Card Review: Katharaz

                                      Stats: (Unavailable, but I'll put the stats of mine once I get him)

          Katharaz...where to begin? The Danian elementalist has a lot going for him. He has 3 elements, 2 mugic counters, decent stats and energy, and a great creature type. The question has to come to mind: why wasn't he used more? In my opinion, many people looked at his ability and said, "meh." The first time I saw him I did too. There were better combatants with better stats and energy like Nimmei, and better Muges with more counters and abilities like Lore. But one of my specialties is finding the niches and combos that you can use with cards like Katharaz. With that, let me tell you some of those ways.

          The first nifty combo I'd like to tell you about is one with Danian Element Choral. It's a simple combo where you target an opposing creature who's engaged with Katharaz. Now, if Hive is on and you only have Katharaz's elements, Katharaz will gain 45 energy right off the bat! If you manage to fit a creature with fire into your army, he gains 60 energy! Just make sure you have ways to protect Danian Element Choral from Mugic negation.

          A location some of you may know, Stronghold Mourn, is another card that combos very well with Katharaz, giving both him and his opponent all the elements. That's an instant 60 energy! the only problem with this is that stronghold mourn is a unique location, meaning you only have a 10% chance of pulling it from your location deck. Try adding Ulmar's Projection Cavern to your deck to better your chances.

          The final card I'd like to tell you about is one that requires you to expand from a pure Danian deck: Jaidwarl. He' just like Danian Element Choral, but is much more abusable. You can get more counters on to him vie MBF, Na-inna, The Rao'pa Sahkk Chimegrid, etc. He's also a bit easier to use than the first two cards, as he's already on the field, and ability negation is far less common than mugic negation. burn mugic might get him though...

          Like every card, Katharaz has his downfalls. Low disciplines will cause him to get smacked around by discipliners, and they also leave him open to LVBSoA. you can use Citadel Fragments to improve his stats and energy, but if you're worried about Katharaz's elements, use a Scarab of Kilhai.

          Another downside is that Katharaz relies on his ability to make him a front liner. Say your Danian Elemental Choral gets negated, Stronghold Mourn isn't up, Jaidwarl is mugicless or dead, or the worst: you have no way to activate hive. Katharaz would only have 45 energy on average; he'd be beaten to pulp quick.  To give yourself some hope when this has happened to you, have another combatant available to fight with. Good front line partners for Katharaz are Mhein, Nimmei, and any elementalist with Pauldrons.

          In my opinion, cards like Katharaz are made to be discovered. Some people will forget cards like this even exist because of superior or easier choices. But sometimes, you just have to look for the combos and synergies to unlock a cards full potential. Katharaz is ultra for a reason.

Apprentice: 1.5/5. His elements are his only redeeming factor
Master: 3.5/5. He takes more devotion than some of simpler cards, but Katharaz is very potent when the effort is put in to base the deck around him.

Thanks for reading guys. Please leave comments below, as they will encourage me to write more (yes, even the hate comments, 'cause then I'll know someone came to the site...).

-Ziro207