Just in time for beach season AND Shark Week, we’ve got the lowdown on the brand new battletome for the Deep-Dwelling Destroyers, the Idoneth Deepkin
Welcome in, Generals of the Realms! Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, an army of soul-stealing aelven pirates are on the way to your shores! The Idoneth have never been a weak army, but their new book is primed to swiftly rocket them to the top of the meta wave. Whether you’re a new initiate to the Idoneth or a seasoned Akhelian, you’ll fine a lot to love in this battletome!
I have played Idoneth Deepkin on and off for a while now, though admittedly more off. They remind me a lot of my beloved high-speed Drukhari, and that hasn’t changed at all. In fact, this new tome makes them feel even MORE aggressive and speed-focused. Between the new heroes, the gnarly Manifestation, and the new way that Tides work, this book is everything I’ve ever wanted as a casual Idoneth player.
The Tides of War
One of the newest (and arguably best) things about the new battletome is the way that the Tides work. Idoneth generals can choose whether to empower the Tidal power of the Sea or the Storm. Every friendly hero phase, you decide which Tide to empower. If you choose the same Tide as last turn, you get a powered-up effect. If you switch, you have to start the cycle over from the beginning. For my money, I think most people will focus on the Sea.
While the Storm does have a nifty teleport ability, the Sea builds into a devastating combat turn. The Tide begins with a shooting debuff for your enemies, then allows you to Run and Shoot and/or Charge in the same phase on the following turn. If you play the Tide to its final phase, you give your entire army the Strike First rule, a huge benefit in an aggressive but slightly fragile army.
Alongside the new Tides are a pair of powerful Akhelian heroes, minor variants of the deadly Eidolons. These Ikons bring the fury of the Seas and Storm to bear against your opponent. The Ikon of the Storm is a deadly melee powerhouse, able to take a second attack action once per battle and keep opponents from running away. The Ikon of the Sea, on the other hand, is all about getting TO the battle, able to empower nearby units on the charge. Whichever of these deadly warriors you choose, you’ll be in good hands. The same can’t be said for your opponent…
Epic Heroes and Living Waves
The Beasts aren’t the only force coming to life in the Realms. The Ishrann have learned to harness the waves themselves into living weapons. The Incarnate of the Deep is a new living spell in the Idoneth book, and the first new Incarnate we’ve gotten since the Krondspine. This deadly aquatic predator can lock down enemies with its Tendrils and decimate Faction Terrain. Best of all, it’s highly resistant to being banished, taking damage instead of being immediately dispelled. Once this wave crashes, it’s going to wash away everything in its path.
Also ascending from the depths is Mathaela, Oracle of the Abyss. The strongest and deadliest of the Isharann, she is from the deepest trenches of the Aethric Sea. Of course, she brings the crushing blackness along with her. She can decimate high Wounds enemies with her signature spell, and can whip the mounts of her fellow Idoneth into a mad frenzy. Where she goes, only death follows.
Will you be picking up any Idoneth goodies?
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From North Carolina to Texas and back to North Carolina again, Clint lives the life of a traveling artist. An avid gamer, writer, actor, pyrotechnician, and general nerd, he has finally turned his love of EDH into a career. When not busy being a clueless cowboy, Winterfell Bannermen, or whatever else acting life throws at him, he enjoys reading folklore from around the world, writing narratives for his Wargaming armies, or running D&D 5e games as a professional DM. Look for his storytelling podcast, By the Dancing Fire, or find him on Twitch at FeybornPhyrexian, where he produces MTG content.
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