet before they return. Goblin Bombardment is probably your best in-color option, but you can’t go wrong with Altar of Dementia or Spawning Pit, either.
Controlling Minds In The 99
Even when not leading its own MTG Commander deck, Loki, God of Lies still has plenty to offer in the 99. In particular, the card is a great option for decks already built around stealing opposing creatures, like Edea, Possessed Sorceress and Don Andres, the Renegade. It’s rare to get repeatable theft like this for a reasonable rate, so these lists will welcome Loki with open arms. He’s extra spicy in Marchesa, the Black Rose, since he can easily combine with spells like Kick in the Door to steal key creatures for good.
Loki is also a fantastic addition to the many sacrifice-focused decks, such as Rakdos Aristocrats, in the Commander format. These lists are always on the lookout for fodder creatures, like Nine-Lives Familiar, to fuel their engines. Loki lets you use your opponents’ creatures for that instead, which is far, far better. With recursive spells like Punishing Fire and Searing Touch, you can even turn Loki into an engine in his own right, providing a steady stream of sacrifices without overloading the deck with cheap spells.
Sadly, while Loki does have a lot of potential, he won’t be playable for quite some time. The Marvel Scene Boxes, as with the rest of the Marvel Super Heroes products, won’t be released until June 26th. While this is unfortunate for those wanting to try Loki out in their games, it does mean there’s plenty of time to cook up diabolical schemes to run alongside him.
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