No Lie, Sky-Guy is Pretty Fly
As you have undoubtedly heard, Anakin Skywalker will finally be receiving a proper Blue Hero incarnation in Covert Missions. I was hyped up immediately for this card, but my local guys are skeptical. Is he good, or is he destined to be banished to the binder? It’s hard to know for sure without seeing his support cards, but I believe he will be playable. I’ll be making that argument by discussing his color, health, die, subtype, ability, cost, and available partners. Feel free to disagree, but this is my analysis (and defense) of Sky-Guy in Standard!
“No One Can Kill a Jedi.” Not One With Good Control Cards, At Least!
Anakin Skywalker (CM53) is a Blue Hero card. Blue Hero has access to two of the best free control cards in the game with Hidden Motive (RV5) and Pacify (WF61). Considering that, there won’t be a lack of playable removal for Anakin to utilize. Pacify in particular could have some real utility! Anakin could play a little slower on turns he has Pacify, and wait to activate and get one of the shields back after it’s played. I think most good Anakin players will make sure to get full value from his ability. That may mean seeing Pacify’s “cost” as a reward!
Unfortunately, Blue Hero has very little one cost removal worth getting excited about. This means you may need to play some sub-optimal removal like Upper Hand (CV64) to really fill out a comfortable removal suite. Anakin would love to see some classic removal reprinted in Covert Missions (Guard (SR103) and Overconfidence (SR130) come to mind), but he can make due with what he has!
“Only Jedi Carry That Kind of Weapon!” – Upgrades And Other Support In Blue Hero
Blue Hero has a solid lineup of melee upgrades to use with Anakin. Three base melee sides on his character die allows Anakin to use upgrades that have mostly modified sides, so Treasured Lightsaber (AG120, which complements the draw theme) and Jedi Lightsaber (SH72, more shields) could end up as solid additions to an Anakin deck. In addition to those we already have, I would love see a new Lightsaber designed specifically for Anakin to use in Covert Missions!
Anakin’s ability to steal a shield could help make Adapt (LG100) a more consistent play, which could help a color that sometimes struggles with resource generation. Any cards that manipulate shields will be effective in Anakin decks. I see a high ceiling for cards like Ataru Strike (LG101) that use shields offensively. Cards like Unbreakable (LG105) that scale in effectiveness with shields should be considered as well. As it stands, Blue Hero has a card pool that can decently support a character like Anakin. I would like to believe that card pool will only impove in Covert Missions.
On a final note, my hope is that a new Blue card will be printed that has an effect that procs when it is discarded. This would synergize well with Anakin’s ability and open up an underused design space!
Well, I Should Be (All Powerful). 13 Health Is A Good Start!
Anakin has 13 health, which makes him a relatively tanky option. FFG has been more willing to push to 13 health for big characters in recent sets. This number appears to be standard for high cost characters going forward. In some ways, 13 health on this guy is a throwback to the first Darth Vader from Awakenings (AW10), although it’s a less impressive number now than it was then. I think I’m satisfied with the amount of health you get for the cost with Anakin, as it’s on par with Thrawn (SH23) and Maul (SH03) for a similar cost. I see Anakin as a comparable character to Thrawn and Maul basically across the board, so this is a good thing!
“If I’m Late For Another Scolding, Does It Really Matter?” (My Die Isn’t THAT bad!)
Anakin’s die has been a point of contention, especially when compared to the current melee powerhouse in the meta, Darth Vader (AG01) . Anakin packs a four-for-one-resource side, similar to the one that Darth Vader has terrorized opponents with for a few sets now. That said, he doesn’t have access to a card similar to Fear and Dead Men (AG07) to fully take advantage of it. He has has a one (!) melee side where Vader rocks a three melee side, which is less than great.
The difference in their dice is the most obvious deficit Anakin will have to work around if he wants to become the premier melee character in Star Wars: Destiny. Anakin’s die is rounded out with a one shield side (which you’ll probably never resolve) and a one resource side. I don’t really see this as being that bad for a character that can be played elite at 19 points. It’s undeniably a worse die than Vader is packing, but it doesn’t have to be as good to be playable. The characters are costed four points apart, so Anakin will undoubtedly have a better character to pair with than Vader does.
“Don’t Lecture Me, Obi-Wan!” (I Think 3/6 Melee Sides Will Be Fine)
There are two ways to look at Anakin’s die. One is to accept that a two melee side is decent value on a 19 point character, and a four melee side on a 19 point character is just fun to build around. When compared to other characters at his cost, Anakin does just fine. The other is to compare this die to Vader’s die, which will inevitably leave you finding Anakin’s die lacking. I think this card was designed to be closer in strength to Maul or Thrawn than Vader, and in that context this die is fine. I would have loved to see the shield side be a two shield side, though! It will be infuriating to roll this die sometimes, but my hope is that 2/6 solid aggro sides (3/6 melee sides total) will be fine. Time will tell.
“He Is Like No Other Jedi. Passionate, Impulsive…” … And A Leader!
