The overpowered (and banned/restricted) blue card Ancestral Recall is also part of this cycle, as is the distinctly underwhelming white Healing Salve
And no matter what Randy says there's no room for Sands of Time
Today we dive into original playtest cards, the rough, handmade prototypes that helped shape the earliest days of Magic
Having to hold mana up is potentially more annoying than being a free activation, but you do end up getting both hexproof and indestructible, making it worth the mana
Herald can be used as a sort of stop-gap when an opponent plays a bit faster, and the unique-ness of its effect is just one factor in its price
Protection spells are great, and sliding a Snakeskin Veil of sorts into your manabase is truly excellent