Three Planeswalker Chandra cards are the first spoilers for Core Set 2020

This past weekend saw the prerelease of Magic: The Gathering’s latest set, Modern Horizons. Players enjoyed the “blast from the past” and drafting up some decks more reminiscent of eternal formats. Wizards, however, is continuing to push forward their timeline with the first of the Core Set 2020 spoilers. Today we saw the reveal of not one, not two, but three brand new Chandra Planeswalker cards! These spoilers came via Gizmodo’s io9.

The Breakdown

The most important note is that Chandra finds herself as the focus of three Planeswalker cards within the set. This specific set of cards shows the progression of a fan favorite character. Each Planeswalker sits at a different rarity, similarly to how planeswalkers were treated in War of the Spark. However, what sets Core 2020 Planeswalkers apart from the WAR Planeswalkers is the lack of a triggered/passive effect.

Chandra, Novice Pyromancer

All of the Chandra Planeswalkers in Core 2020 work together to boost each other. The uncommon card, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer begins at five loyalty for four mana. Her +1 ability grants elementals you control +2/+0 until the end of turn. Be cautious of how you order your effects, as any elementals that enter after using this ability do not receive the bonus. Novice Pyromancer’s -1 ability adds two red mana to your mana pool. The -2 ability deals two damage to any target. Novice Pyromancer does a great job of showing off the idea of the original Chandra.

Chandra, Acolyte of Flame

At the rare slot, Chandra becomes the Acolyte of Flame. Acolyte of Flame enters the battlefield at four loyalty for three mana. Her first and second abilities do not have loyalty costs to them. The first ability puts a single loyalty counter on each red Planeswalker the player controls. This includes this card itself as well as multicolored Planeswalkers with red in their colors. Acolyte of Flame’s second ability creates two 1/1 elemental creatures with haste that sacrifice themselves at the end of the turn. The -2 ability of the Rare Chandra allows the controller to play an instant or sorcery card in their graveyard that costs three or less mana.

Chandra, Awakened Inferno

Chandra, Awakened Inferno is the mythic Planeswalker with the Chandra subtype in this set. This Planeswalker starts at six loyalty for six mana. The Awakened Inferno also cannot be countered. This most closely resembles the triggered/passive effects that made the War of the Spark Planeswalkers unique. The first loyalty ability of the Acolyte of Flame card gives two loyalty to Awakened Inferno while placing an emblem on each opponent that deals one damage on upkeep. The -3 loyalty ability deals three damage to each non-Elemental creature. Awakened Inferno’s “ultimate” ability costs X loyalty and deals that amount of damage to target creatures or Planeswalkers. The ability also states that if the permanent would die this turn, exile that permanent instead.

How to Utilize Chandra

These three new Planeswalkers not only play well off of each other, but they work well with other red Planeswalkers like Jaya, Venerated Firemage as well. Adding burn spells to the deck like Lightning Bolt and Shock seems like an obvious move here. The final theme to put into the deck may be to include elementals. These creatures, like Amplifire, and enchantments, like Elemental Mastery, will be granted a huge benefit from Novice Pyromancer.

The Lore of Chandra

Chandra is definitely one of the most popular characters in the Magic: the Gathering lore. Her backstory was explored in the Magic: Origins set where we learned about her childhood on the plane of Kaladesh. That arc of her story ended on her spark igniting. and her Planeswalking to Keral Keep on Regatha.

The biggest section of the story that focused on Chandra was based in the sets of Kaladesh and Aether Revolt. When Chandra finally returned to Kaladesh, she reunited with her mother Pia, while also finding herself across from Dovin Baan as her main enemy. Chandra finally found her Triumph by burning out the eyes of Dovin during the War on Ravnica. Her victory was not in killing her rival, but going against Dovin’s idea of perfection.

Chandra represents the typical aggro character: creating creatures with haste, playing instants and sorceries, and burning the opponent. Almost all of the Chandra Planeswalkers find a basis in this style of play.

Stay tuned to Daily Esports for full and comprehensive coverage of the entire Core Set 2020 spoilers season. For all of our past Modern Horizons and War of the Spark coverage, visit our Magic: The Gathering page!