Is Loki, God of Mischief Actually Awesome?
{Loki, God of Mischief} is a new card releasing in the Marvel Superheroes expansion. At first glance, the Villain for [1][u] and an effect reminiscent of the banned {Nadu, Winged Wisdom} doesn't stack up.
{Loki, God of Mischief} subtleties might be overlooked because of the comparison to a card that should never have seen print and was an admitted mistake by Wizards of the Coast. The relatively simple text by today's standards applies in many ways that are not immediately obvious.
The first subtlety is "whenever a player or permanent," which is different than "you or a permanent you control," as many of our brains might shortcut to. While the effect is compatible with {Nomads en-Kor} and {Shuko} as Cephalid Breakfast players might be excited about, it works just as well when interacting with the opponent.
For example, if you control {Loki, God of Mischief} and tutor {Skateboard} off your {Urza's Saga}, tapping an opposing creature or land will draw you a card. Anything you target with {Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd}, {Flickerwhisp}, or {Orcish Bowmasters} will draw you a card.
My beloved {Jace, The Mind Sculptor} unsummoning a creature with {Loki, God of Mischief} on board draws a card. My nemesis {Teferi, Time Raveler} bouncing anything draws an additional card. {Mishra's Bauble} and {Urza's Bauble} will both draw an additional card. Think of this simple sequence:
Turn two, cast {Mishra's Bauble}, cast {Urza's Bauble}, cast {Loki, God of Mischief}, sacrifice a {Mishra's Bauble}, draw a card. Pass turn, draw off a {Mishra's Bauble} in their upkeep, sacrifice {Urza's Bauble} before their draw step, draw a card. On your turn three, draw off {Urza's Bauble}, draw for turn. You have drawn two additional cards and know two cards in your opponent's hand.
If your opponent has a legendary creature, {Karakas} bouncing it draws a card. Likewise, protecting {Loki, God of Mischief} with {Karakas} draws a card. {Bojuka Bog} draws a card. {Endurance} and {Solitude} draw a card.
There are deck building considerations for {Loki, God of Mischief} since he cares about abilities not spells, but plenty of tools that already see play at the top of the format trigger his effect.
I don't expect {Loki, God of Mischief} to overhaul the format, but I wouldn't sleep on it either. I bet he'll live up to his moniker.
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Featured image: {Loki, God of Mischief} by Vilhelmas Banys