Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Tempo Advantage and Control Tactics
In the carnival-like chaos of Unsanctioned, a green-blue legend steps onto the stage with a confident wink and a roll of the dice. This card isn’t about raw power alone; it’s about weaving tempo with options, forcing your opponent to react to every micro-advantage you generate. On the surface, {2}{G} is a modest cost for a 2/2 Legendary Creature — Human Noble, but the real magic lies in the two dice-empowered abilities that follow. 🧙♂️🔥💎
Think of this as a toolkit for tempo play that leans into control psychology. The first ability creates a green Die creature token whose power and toughness scale with the die’s result. A healthy 6 yields a formidable 6/6 threat, while a 1 still leaves you with a nimble 1/1 that can pressure an unsuspecting battlefield. The second ability, offering a blue twist, lets you reroll any die for {2}{U}. That reroll isn’t just luck—it’s permission to stabilize, redraw the lines, and tilt outcomes in your favor when a die roll would otherwise swing the game against you. 🎲⚔️
Three practical tempo routes you can pursue
- Early board presence with scalable threats: On turn three or four, dropping this legend and rolling a high die can give you a chunky token that applies pressure while you set up disruption. The token scales with your risk tolerance—play it safe with a 4 or 5 to start shaping the board, then push for bigger swings as your mana base grows. 🧙♂️
- Reroll reliability to preserve momentum: The blue mana option lets you reroll dice when outcomes threaten to stall your plan. If a low roll would spur a clean sweep from opponents or waste your tempo, flip the dice with a precise reroll and keep your traffic moving. This is where control and tempo kiss each other on the mouth and say “we’re not losing the race today.” 🔄🎲
- Dice utility beyond combat: The green ability creates a die-token at respectable sizes, which can be leveraged for chump blocks, threatening attacks, or as a scarce alternate win condition in decks that lean into stochastic value. A well-timed 6/6 token can blunt critical removal or clear the way for a bigger plant of threats. ⚡🛡️
When it came to following her orders, it was do and die. The dice would decide, and the rest would follow. 🧭
Flavor, design, and the playful undercurrent
Designer notes on this card emphasize a playful, unpredictable flavor that fits Unsanctioned’s silly, silver-border vibe. The token dice are a literal marching band of randomness brought under your control through careful mana use and a dash of blue versatility. The card’s flavor text—“When it came to following her orders, it was do and die.”—leans into a commander-or-legendary vibe where bravado and risk management meet on the tabletop. Simon Dominic’s illustration captures a flamboyant aristocrat who treats probability as a co-conspirator—and the fans lap it up with delight. 🎨
Palette-wise, the card lives at the intersection of green’s ramp/build capacity and blue’s manipulation toolkit, highlighted by the color identity G/U. It’s a casual crowd-pleaser in practice, a card that invites players to experiment with tempo strategies, card draw, and denial. The Und set’s quirky rule-breaking atmosphere invites playful deck ideas that wouldn’t survive in more serious formats, which makes Pippa a perfect centerpiece for a kitchen-table challenge or a casual Friday night grind with friends. 🧙♂️🔥
Budget, value, and collector vibes
As a rare from the Unsanctioned set, this card is undeniably a curiosity—a treasure for fans who love the mash-up of dice mechanics and unconventional design. In terms of market value, the current listing sits modestly low, reflecting its casual, non-tournament status, yet its charm is undeniable for collectors who relish unique border designs and quirky flavor. A rare with a silver frame and a bold concept, it sits comfortably in many decks that celebrate randomness, risk, and the joy of rolling for victory. The card’s broad accessibility in paper form keeps it approachable for a casual all-ages audience. 💎
Deck-building ideas and thematic pairings
- Dice-centric shells: Build around other dice-related effects or tokens to maximize the payoff of each roll. Look for cards that reward die outcomes or convert dice into board presence. 🎲
- Tempo-control hybrids: Pair Pippa with inexpensive counterspells or bounce effects to protect a favorable die result while keeping pressure on the board.
- Blue-green hack-and-roll themes: Include mana acceleration and card selection to ensure you can reach {2}{G} quickly and then leverage the reroll capability to stabilize your late game. 🧙♂️
Cross-promotional note: a little something for the game-night setup
While you shuffle your library and scheme for the perfect dice outcome, a small helper at the table never hurts. If you’re looking to keep your grip steady during frantic play or simply want a compact stand for notes and play sheets, you can check out a practical cross-promotional accessory here: Phone Grip Kickstand Reusable Adhesive Holder. It’s the kind of staple that makes game nights smoother, especially when you’re delivering those big reads and clutch rerolls. 🧙♂️🎲
As you navigate through Und’s playful chaos, remember that tempo and control aren’t about total certainty; they’re about shaping the pace and demanding a response from your opponent. A well-timed roll can turn a seeming misstep into a momentum swing, and a timely reroll can rescue a plan you thought was slipping away. In a world where dice decide the tempo, you get to steer the orchestra—with a hint of mischief and a big, satisfying grin. ⚔️🎨
Potentially interesting price echoes on minor online markets aside, this card shines as a fandom-loved piece that blends humor, strategy, and a dash of randomness. For players who enjoy the artful balance of risk and reward, Pippa offers a charming, memorable path to tempo-based control—paired with the kind of flavor text that makes you nod and smile at the same time. 💎🧙♂️