Magic: The Gathering Theros Beyond Death is shaping up to be a meta changer. The newest Magic set is coming to Arena on Jan. 19 with the return of the gods, as well as popular creature types like hydras making a comeback. White has recently been having a rough patch in Standard, with no white cards appearing in the latest Mythic Championship top 8. Let’s see some of the haymakers that might help the color attain relevance again.
Heliod, Sun-Crowned – Theros’ white god
Having taken a central role in the Theros storyline, will Heliod be enough to bring white back? Heliod, Sun-Crowned is a 3-mana enchantment creature with indestructible, bearing 5 power and 5 toughness. It has the Standard Theros god text saying it isn’t a creature unless your devotion to white is at least 5.
At first, Heliod looks underwhelming, with his effect only giving one +1/+1 counter every time you gain life. Does the added effect of being able to add lifelink for 1 and a white really make him that much better than, say, Ajani’s Pridemate? We’d say that it actually does. With Oko’s ban, there are few things that can interact with Heliod while he’s an enchantment. Within Standard, Heliod will let you come back against aggro decks using its lifelink ability. Heliod also helps you close out the game against control, being a 5/5 indestructible creature. But where Heliod really shines isn’t Standard. It’s Pioneer, Magic‘s newest sanctioned format.
There, Heliod is part of a 2-card infinite combo with Walking Ballista. Furthermore, you can dig for both of the pieces using Board the Weatherlight, which curves into Heliod excellently into a turn 4 win.
Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
Together with Heliod, Theros brings us his demigod. Daxos, Blessed by the Sun is a legendary enchantment creature that costs 2 white mana. He sits at 2 power, with his toughness being equal to your devotion to white. Alone on the field, he’s a 2/2 that gains you life whenever a creature you control enters the battlefield or dies. This lifegain goes perfectly with Heliod, and it’s likely the two will be the building blocks of a new mono-white deck. Alongside Heliod, Daxos dodges most of the boardwipes in Magic‘s current Standard.
Eidolon of Obstruction
Rounding out the trio of the most significant white cards to be brought to Magic‘s Standard in Theros Beyond Death is Eidolon of Obstruction. Being a 2/1 first striker for 2 mana is decent on its own, but what makes the eidolon really shine is its ability. The eidolon makes every Planeswalker ability cost 1 to activate. It effectively makes all opposing Planeswalkers unable to use their abilities if played on curve. Basically, it’ll make your opponent’s Nissas and Teferis cost one more to cast. In an aggro deck, this could easily make all the difference in the world.
Are you liking the white upgrades Magic: The Gathering Theros Beyond Death brings? Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments below. Then check out what we have to say about the new blue meta!
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