<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archway Commons|STX|263" href="#" target="_blank">Archway Commons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/piotr_dura/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piotr Dura</a></em></p>
<p>Friendly greetings and welcome back to Strixhaven. I'm John Sherwood, your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Campus Guide|STX|252" href="#" target="_blank">Campus Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a look back at <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/stx"><em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em></a> in preparation for <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Secrets of</em> <em>Strixhaven</em></a>.</p>
<p>Whether you're an inquisitive first-year, or reminiscing alumni, I invite you to explore the colleges and cards of the first <em>Magic</em> set on the plane of Arcavios.</p>
<h2>New Takes On Old Colors</h2>
<p>For over fifteen years, Ravnica dominated the visual and mechanical design of <em>Magic</em>'s two-color pairs. The Ravnican guilds established identities and precedents for two-color card design. <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em> presented new names and flavors for the enemy color pairs in the form of five schools. Let's compare and contrast the Ravnican Guilds and Strixhaven's five colleges.</p>
<p>Five Elder Dragons founded Strixhaven and its five colleges, each focused on specific arcane disciplines. Those namesake Dragons breathed vibrant new energy into the form, fit, and function of the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> color pairs.</p>
<h3>Silverquill</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shadrix Silverquill"></div></div>
<p>Contrasting the debt-trapping dogma of the Orzhov Syndicate, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadrix Silverquill" href="#" target="_blank">Shadrix Silverquill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> values expression over extortion. The students and faculty of Silverquill weave poetry and prose into their spells. They study literature, law, and communications to weaponize words into investigative and offensive magic.</p>
<p>Mechanically, Orzhov cards make up the core of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats/orzhov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a> decks. Ravnican <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> cards use sacrifice outlets to win via <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lifedrain/orzhov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifedrain</a> and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/tokens/orzhov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">token</a> production. Silverquill overlaps mechanically with Orzhov in sacrifice synergy and producing flying creature tokens, but replaces lifedrain with <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/plus-1-plus-1-counters/orzhov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">+1/+1 counters</a> for a much more combat-focused faction.</p>
<h3>Prismari</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Galazeth Prismari|STX|189"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Galazeth Prismari" href="#" target="_blank">Galazeth Prismari</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> transposes a key change to Izzet's experimental and inventive overtures: combining visual and performing arts into arcane evocation. Strixhaven's art kids eschew Izzet's steampunk aesthetic for bold, bright costumes. Beneath the outward trappings, Izzet and Prismari are cut from the same <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/spellslinger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spellslinger</a> cloth.</p>
<p>Mechanically, Prismari differs from Izzet in the production of Treasure tokens. Since most Ravnica sets predate <em>Magic</em>'s Treasure era, I think that difference is largely a result of timing. Regardless of reason, Treasures are a core facet of Prismari signpost cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creative Outburst" href="#" target="_blank">Creative Outburst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prismari Command" href="#" target="_blank">Prismari Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>Lorehold</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Velomachus Lorehold|STX|245"></div></div>
<p>Before <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Velomachus Lorehold" href="#" target="_blank">Velomachus Lorehold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> excavated Boros design space, many Commander players regarded <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> as repetitive. Even today, new Boros Equipment legends incite groans and yawns. Before Strixhaven, uniquely potent <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feather, the Redeemed" href="#" target="_blank">Feather, the Redeemed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> topped the Boros data by a margin of thousands of decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Osgir, the Reconstructor" href="#" target="_blank">Osgir, the Reconstructor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at one point overtook Feather, riding a wave of community excitement for something new in the color identity.</p>
<p>Lorehold, a college of magical history, thematically plays from both the graveyard and library, recurring yesterday's history and formulating today's knowledge. The Strixhaven approach to red and white gained card advantage and board presence - both important for staying power in protracted games of Commander.</p>
<p>By engaging the Spirits and spells of the past, Lorehold excels in the present.</p>
<h3>Witherbloom</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beledros Witherbloom|STX|163"></div></div>
<p>Out of all the Strixhaven Colleges, Witherbloom has the most in common with its Ravnican precursor. Both the Golgari Swarm and Witherbloom College interpret <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> through the dichotomy of life and death. While the underlying themes align, tonal differences suggest the philosophy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beledros Witherbloom" href="#" target="_blank">Beledros Witherbloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes a more holistic approach.</p>
<p>Looking at rules text, those tonal differences are superficial. The graveyard features heavily in both Goglari and Witherbloom text boxes, with tools to get things in the yard and out again. Meanwhile, Golgari and Witherbloom payoffs include the creation of new sacrifice fodder, pumping creatures, and draining opponents' life totals.</p>
<h3>Quandrix</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tanazir Quandrix|STX|240"></div></div>
<p>Quandrix is what Simic might be if ethics or standards of conduct applied to Ravnican science. The subordinates of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tanazir Quandrix" href="#" target="_blank">Tanazir Quandrix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> share a quantitative enthusiasm for natural order instead of Simic's qualitative hubris for unnatural evolution. Beyond the math vice mutant flavor differences, Simic and Quandrix look like opposite sides an equation. The formula looks different, but the answer is the same.</p>
<p>Everything about Quandrix is additive or multiplicative, never subtractive or divisive. Despite the math theme, Quandrix designs always result in more output than input. More lands, more creatures, more counters. It's just another ride on the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> value train.</p>
