Lord Xander, the Collector - Golden Age Showcase (SNC)

Lord Xander, the Collector
Casting Cost: {4}{U}{B}{R}
Card Type: Legendary Creature - Vampire Demon Noble
Power/Toughness: 6/6
Card Text:

• When Lord Xander, the Collector enters the battlefield, target opponent discards half the cards in their hand, rounded down.
• Whenever Lord Xander attacks, defending player mills half their library, rounded down.
• When Lord Xander dies, target opponent sacrifices half the nonland permanents they control, rounded down.
  Artist: Tran Nguyen

Strengths:

• Hand Disruption: Lord Xander's entry ability forces an opponent to discard half their hand, which can severely disrupt their plans and leave them with fewer resources.
• Library Milling: Whenever Lord Xander attacks, the defending player mills half their library. This can accelerate the depletion of their deck, potentially leading to a loss if they run out of cards to draw.
• Permanent Removal: Lord Xander's death trigger causes an opponent to sacrifice half of their nonland permanents, which can be a powerful board wipe, especially in multiplayer games.

Weaknesses:

• High Mana Cost: The casting cost of {4}{U}{B}{R} is substantial, requiring access to four different colors of mana. This makes Lord Xander challenging to cast in decks without strong mana fixing.
• Opponent's Choice: Lord Xander's abilities target opponents, and they often get to choose which cards to discard, which library cards to mill, and which permanents to sacrifice. This means your opponents can make strategic decisions to minimize the impact.
• Vulnerability: As a creature, Lord Xander is vulnerable to creature removal spells and combat damage. Without protection or evasion, it can be challenged in combat.

Deck Considerations:

• Control Decks: Lord Xander is a good fit for control decks that focus on disrupting opponents' hands, libraries, and boards.
• Mill Decks: If you're building a mill-themed deck, Lord Xander can be a powerful addition, helping to accelerate your opponents' library depletion.
• Sacrifice Synergy: Decks that benefit from opponents sacrificing permanents, such as Aristocrats-style decks, can make good use of Lord Xander's death trigger.
• Mana Fixing: Given the demanding mana cost, it's essential to include mana-fixing cards and mana sources that can provide the necessary colors.

Flavor and Art:

• Art: The art depicts Lord Xander as a regal and intimidating figure, emphasizing his noble and demonic qualities. The dark, ornate aesthetic complements the card's theme.
• Flavor: The card's flavor aligns with Lord Xander's role as a collector of various resources. His abilities represent him collecting cards from opponents' hands, milling their libraries, and demanding sacrifices when he meets his demise.

Overall Impression:

Lord Xander, the Collector is a high-impact card with abilities that can significantly disrupt opponents' game plans. Its versatility in causing hand disruption, library milling, and permanent removal makes it a formidable presence in multiplayer games, especially in control or mill strategies. However, its high mana cost and vulnerability to removal require careful consideration in deck building.