Magic: The Gathering Card Review: Cenn's Enlistment

TL;DR Summary

Cenn's Enlistment is a powerful Sorcery card that creates two 1/1 White Kithkin Soldier tokens, granting the player an early advantage on the battlefield. Its Retrace ability allows it to be cast from the graveyard under specific conditions, making it a versatile and resilient card in various Magic: The Gathering decks.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Cenn's Enlistment is a straightforward card that creates two 1/1 White Kithkin Soldier tokens with no additional costs or effects. This makes it an excellent early-game play to get your board presence established quickly, especially when paired with other Kithkin creatures. The Retrace ability of Cenn's Enlistment allows the player to cast the card from their graveyard without paying its mana cost.

However, this comes with a condition: the player must discard a land card in addition to paying the card's other costs (in this case, none). This means that the player can only use Retrace if they have access to a land and can afford to discard it. It is essential to carefully consider when and how to use Cenn's Enlistment's potential.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Cenn's Enlistment is a versatile card that excels in various deck archetypes. One of its most powerful uses is in control decks that focus on disrupting the opponent's board or controlling key areas of the board. In these decks, Cenn's Enlistment can be used to create an early-game presence while also setting up for more complex plays later in the game.

For example, combining Cenn's Enlistment with other control spells like Counterspell or Disdainful Stroke, you can lock down your opponent and prevent them from developing. This makes it an attractive option for players who want to gain a significant advantage early on.

Another common use of Cenn's Enlistment is in aggressive decks that focus on rapid development and tempo advantages. In these decks, you can use the card to create an early-game board presence while also generating card advantage through other means, such as Glimpse of Nature or Vindictive Void.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Cenn's Enlistment is a versatile card that fits into various deck archetypes. Here are some popular uses for the card:

• Control: Use Cenn's Enlistment to create an early-game presence while also setting up for more complex plays later in the game.
• Aggro: Combine Cenn's Enlistment with other aggressive spells, such as Chandra's Phantoms or Estrid's Invocation, to generate rapid tempo advantages.
• Midrange: Use Cenn's Enlistment as a key part of a midrange deck that focuses on gradual board expansion and card advantage.

When building a deck around Cenn's Enlistment, consider the following:

• Land base: You'll need access to lands to cast Cenn's Enlistment from your graveyard using Retrace.
• Removal: Make sure you have removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Abrupt Decay, to deal with any threats that might develop during the game.
• Card advantage: Combine Cenn's Enlistment with other cards that generate card advantage, such as Glimpse of Nature or Vindictive Void.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Cenn's Enlistment is a relatively new addition to the Magic: The Gathering format. However, it has quickly become a staple in various deck archetypes.

In recent formats, such as Modern and Standard, Cenn's Enlistment has seen significant play and success.

In these formats, Cenn's Enlistment is often used as a key part of control decks or midrange strategies that focus on gradual board expansion and card advantage. Its Retrace ability makes it an attractive option for players who want to generate early-game value while also maintaining flexibility in their deck.

However, the viability of Cenn's Enlistment can vary depending on the specific metagame and deck archetype. In some formats, such as Commander or Historic, Cenn's Enlistment may be less relevant due to the presence of other powerful cards that provide similar value.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

The Retrace ability of Cenn's Enlistment can only be used in specific circumstances:

• The player must have access to a land card.
• The player must discard a land card when casting Cenn's Enlistment from their graveyard using Retrace.

This means that the player cannot use Retrace if they are playing without a land, or if they don't have any cards in their graveyard. Additionally, the player must pay all other costs associated with casting Cenn's Enlistment, including its mana cost and any other abilities or effects.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Cenn's Enlistment features artwork that depicts a scene of military recruitment and mobilization. The card's text reflects the themes of recruitment and mobilization that are present in the art.

Historically, Cenn's Enlistment is part of a series of cards that explores the concept of military service and recruitment. These cards often feature artwork and text that emphasize the importance of collective defense and community effort.

Summary of Key Points

• Early-game presence: Cenn's Enlistment creates an early-game board presence with its 1/1 White Kithkin Soldier tokens.
• Retrace ability: The card can be cast from the graveyard using Retrace, but only under specific conditions (access to a land and discarding a land).
• Versatility: Cenn's Enlistment is a versatile card that fits into various deck archetypes, including control, aggro, and midrange.
• Deckbuilding considerations: When building a deck around Cenn's Enlistment, consider the need for lands, removal spells, and card advantage.
• Format viability: In recent formats, such as Modern and Standard, Cenn's Enlistment has seen significant play and success.

Conclusion

Cenn's Enlistment is a powerful Sorcery card that offers a unique combination of early-game presence and versatility. Its Retrace ability provides an attractive option for players who want to generate value from their graveyard while also maintaining flexibility in their deck.

As Magic: The Gathering continues to evolve, Cenn's Enlistment will likely remain a staple in various deck archetypes and formats. Its impact on the game is undeniable, providing a powerful tool for players to establish an early-game advantage and control key areas of the board.