Lost Soul selection is a critical part of deck-building…so let’s tackle this question: “OT or NT Lost Souls – Which is Better?”

Lost Souls with Old or New Testament Bible references have been around for as long as the game has, but in recent sets special abilities and identifiers have divided them into clear OT/NT synergies. You can still choose to “splash” together OT & NT LSs, but doing so restricts you from fully utilizing some of the most powerful Lost Souls in the game.

Let’s start by looking at Lost Souls which specify a Testament to be fully utilized.

Old Testament-Specific Lost Souls
Covet (soul gen)
Hunter (tutoring)
Blind (offense boost)

New Testament-Specific Lost Souls
Beggar (defense boost)
Escape (tutoring)
Imitate (copy ability)

Next let’s look at the best other LSs (not including strategy-specialized ones like the Deck Discard) in each testament, and what benefit they provide. Note – one of the very best LSs in the game, Humble, is dual Testament.

OT
Wanderer (soul manipulation)
Hopper (soul gen)
Vindicated (defense boost, offense boost)
Darkness (defense boost)
Wicked (defense boost)
Prosperity (speed)
CBP (defense boost)
Punisher (defense boost)
Orphans (offense boost)
Exiles (defense boost, offense boost)

NT
Awake (soul gen, tutoring)
Lawless (defense boost, offense boost, speed, soul gen)
Dull (defense boost)
Revealer (soul gen)
Open Hand (defense boost, offense boost)
Forsaken (defense boost, offense boost)
Destruction (defense boost, offense boost)
Crowds (defense boost, offense boost)

It seems that NT Lost Souls have the edge because of their versatility for offense and defense, although I would say that it’s close. With each OT set in the current arc I expect that OT will get better and better. For instance, in Prophecies of Christ Phase 1, the Orphans Lost Soul is fantastic! The Exiles LS is also powerful in its versatility and the ability to add any OT artifact from your reserve to your hand. It’s just that, in my opinion, the Imitate Lost Soul is particularly the difference maker for NT in the debate between OT vs. NT – it is extremely dynamic, especially as it can be tutored with both the Awake and Escape. Repeating the Imitate–Lawless combo each turn is simply awesome!

What do you all think? Post your thoughts in the comments below!

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By Jesse F

Jesse has been playing Redemption since 2013, and has come to love this game that is centered on Who he loves most- the triune God: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! Being privileged to learn the game from fellow church-members, including Gabe Isbell, he still has a ways to go in learning the game but is excited to be growing! Jesse currently helps support the players of his and Gabe's church in North Liberty (IA), where he has been a youth minister since 2014. Jesse intends to enjoy, contribute to, and use the game of Redemption both for Christian fellowship and as outreach to non-believers. His prayer is that God will be greatly loved through this great game!