<h2>Mechanics of Strixhaven</h2>
<p>In preparation for a new semester at Strixhaven, the summer reading list includes a refresher on the last term's Lessons. We might learn a thing or two about the <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/strixhaven-school-mages-mechanics-2021-03-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mechanics of <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em></a>, with insight from the data here on EDHREC. The mechanics of STX introduced a new spell subtype, and new takes on old concepts.</p>
<h3>Learn/Lesson</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="First Day of Class|STX|102"></div></div>
<p>First up, a mechanic that doesn't entirely work in Commander. Cards with learn allow the controller to either put a Lesson card from outside the game into their hand, or to discard then draw. Lessons were a totally new subtype for instants and sorceries. On one hand learn and Lesson is an easy flavor win for set design. On the other hand, bringing cards from outside the game makes it mechanic non grata in Commander.</p>
<p>The most popular learn card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="First Day of Class" href="#" target="_blank">First Day of Class</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in nearly 9k decks. Despite Commander's prohibition on <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Wish" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wishes</a>, First Day of Class is a good haste enabler with the upside of rummaging to filter cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Introduction to Annihilation|STX|3"></div></div>
<p>Fortunately Lessons experienced a renaissance in <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></a>, because the first Lessons in STX were lackluster at best. The most popular Strixhaven Lessons are all colorless utility spells, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Introduction to Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Introduction to Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the frontrunner in 21k decks. Colorless decks have to take whatever they can get for removal.</p>
<h3>Magecraft</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist|STX|115"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage Emeritus|STX|37"></div></div>
<p>Next we have a retuned version of prowess: magecraft. Cards with magecraft provide easy payoffs for casting and copying instants and sorceries. Even though prowess triggers on more spell types, the most popular magecraft cards are about three times more popular than the top prowess cards. I started writing this article two weeks ago, and noted the popularity of magecraft all-stars <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage Emeritus" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage Emeritus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In those two weeks, both cards increased by 5k decks each. With that in mind, I'm not going to bother listing their present counts.</p>
<p>As a side note, Storm-Kiln Artist gets additional style points for being a 2/2 in a tutu, which makes my kids laugh, while having zero bearing on the card's impressive performance.</p>
<h3>Ward</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sedgemoor Witch|STX|86"></div></div>
<p>Easily the most controversial mechanic from Strixhaven, ward joins the pantheon of defensive abilities like protection, shroud, and hexproof. Unlike its predecessors, which prohibit targeting, ward is a triggered ability that allows the object to be targeted before countering the applicable spell or ability unless a cost is paid. Ward is both great and problematic.</p>
<p>It's great as a skill-check for players to be more attentive and intentional. However, some people blame ward for feels-bad moments of missed opportunities and squandered resources.</p>
<p>The other problem with ward is one of restraint in card design - or a lack thereof. I felt like ward was well-received after <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em>. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sedgemoor Witch" href="#" target="_blank">Sedgemoor Witch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a productive engine piece, and a ward cost of three life is fair. Unfortunately, design swung too hard with ward in subsequent sets. They made a lot more of it, pushed the costs higher, and printed mistakes like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voja, Jaws of the Conclave" href="#" target="_blank">Voja, Jaws of the Conclave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Lesson learned: ward is fine in moderation. Fortunately, recent ward costs returned to manageable levels.</p>
<h3>Modal Double-Face Cards</h3>
<p>Finally, Strixhaven brought back MDFCs with a twist. It was the first set to feature modal double-face cards with the option to cast a spell from either side.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Plargg, Dean of Chaos|STX|155"></div></div>
<p>There was a cycle of school deans, with legendary creatures of different colors on either side, like <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plargg, Dean of Chaos" href="#" target="_blank">Plargg, Dean of Chaos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and Augusta, Dean of Order. Others included a mix of creatures, sorceries, and planeswalkers. DFC's are normally pretty popular, but somehow these manage to be underwhelming. It's probably because none of them are lands.</p>
<p>The most popular MDFC from STX is <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wandering Archaic" href="#" target="_blank">Wandering Archaic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in 107k decks. Make no mistake, that's a respectable deck count, but not because it's double sided. Wandering Archaic is cracked. Its back side, Explore the Vastlands, is a spell that does things. I'm going to hyperbolically assert no one ever casts Explore the Vastlands, if only for the sake of inviting contrarian comments. Go ahead, contrarians, give me your narrow examples.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wandering Archaic|STX|6"></div></div>
<p>We all know many players forget Wandering Archaic is double-sided, many more can't remember name Explore the Vastlands, nevermind recalling what it does.</p>
<h2>From Arcavios to Zimone</h2>
<p>That brings us to the end of our tour. Please exit through the giftshop (comment section) where I would love to see your memories of <em>Strixhaven: School of Mages</em>, and hype for <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>. Full disclosure, I actually despise the visual design and exaggerated academic tropes. Furthermore, I despised STX Draft, and this set was one of my lesser reasons for quitting Standard.</p>
<p>And yet...I'm looking forward to <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> way more than I anticipated. The story hooked me, and I'm hoping to get more from the flavor text of the cards.</p>
<p>When you're done here, please check out Ezra Sassaman's recent article about the top <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/revisiting-the-top-ten-commanders-from-strixhaven" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strixhaven Commanders</a>, and stay tuned to EDHREC for <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> previews and deck techs.</p>


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