Recently, we had talked about a handful of cards from Murders at Karlov Manor that function rather similarly to cards of the past. In some cases, such as with Long Goodbye, the newer version is strictly better than the older version, which in this case is Eliminate. However, there are plenty of other examples of new spoilers that have taken card designs from the past and modified them in unique ways.
For example, Analyze Pollen has a similar function to Traverse the Ulvenwald, but different conditions have to be met to maximize the card. Today, we are going to go over a recently revealed card in a similar vein. This card is pretty close to Hushbringer in its ability to stop certain enters-the-battlefield effects. However, there are some key differences that may help put the newer version over the top.
Strong EDH Interactions
Doorkeeper Thrull is our latest Creature with a built-in Torpor Orb effect. These effects can be quite strong in the right matchups, stopping enters-the-battlefield effects from Creature heavy decks. Unlike Hushbringer, Doorkeeper Thrull does not interact with death triggers well, but what it gains is absolutely noteworthy.
By far the most important aspect of this card if Flash. Part of the issue with previous cards like Hushbringer, especially in an EDH setting, is that your opponents would now know about it and simply avoid playing into it. Thanks to Flash, it’s quite likely you will be able to respond to something very impactful and essentially force your opponent to have wasted their mana.
In cEDH, two of the most played cards, Dockside Extortionist and
Thassa’s Oracle
Thassa’s Oracle
When this creature enters, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is your devotion to blue. Put up to one of them on top of your library and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. If X is greater than or equal to the number of cards in your library, you win the game. (Each {U} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to blue.)
, get completely shut down by Doorkeeper Thrull. Getting to respond to the likes of Spellseeker or
Imperial Recruiter
Imperial Recruiter
When this creature enters, search your library for a creature card with power 2 or less, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
can be devastating, as well.
Even outside of cEDH, there are plenty of haymakers Doorkeeper Thrull can stop. Casting this in response to a
Craterhoof Behemoth
Craterhoof Behemoth
Haste
When this creature enters, creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control.
or Avenger of Zendikar, for instance, can potentially save the whole table at once. The surprise factor with this type of effect cannot be overstated, since your opponent may not have the luxury of being able to simply kill it before resolving a spell with an impactful triggered ability.
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Modern Applications
In Pioneer and Modern, there are some potential opportunities for this card to mess with specific archetypes. Starting with Modern, one interaction that’s worth looking out for is the ability to shut off Protection granted from The One Ring. This is yet another added benefit for Doorkeeper Thrull compared to Hushbringer, as being able to shut off Artifact triggered abilities from entering play can be a big deal. If you’re aggressive enough, this can completely slant a race in your favor.
While a little less popular nowadays, this is also a decent card against
Colossus Hammer
Colossus Hammer
Equipped creature gets +10/+10 and loses flying.
Equip {8} ({8}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
decks. Doorkeeper Thrull successfully blanks the ability of Sigarda’s Aid that lets you attach an Equipment that you play to a Creature for free. What’s awkward about this interaction, though, is that Hammer Time is one of the archetypes that otherwise could’ve best used Doorkeeper Thrull to its advantage.
Hushbringer sometimes sees play in Hammer Time as it is, helping against
Solitude
Solitude
Flash
Lifelink
When this creature enters, exile up to one other target creature. That creature's controller gains life equal to its power.
Evoke—Exile a white card from your hand.
and
Primeval Titan
Primeval Titan
Trample
Whenever this creature enters or attacks, you may search your library for up to two land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
decks. Negating The One Ring’s Protection clause could be useful as well, but the unfavorable interaction with Colossus Hammer likely makes this point moot. Not to mention, other white-based decks like Heliod, Sun-Crowned combo and Abiding Grace midrange rely too much on their own triggered abilities, making this a bit of a niche card. Still, this card is powerful enough to keep an eye on even if it doesn’t have a great home.
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Pioneer Applications
In a similar sense, Doorkeeper Thrull can do a great job at keeping Abzan
Amalia Benavides Aguirre
Amalia Benavides Aguirre
Ward—Pay 3 life.
Whenever you gain life, Amalia Benavides Aguirre explores. Then destroy all other creatures if its power is exactly 20. (To have this creature explore, reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
combo at bay. First of all, it shuts down the vast majority of ways the deck has to gain life, as they are mostly tied to
Lunarch Veteran
Lunarch Veteran
Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life.
Disturb {1}{W} (You may cast this card from your graveyard transformed for its disturb cost.)
and
Prosperous Innkeeper
Prosperous Innkeeper
When this creature enters, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life.
. This is also tough for the Amalia decks in their current forms to remove, as it shuts off Skyclave Apparition as well.
Part of the reason aggressive mono-white Humans decks in Pioneer have faltered in recent months is in part because this matchup is extremely tough. Perhaps the added benefit of being able to Flash this in in response to
Collected Company
Collected Company
Look at the top six cards of your library. Put up to two creature cards with mana value 3 or less from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
could help the deck make at least a bit of a resurgence.
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Standard Applications
Speaking of white aggressive decks, Doorkeeper Thrull could be a game-changer in Standard. There are simply an absurd number of cards with powerful enters-the-battlefield triggers in the format right now. Rakdos midrange makes use of Discover cards like
Geological Appraiser
Geological Appraiser
When this creature enters, if you cast it, discover 3. (Exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with mana value 3 or less. Cast it without paying its mana cost or put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom in a random order.)
and
Trumpeting Carnosaur
Trumpeting Carnosaur
Trample
When this creature enters, discover 5.
{2}{R}, Discard this card: It deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker.
to reliably pull ahead. On the play, you can also Flash in Doorkeeper Thrull in response to Deep-Cavern Bat to protect your hand, which is a very nice bonus.
Meanwhile, five-color Domain decks rely on Topiary Stomper to ramp and
Archangel of Wrath
Archangel of Wrath
Kicker {B} and/or {R} (You may pay an additional {B} and/or {R} as you cast this spell.)
Flying, lifelink
When this creature enters, if it was kicked, it deals 2 damage to any target.
When this creature enters, if it was kicked twice, it deals 2 damage to any target.
to stabilize. Azorius Soldiers makes great use of Resolute Reinforcements and
Knight-Errant of Eos
Knight-Errant of Eos
Convoke
When this creature enters, look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal up to two creature cards with mana value X or less from among them, where X is the number of creatures that convoked this creature. Put the revealed cards into your hand, then shuffle.
to pull ahead, as well as Werefox Bodyguard to keep the pressure on[/tooltips].
If anything, this showcases just how powerful Doorkeeper Thrull’s effect can be in Standard. We’ve already seen Tishana’s Tidebinder make its presence felt in Azorius and Esper midrange shells, and for decks that don’t utilize enters-the-battlefield triggers in a high capacity, Doorkeeper Thrull can provide a powerful, continuous effect on an efficient, evasive body. There’s no denying this card’s power, so it’s certainly worth monitoring to see what shells can best maximize it across all formats.
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