Initially I thought Fiavandrel was an OKish card. And I thought that, even though, it is super costly, it can play for a good value. But the more I think about it, I feel like Filavandrel is the worst Legendary in PoP expansion (among Francesca, Simlas, and Filavandrel). When I think about what kind of deck I want to build after HoS expansion, I am 100% sure I will try the new handbuff. But Filavandrel doesn't seem to fit into the deck.
Hear me out. Play out a game in your mind. If you don't draw Filavandrel in R1 his value drops significantly. Drawing him in R1 or not makes a HUGE difference, just like Sheldon and Aglias. Except that Sheldon/Aglais can generate more value and can even be a wincon if we draw them in R1. Filavandrel is not. Drawing him R2 would still put him in a better spot, but still significantly weaker and R3, he might as well be a dead card, playing for 7-10 points max. But the price for not drawing him is significantly higher as he is just much much costlier than the other payout cards.
Now, assume the scenario you draw him in R1. You have an idea of what you want to play and most probably it would be either at 6 strength (Harvest/Orb), 8 strength (Council) or 10 strength (CoF, but I sincerely hope this becomes 9P). Playing him ranged would most probably mean you are losing the round as it can give super junk options. So, when Filavandrel is at that strength, YOU HAVE TO PLAY HIM! You can't take the chance of not playing him in that turn as a random boost may go to him and completely render him useless (by completely useless, I mean playing him in Ranged and getting options Waylay, MakingABomb, DryadCaress, The Rune, etc.) At this point you are already ready to remove him from your deck. This pressure of "You have to play right now or you are screwed" is a horrible state as the opponent may play a dangerous engine or an Order card you have to remove immediately. So, basically Filandravel can make you choose between "Do you want to take the chance that I will become a horrible 12P card or you want to lose the game?" This aspect of 'play him right now' is unacceptable in this era where there are plenty of remove-or-lose cards in the game.
I am not done yet. There is one more aspect which makes me want to remove him from my imaginary deck already. When you are playing handbuff, you most probably play Torque, and most probably you play devotion so that you draw him consistently. And I would assume you would want to play the 'Boost a unit in your hand by 3' strategem as it gives the most value. If Torque hits Filavandrel, he is already at 7 and would need a boost (or 3 boosts) to be useful. Every turn, you will be under pressure that you will have to be ready to commit Filavandrel, probably your costliest unit in the deck in R1, because, otherwise, he can play a 4+4PSpecial for a 12P.
Overall, I feel like people will try him and get screwed because they drew him or because they didn't.. people will screwed because random buffs land on him or they didn't.. people will be screwed because he had to be commited prematurely and when you are not ready. All this for a 12P card? I feel like it is a huge gamble, much more gamble than playing Francesca and praying that she doesn't get removed, but for 12P.
What do you think? Play out a game in your mind, best case, worst case scenarios and what conclusion do you arrive at?
[Disclaimer: I am the guy who thought Simlas is a junk over-costed low-pointslam card. So, I am sure I am missing something here. But no matter how much I think, Filavandrel doesn't seem to be a good choice in any of my imaginary Invigorate decks. Not when he is at 12P.]
Hear me out. Play out a game in your mind. If you don't draw Filavandrel in R1 his value drops significantly. Drawing him in R1 or not makes a HUGE difference, just like Sheldon and Aglias. Except that Sheldon/Aglais can generate more value and can even be a wincon if we draw them in R1. Filavandrel is not. Drawing him R2 would still put him in a better spot, but still significantly weaker and R3, he might as well be a dead card, playing for 7-10 points max. But the price for not drawing him is significantly higher as he is just much much costlier than the other payout cards.
Now, assume the scenario you draw him in R1. You have an idea of what you want to play and most probably it would be either at 6 strength (Harvest/Orb), 8 strength (Council) or 10 strength (CoF, but I sincerely hope this becomes 9P). Playing him ranged would most probably mean you are losing the round as it can give super junk options. So, when Filavandrel is at that strength, YOU HAVE TO PLAY HIM! You can't take the chance of not playing him in that turn as a random boost may go to him and completely render him useless (by completely useless, I mean playing him in Ranged and getting options Waylay, MakingABomb, DryadCaress, The Rune, etc.) At this point you are already ready to remove him from your deck. This pressure of "You have to play right now or you are screwed" is a horrible state as the opponent may play a dangerous engine or an Order card you have to remove immediately. So, basically Filandravel can make you choose between "Do you want to take the chance that I will become a horrible 12P card or you want to lose the game?" This aspect of 'play him right now' is unacceptable in this era where there are plenty of remove-or-lose cards in the game.
I am not done yet. There is one more aspect which makes me want to remove him from my imaginary deck already. When you are playing handbuff, you most probably play Torque, and most probably you play devotion so that you draw him consistently. And I would assume you would want to play the 'Boost a unit in your hand by 3' strategem as it gives the most value. If Torque hits Filavandrel, he is already at 7 and would need a boost (or 3 boosts) to be useful. Every turn, you will be under pressure that you will have to be ready to commit Filavandrel, probably your costliest unit in the deck in R1, because, otherwise, he can play a 4+4PSpecial for a 12P.
Overall, I feel like people will try him and get screwed because they drew him or because they didn't.. people will screwed because random buffs land on him or they didn't.. people will be screwed because he had to be commited prematurely and when you are not ready. All this for a 12P card? I feel like it is a huge gamble, much more gamble than playing Francesca and praying that she doesn't get removed, but for 12P.
What do you think? Play out a game in your mind, best case, worst case scenarios and what conclusion do you arrive at?
[Disclaimer: I am the guy who thought Simlas is a junk over-costed low-pointslam card. So, I am sure I am missing something here. But no matter how much I think, Filavandrel doesn't seem to be a good choice in any of my imaginary Invigorate decks. Not when he is at 12P.]