We’re not even two weeks into its tenure yet, and already Final Fantasy is proving to be a very impactful Magic: The Gathering set. We’re not talking just financially here, but also in terms of putting new cards in competitive decks. Formats from Standard to Modern are feeling the Final Fantasy love already, and things don’t appear to be slowing down. This week, a couple of spicy Boros legends from MTG Final Fantasy are keeping the fire burning.
Both of these cards turned heads during previews, so it’s not hugely surprising to see them performing well already. That said, the range of decks they’re showing up in is wider than expected. With how the upper echelons of most Magic formats are looking right now, more good red cards may not be the best news. For those who like piling on the aggression, however, this set has more than enough to keep you satisfied.
Lightning, Army Of One
- Mana Value: 1RW
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Type: Legendary Creature – Human Soldier
- Stats: 3/2
- Card Text: First Strike, Trample, Lifelink.
Stagger — Whenever Lightning deals combat damage to a player, until your next turn, if a source would deal damage to that player or a permanent that player controls, it deals double that damage instead.
Lightning, Army of One has kept up a pretty consistent level of hype since it was revealed. It’s a low-cost creature, a mythic rare, and an iconic character all rolled into one. All the ingredients are there for a pricey card, even without any play stats to back it up. Turns out the card is more than capable of holding its own, however, in multiple formats, no less.
For the most part, Lightning is putting its work in in Modern. Boros Energy is its most common home, but you’ll also see it in Mardu lists and even Four-Color Omnath piles. Plenty of recent Boros Energy lists, including Jakobpablo’s 5-0 Modern League deck from Sunday, are running Lightning as a one or two-of in the main.
The reasoning behind this inclusion is fairly obvious. As many players have pointed out on social media, the card gives Boros the potential for explosive wins early in the game. One hit with Lightning will double the damage dealt by your other attackers that turn. It’ll also make your direct damage sources, like Lightning Bolt and Goblin Bombardment, much more potent. Where other three drops like Seasoned Pyromancer and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker may offer more value long-term, killing your opponent on turn four is preferable in most cases.
Modern aside, this spicy Boros legend from MTG Final Fantasy is also breaking ground in Standard and Legacy as we speak. In Standard, the card is seeing testing as an aggressive addition to Jeskai Oculus. In Legacy, it’s slotting into similar Mardu Energy decks as it is in Modern. Both of these decks are running Lightning sparingly for now. With how well it seems to be performing in Modern, however, I could see those numbers creeping up soon.
Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant
- Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant
- Mana Value: 1RW
- Rarity: Rare
- Type: Legendary Creature – Human Noble Wizard
- Stats: 3/4
- Card Text: When Joshua enters, discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.
3RW, Tap: Exile Joshua, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner’s control. Activate only as a sorcery.- Phoenix, Warden of Fire
- Type: Legendary Enchantment Creature – Saga Phoenix
- Stats: 4/4
- Card Text: (As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.)
I, II — Rising Flames — Phoenix deals 2 damage to each opponent.
III — Flames of Rebirth — Return any number of target creature cards with total mana value 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Exile Phoenix, then return it to the battlefield (front face up).
Flying, Lifelink.
The other Boros legend from MTG Final Fantasy that’s been performing well lately is Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant. While it’s just a regular rare and depicts a much less well-known character than Lightning, this card is actually outdoing the last one by a significant margin.
For starters, it’s seeing play in pretty much all the same decks as Lightning. Boros Energy decks in Modern have long used Seasoned Pyromancer as a way to sculpt their hands and put stats on the board. Joshua is, in many cases, a straight upgrade. It doesn’t give you token fodder for Goblin Bombardment, but it does give you 3/4 stats every time, guaranteed. It also gives you much more control over the rummage effect, letting you hold onto cards you want to keep.
The similarities to Pyromancer continue with Joshua’s flip effect. While Pyromancer’s is better since you can use it from the graveyard, both cost five mana. Joshua’s offers a lot more utility, too, pressuring your opponent, padding your life total, and even bringing back a bunch of your small creatures from the ‘yard.
Joshua is actually going above and beyond this, too, with appearances in multiple other formats. In Pioneer, the card is starting to show up in Mardu Greasefang as a way to load your graveyard early. In Standard, it’s making appearances in Boros Burn and Jeskai Oculus. It plays in a similar space to Tarkir: Dragonstorm sleeper Tersa Lightshatter, so its success in these decks makes perfect sense.
As with Lightning, the overall numbers on Joshua are small for now. Signs are good, however, and the card seems more than solid enough to grow into a staple eventually.
Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage!
