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It’s that time again! Avacyn Restored cards are being leaked. At the time I’m writing this article there have been 6 cards leaked. Avacyn, Angel of Hope; Restoration Angel; Silverblade Paladin; Demonlord of Ashmouth; Thounderous Wrath; Sigarda, Host of Herons.

Let’s take these in order.

Avacyn is the iconic angel that Sorin Markov created to keep Innistrad in balance while he  went planes walking around the multiverse. Long story short, she was lured into a battle with a demon and was trapped inside the Hellvault along with all those demons and ghoulies she locked away. I wonder what its like in there. I imagine it being similar to the inside of a pokeball. By some miracle the helvault has been opened. And Avacyn has escaped her own prison.

Now lets have a look at the card that is to represent our protagonist for this world of Innistrad. Objectively 8 is a Very high converted mana cost for Standard. Realistically, in a heads up game of Magic you won’t be hitting your 8th land drop until turn 12! Turn 12 is  LATE! I don’t care what a card does if I’m casting it on turn 12, it better read “you win the game”. Is that what this card reads? Does this card steal a win on the turn I cast it? The short answer is NO. Elesh Norn does more and can be out there Much earlier. I’m sorry to say that I am disapointed in this card. Not to say this card can’t make a splash in Commander.

Restoration Angel. Seems good. Take that back, seems Great! Flying, Flash, 3/4 body, for 4? Awsome. But wait, There’s more! For the low, low price of 4 you can save a creature you control from eminent doom via targeted removal, or you can instant speed trigger an ETB (enters the battlefield) effect. Mind you, this is a May ability and at 1 white and three this card does not require a large color commitment. Final assessment; very playable, I see this in humans and Venser control.

Silverblade Paladin. This card introduces a new keyword effect that expect will be on many white, maybe some green, creatures. Soulbound. A very interesting effect indeed. Almost reminds me of banding, in flavor at least. Well, it is banding minus the shared attacking and blocking. This particular card grants another creature And itself Doublestrike, that’s a cool ability. It might have a spot in Gavony humans. The question will be is this guy better then Thraben doomsayer, or Mirran Cruisader? Hard to say. Imagine the following plays: Turn 1, Champion of the Parish, Turn 2, Gather the Townsfolk, Swing, Turn 3, Silverblade Paladin, Swing! Champion on turn 3 attacks in as a 4/4 Doublestrike! Ouch. Final Assessment: seems good, might make the cut into humans, depends on a lot of unknown factors at this point.

Demonlord of Ashmouth. Oh boy. Now you’ve done it. This card is just … wow. 5/4 Flying, Undying, for 4! Ok where’s the catch? Oh I see, I have to sacrifice a creature. Wait, is that even a bad thing? I think I know what I’d like to sacrifice. Gravecrawler, Geralf’s Messenger? Turn 3, Geralf’s Messenger, turn 4, Swing for 3, drop Demonlord of Ashmouth, sacrifice Geralf’s Messenger, dome your opponent for 2 and you just added 6 power to your board. Considering that Zombies already a strong deck and has been taking first place in several of the larger tournaments lately. This card seems like a great alternative to Phyrexian Obliterator. Will it replace oblit? Time will tell.

Thunderous Wrath. Very interesting. This doesn’t seem terribly strong. You do not want this card in your openning hand. Infact if this is in you opening hand in a red deck wins type deck which run 20 to 22 lands then you wont be able to use it until turn 8 on average. So for 8 turns you have this card in your hand that does nothing. So maybe you faithless looting it away, alright now we are running 3 or 4 faithless lootings along side this card in red deck wins which is a “fuel” based deck?

So ideal situation here. Your on turn 3 or 4 and you top deck this. Bam! 5 damage to the face or take that creature that is not a Titan or Phyrexian Obliterator. Then follow it up with a galv blast or brimstone volley and swing! But this is very situational. Consider this, you top deck this for your 4th turn but you have Hero of Oxidridge or Hellrider in hand. Do you use it? Suddenly you have a trade situation that you really dont want. Cause next turn this card is unplayable and your Hero or Hellrider is a turn too late.

This card strikes me as weak overall, if I may be so bold. Too situational and the fashion in which you cast it … might as well be a sorcery. Now the keyword ability Miracle, I like the flavor but I would like to see more power out of it at a greater cost. Maybe I will be surprised. Final assessment: Might be good in a blue-red Delver of Secrets deck but beyond that I don’t see it turning heads.

Sigarda, Host of Herons. Me likey. Me likey alot. 5/5 Flying, Hexproof for 5. Talk about efficient! Nice little added ability there, specifically an FU toward Tribute to Hunger and Geth’s Verdict that Blue-Black loves to run. I think she is absolutely standard playable and fits in a Gavony Township deck very well. She loves Swords and Angelic Destiny which is already being run in many of these Township varients.

My major excitement over this card is as a Commander! I want to make this deck! I want to crush people over the head with equipment and enchantments. I want to laugh in the face of Sheoldred and Flesh Bag Marauder and Gravepact! Eldrazi? No Problem! She is a great Commander!

Final Assessment: I get a warm fuzzy feeling when looking at this card.