The Strixhaven mascot feat is a unique aspect of the Strixhaven: School of Mages Magic: The Gathering expansion set. The set is based on a magical school called Strixhaven University, where students study various magical disciplines and compete in a renowned set of competitions known as the Mage Tower challenges. As part of this setting, each college within the university has its own distinctive mascot. The Strixhaven mascot feat showcases these mascots and highlights their importance within the lore and gameplay of the set. Each of the five colleges within Strixhaven has its own mascot, representing the values and characteristics of the college. These mascots serve as symbols of unity and inspiration for students, as well as powerful creatures that can be summoned into battle during gameplay.
As it stands, you’re better off with an owl as your familiar – at least they can fly.
It seems the intent here is that only players fully immersed in a Strixhaven campaign will benefit from these feats, but they should really be more accessible. The Strixhaven Mascot feat allows you to summon a school-specific familiar that s generally more impressive than most normal options for the Find Familiar spell.
These mascots serve as symbols of unity and inspiration for students, as well as powerful creatures that can be summoned into battle during gameplay. The five mascots in Strixhaven are: 1. Silverquill: The Silverquill College's mascot is a legendary griffin named Velomachus Lorehold, who embodies eloquence, wit, and expression.
the new Fractal Mascot familiar from Strixhaven looks like a riot on a chainlock
For those who haven't seen the leaks, Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos added two new feats. One is basically just magic initiate, and the other (which requires the first feat) grants you one of five special familiars that you can summon with find familiar. The actual options aren't exactly worth two feats, but I immediately took a shining to the Living Fractal, both because I like fractals and it has some abilities just begging for shenanigans
- you can swap places with it with a 2nd level spell slot (1 free use per long rest)
- it can phase through objects and creatures
- it can resize itself as a bonus action, though it maxes out at huge
Being a familiar rather than something more generic, the fractal can do everything a familiar can do, and is also compatible with other options like Investment of the Chain Master or Flock of Familiars. So, what can you do with it? Here's what I've thought of so far
- The phasing makes the familiar an expert scout for behind locked doors
- Combined with the teleportation, it can also be an easy way in and out
- Need to get into a locked chest? Just have it slip in, grab the contents and then dismiss it back to its pocket universe, then resummon it with the loot on the other side
- Want to make a killer Jojo reference that only people who've read the manga will get? Have this familiar from another universe phase through a creature's body and expand, making them explode in a gory shower of fractals (Back in 3.5 this used to be called Arseplomancy)
- While large or huge, the fractal can easily serve as a mount, and if you have Investment of the Chain Master, it can be a flying mount capable of carrying the whole party
- Of course, if you have a melee heavy party there's still a combat use. The ginormous flying fractal can just as easily go prone in mid air and land on creatures, doing falling damage. (Note: ask your DM if Investment applies to the DC 15 Dex save to avoid a falling creature, you might be able to bump that with the save DC)
- Does your DM allow Flock of Familiars? Now you can drop 3 at a time from 200 feet up for up to 30d6 bludgeoning damage. Your DM will beat your ass to death, but you will go down dying like a legend
The intention is that these creatures reflect the spells you receive from the Strixhaven Initiate feat, further solidifying who you are as a student of this magical University.
Velomachus has a black and white coloration, reflecting the college's focus on the art of words and the power of language. 2. Prismari: Prismari's mascot is Galazeth Prismari, a flamboyant and artistic elemental dragon. Galazeth represents creativity, passion, and the transformative power of art. Its vibrant red and blue colors symbolize the intense energy and vivid imagination of the college's students. 3. Quandrix: Biomathematical ecology is at the heart of Quandrix College, and the college's mascot is Kianne, Dean of Substance. Kianne is a wise and mystical fractal bear, reflecting the balance, harmony, and natural world understanding that Quandrix students strive to achieve. 4. Witherbloom: The Witherbloom College's mascot is Valentin, Dean of the Vein, a sinister-looking plant demon. Valentin embodies the dark and mysterious aspects of nature, representing decay, death, and necromantic magic. Witherbloom students seek to harness the power of life and death to bring about balance and growth. 5. Lorehold: The mascot of Lorehold College is Shaile, Dean of Radiance, a benevolent and wise spirit dragon. Shaile represents history, archaeology, and the pursuit of knowledge. Its golden color and ethereal appearance embody the warmth, reverence, and deep connection to the past that Lorehold students hold dear. The Strixhaven mascot feat not only adds flavor to the set but also introduces new gameplay mechanics. Each mascot card has its own unique abilities and characteristics, reflecting the college it represents. These mascots can be summoned onto the battlefield, providing players with powerful effects and advantages during the game. In conclusion, the Strixhaven mascot feat in the Magic: The Gathering Strixhaven: School of Mages set showcases the importance of mascots within the lore and gameplay of the set. These mascots represent the different colleges within the magical school of Strixhaven University and bring their unique characteristics and abilities to the game. They serve as symbols of unity and inspiration for students and provide players with exciting new gameplay mechanics and strategic choices..
Reviews for "The Strixhavem Academy's Iconic Mascot Feat: Unleashing Its Full Potential"
- John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the "Strixhaven mascot feat". I felt like it was just a gimmick and didn't add any real value to the game. The abilities of the mascots were underwhelming and didn't provide any strategic advantage. Overall, I found it to be a waste of time and resources.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was excited to try the "Strixhaven mascot feat", but I ended up being let down. The mascots felt overpowered and unbalanced, making the game feel unfair and frustrating. It seemed like the developers didn't properly playtest this feature before releasing it. I hope they can address these issues and make improvements in the future.
- Alex - 1.5 stars - The "Strixhaven mascot feat" completely disrupted the balance of the game. It felt like a cash grab, as obtaining the mascots required a lot of in-game currency or real money. The power creep was real, and it made the game feel unplayable for those who didn't invest heavily in the feature. I hope the developers take this feedback into consideration and make necessary changes.