The forthcoming Magic: The Gathering set Theros Beyond Death features Elspeth's story in the underworld, and the official trailer teased her conflict with Ashiok, but does she overcome the darkness and conquer death? A couple of Sagas from the new set reveal what happens next.
Magic Arena officially revealed two saga enchantments from Theros Beyond Death, and they're called "Elspeth's Nightmare" and "Elspeth Conquers Death". Check them out:
The artwork for "Elspeth's Nightmare" caused some fans to speculate that Phyrexians would make a comeback in the lore of Magic, but it turns out that the creature that resembles the Phyrexian Negator in the art is just part of Elspeth's nightmarish flashback, and Ashiok, the Nightmare Muse, is probably the reason why Elspeth is having those nightmares. However, this doesn't confirm the theory that Ashiok is actually helping Elspeth so they can take down Heliod.
For three mana, this black Saga does a lot of things that can mess up your opponent's plans in different ways. Chapter 1 is obviously not that impressive if you're playing against Control decks that don't play much creatures; Chapter 2 can be great against Control though, and Chapter 3 can definitely ruin graveyard strategies and decks that will use the new Escape mechanic a lot.
The title "Elspeth Conquers Death" explains it all: Elspeth ultimately escapes the underworld, and the white Saga reveals her planeswalker form wielding the same weapon she's holding in the art of "Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis". The bottom of the art features Ashiok and Erebos, and this card seems to show how Elspeth escaped their underworld.
This card reminds me a lot of the black saga "Eldest Reborn" from the Dominaria set in a way that it can return a creature or planeswalker from the graveyard to the battlefield, but unlike that one, "Elspeth Conquers Death" can give that creature or planeswalker a +1+1 counter or a Loyalty counter when it returns. Most of the time, you want to play this card for its first and last chapters. The second chapter can slow down your opponent or protect your own spells for that turn, but it's not as impactful as the other two chapters.
What do you think about these two new Sagas from Theros Beyond Death, and Elspeth's story? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.
Theros Beyond Death, the 83rd Magic: The Gathering expansion, is set to release on January 24, 2020. Prerelease events will take place on January 17-19.
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