Homecoming!

Well, I'm finally back! Sorry for leaving this blog totally abandoned while I was gone.
As for that contest, the code was a lock code and I'm not sure if it still works.. I'm epically sorry if it doesn't, to all.. four contestants ._. I'm working on something to make up for it right now, the winner should receive it if it works. For now, sorry about that again..

Oh, and what do you think of the new banner? Like it? Making it was quite fun and easy, if you'd like to know the basics of making a banner like that I'm happy to say :)

Anywho, for my homecoming article, I'm going to focus on a card that is such an obvious choice of a card to look at, that you wouldn't even expect! Something I haven't done so far because I was waiting for occasion to do this review of such an epic creature! What Danian would deserve such fanfare? Of course there is only one! Illexia, the head honchita herself! And not just a danian of the week thing, no sir, but a Full Card Analysis, the first one since Fliandar - I'll be taking a look at all aspects of the Queen, using the same format as before, with a slight change as Illexia has no flavour text.

1: Stats
2: Elements
3: Energy
4: Mugic ability
5: Ability
6: Rarity
7: Subtypes
8: Cardart

9: Summation + Danian Rant :D

Full Card Analysis! Illexia, The Danian Queen! So let's begin!

1 - C50/P65/W65/S25/E55 - These are her stats. So with a max energy of 65, she's pretty good for what is mainly a support creature. The rest of her stats are fairly average, but stats aren't especially important for her role in decks, but high enough so that she's not an absolute meekling.

2 - Elements - Earth. Not necessary usually, but if you give her doomhammer, she can be a good fighter if the worst comes to the worst. Also helps with things like rocky refrain.

3 - Energy - I already did that.. Didn't I o_O

4 - Mugic Ability - Two, but the possibilities are endless - When your or your opponents mandiblor/infected creature is coded, she gets another mugic counter - handy is an understatement.

5 - Ability - Here is where things get complex. Illexia has the highest amount of separate abilities on one card thus far in the game, so I'll go through them one by one.

1. Adjacent creatures gain "Defender" - This is useful in practically any deck. Infection, hive, compost, aggro, supercooled.. No matter what, constant defender is good. Being able to pick your battles is an advantage that is so worthy to have, it could win you the game.

2. Whenever a mandiblor or infected creature is coded, Illexia gets a counter. This feeds into her next two abilities, so I'll talk about it there.

3. Activate Hive until end of turn for one counter. Simple, useful - A staple danian ability that in some way benefits every danian deck. A necessity for the queen, and her counters can be many thanks to number 2.

4. Possibly my favourite of her abilities. During Hive, her counter's count as your mandiblors. Simply amazing - Because of the counters from her second ability, it's like your mandiblors never die. They are still there, in the hive anyway. And thanks to her third ability, you can always activate hive. So with Illexia alone, you could activate hive and have an automatic mandiblor count of 3 or 4, without even counting creatures. This ability is, like all of her abilities except hive activation, completely unique to the queen.

6 - Rarity - Ultra rare for a card this diverse and useful? They should have made up a few new rarities for illexia, and put her at the top if you ask me. As a tribe leader, Ultra Rare is required.

7 - Subtypes - Illexia is a Noble. This makes sense, because she is the queen of the danians and thus the noblest of the noble. Nobles tend to be protected by mandiblors, and no one is protected better than Illexia. This actually shows in her ability, because any creature near her is a potential bodyguard. Constant watch isn't appointed to just any measly mandiblor!

8 - Cardart - I think when Illexia first came out, most players were disappointed, as you can't see her very well. Here is a close up of her..

Okay, so, being perfectly honest... I love her cardart! Honestly, I think it's awesome. I think that Illexia, as a tribe leader, is more realistic than the others. You gotta have real brains, motivational powers and the ability to stand back and observe to be a tribe leader, like the reclusive king of the mipedians does too. When Chaor or Maxxor charge into battle, they just might miss something.. But that's not the main reason I like her.

First, I like all of the Mandiblor Guards in her cardart. It really shows the solidity and ferocity of the Danian Defense, and lets you know the danians have no nonsense when it comes to watching over their queen.

But I like best the Illexia that you can see better in the close up I posted. First, you see how old and experienced she is, and the shape of her mandibles and stuff. But also, you can see her shouting, or making a speech. She looks like she has a strong spirit even if her body isn't as strong as some other creatures. Her eyes are glowing, which suggests something mugical, which is good because she is a support creature.. All in all, you can tell she's someone who commands a LOT of power in more than one way. It's an electrifying card art, if you ask me.

9 - Illexia is a truly amazing card for danians. She can be the center, and have a deck built around her if you want, but normally that's not how it works. With most tribe leaders, the decks are there to make them strong. For example, Iflar might need a wingman or two, and two owayki in the back. Aa'une needs his tribe to get powerful. But Illexia is rarely the main aspect of a deck, but rather she amplifies the other card. The tribe isn't there for the leader, rather the leader is there for the tribe. It's the group that matters with danians, and Illexia does this perfectly. Her abilities benefit all of your other creatures in an invaluable way. Almost any danian deck is benefitted by her presence.

Thus, she earns my highest rating for a card, ever. 9/10