Anakin is both a Jedi and a Leader. The Jedi subtype opens up access to a few cards (most notably Jedi Mind Trick (SH65) and Disciplined Mind (CV62)), but doesn’t pack as much value as something like Scoundrel does. Jedi is important when considering Anakin’s most effective partner, but ultimately it isn’t going to be earth shattering. Leader is more intriguing, if only because I could see Salt Flats (CV179) being the default battlefield for Anakin and having access to it is important. Leader also gives you some extra play with Admiral (SH136) if you’re feeling a little crazy and pair Anakin with Red.
I guess technically the Jedi/Leader combination also gives Anakin full value from Channel the Force (CV60), which is costly at two resources but could be fun to play around with. I believe Jedi/Leader is a solid pairing of subtypes. Anakin is well placed to take advantage of a few good interactions with them.
“The Jedi Code Often Prevents Us From Going Far Enough To Achieve Victory.” (I Like This Ability)
Anakin’s ability is what many Magic: The Gathering players would identify as a cantrip. According to the MTG Wiki, “a cantrip is a slang term used to refer to a spell that draws a card in addition to its other effects (usually minor) and can therefore be said to replace itself.”
Anakin’s ability states that you can discard a card to move a shield from one character to another. Yes, you can move a shield from your opponents’ characters to yours. Then, you may draw a card if you moved the shield to an Apprentice. His ability should theoretically give you a two health swing AND allow for card cycling out of your hand every turn, as long as your opponent has a shield and an Apprentice is on the board. Effectively, he turns the worst card in your hand into Steadfast for shields, then replaces the card via card draw.
Cantrips are most effective when you have a reason to thin the deck, so my hope is that Anakin’s support cards are valuable and properly support the card draw. I think this ability has a lot of potential, but until we’ve seen the entirety of Covert Missions it’ll be difficult to properly assess it. That said, Maul and Vader are currently the gold standard for big melee characters because of their abilities. Vader’s ability protects his dice, and Maul’s improves his three+ wide match-ups significantly. For Anakin to truly enter the competitive conversation, players will need to find a way to maximize both the shield transfer and the card draw that Anakin brings to the table.
“There’s A Difference Between Pulling Innocents Into A War And Leaving Them To Extinction.” (Finding Allies)
Anakin’s cost is 15/19. I don’t know that many players will consider Anakin viable at one die. If you want to play him that way, there are a plethora of three die starts that could be considered. At 19 points elite, there are a few interesting options to choose from for his partner. If we don’t try to run a plot (which would open up a TON of 12 and 13 point partners), characters that allow for a four die start in Standard are: Ahsoka Tano (CV57), C-3PO (SH77), Chopper (SH94), Ezra Bridger (SH54), Jar Jar Binks (LG47), Kashyyk Warrior (CM71), L3-37 (AG91), Lor San Tekka (CV55), R2-D2 (SH56), Rose (LG40), Satine Kryze (CV91), and Wicket (SH97). There are actually a few intriguing options here.
“Oh, No, I’d Be Too Frightened To Tease A Senator!” (But Not An Admiral)
If you want to lean into the fact Anakin is a leader and attempt to play Admiral, you would probably consider partnering him with either C-3PO or Rose, as both of them generate resources and allow for some fun tricks. Ezra (I wish he was an Apprentice) and Lor San Tekka allow for some fun synergy with Anakin’s Draw/Discard. The main problem with these pairings (and most of Anakin’s pairings) is that none of these characters carry the Apprentice subtype. Without it, Anakin’s ability is a lot worse. There may be a new card in Covert Missions that adds the Apprentice subtype to a character a la Knighthood (AN05). Since that card has yet to be spoiled, I won’t assume it exists.
“Master Skywalker And I Hold What We Call Aggressive Negotiations All The Time!”
The obvious partner for Anakin (and one that makes thematic sense) is Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka is strictly better when she is paired with a Jedi. Anakin gains value from being paired with an apprentice. They share die sides, each sporting 50% melee, and Ahsoka has low health (Anakin gives shields to his Apprentice partner). I suspect that FFG had Ahsoka in mind when they costed Anakin, and my hope is that this is a successful pairing. Ahsoka is a fun card, and I think she can be a solid partner for Anakin.
“Anakin? You Might Find Some Of His Thoughts On The Future A Bit Radical.”
Blue Hero has the cards currently to support a melee deck, and hopefully will gain more. 13 health is the new standard for big characters, and makes Anakin decently tanky. He needed at least 13 to be playable in the current metagame. Anakin’s die is solid, if unspectacular, and offers a huge four melee side to work with. He has a useful pairing of subtypes in Jedi/Leader that allow for some good synergies with existing cards. The cantrip-like ability he has is teeming with potential, if his draw deck can support it. His point cost is fair, and allows for the thematic Anakin/Ahsoka pairing that brings to the table four solid dice.
Anakin hasn’t had all of his support spoiled yet, but I believe that we can make predictions about him now. I think the Anakin/Ahsoka pairing will be solidly tier two for competitive play. I look forward to trying him out next month when Covert Missions drops!
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