Magic: The Gathering has unveiled the highly anticipated upcoming set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, featuring a unique teaser that included a puppet-filled musical performance by the Jim Henson Company, alongside several exciting card reveals. A standout among these is a new planeswalker, a double-sided iteration of Oko.
The introduction of any new Oko card often generates a mix of excitement and apprehension among players, particularly given the legacy of the original Oko, which was considered one of the most powerful planeswalkers in the game’s history. The latest version, Oko, Lorwyn Liege, begs the question: will it soon find itself on the MTG banlist, be utterly unplayable in any format, or exist comfortably in between?
As a versatile three-mana planeswalker, Oko, Lorwyn Liege features two abilities on its front side and three on its back side, allowing players to choose whether to flip the card for an additional mana each turn, depending on their strategy. The design encourages transforming Oko frequently; the blue Lorwyn Liege side contains abilities that help the planeswalker gain loyalty, while the green Shadowmoor Scion side offers more powerful minus abilities.
Upon closer examination, Oko, Lorwyn Liege appears somewhat underwhelming. Its +2 ability allows the planeswalker to grant a creature all creature types permanently, a skill that may seem limited outside of specific decks like a Gor Muldrak salamander setup. The +1 ability provides modest protection by reducing a creature’s power by two until your next turn.
Strategically, players must protect Oko for at least one turn before attempting to flip him, as with other transforming cards from Lorewyn and Shadowmoor, the transformation trigger activates solely at the beginning of the first main phase. The payoff, however, is a more robust Oko, Shadowmoor Scion, which boasts a -1 ability that mills cards and retrieves a card from your graveyard. Additionally, a -3 ability generates two 3/3 Elks, enhancing both defense and offensive opportunities.
Moreover, if players manage to keep Oko safe for several turns and reach his ultimate ability, they can secure an emblem that grants creatures of a chosen type +3/+3, vigilance, and hexproof. This creates a synergistic relationship with his +2 ability, ensuring that the creatures enhanced by this buff reap significant benefits.
In summary, while Oko, Lorwyn Liege is an intriguing design that resonates with the theme of transformation, it lacks the overwhelming power that characterized its predecessor. Given the current landscape of the game, particularly in the Standard format, this card may find itself too clunky and unreliable for competitive play.