City's Blessing-What is it good for? A look at the new ASCEND mechanic in Standard.

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Taking a look at the new mechanic ASCEND, which offers you the 'City's Blessing' if you control 10 or more permanents.
Here are the white cards that utilize the ASCEND mechanic:



Of these, Radiant Destiny is the most promising. Radiant Destiny becomes an Always Watching, which was a great pairing with the exert mechanic (or any creature card really).

Here are the blue cards with ASCEND:





These cards are slightly more impactful than the white ASCEND cards.  The card draw with Kumena's Awakening and Secrets of the Golden City are decent.  Slippery Scoundrel becoming hexproof and unblockable could be a nuisance to an opponent.  But it 's Timestream Navigator that is the most interesting.  While it is a fragile 1/1 creature with a 2 CMC cost, it does provide an interesting late game play option.  This is definitely worth playtesting in different creature based decks.  The green cards are:


These two creatures have some real fighting power and jankability.  I do believe you can get the City's Blessing by turn 3 or 4, but if you're still trying by turn 5, these two can help.  Dropping more lands and creating Saprolings are both interesting options in a deck build.  Although Tendershoot is a little expensive, it might be worth playing if you can put it into a ramp deck with other threats.  This one might get overlooked until it's too late.  Wayword Swordtooth is a Dinosaur which gives it a tribe from which to pull other benefits.

The black cards:




I'm pretty sure the horse is going to end up in a Sunmare deck...not too exciting, but Vona's Hunger really has my attention.  First because it is an "opponent sacrifices a creature" spell.  These are gold against hard to remove creatures (indestructible, hexproof, etc...).  Second because it is at instant speed.  It's an unconditional sacrifice that can be dropped at the end of your opponent's turn.  I really think this might be a really playable card.  Twilight Prophet as a 2/4 flyer and the ability to suck life from your opponents in the late game coupled with it's tribal synergies with vampire lords might makes this an absolutely playable card.in limited and standard (with the right build).
The red cards:

Of these, Tilonalli's Summoner is the most interesting.  Provided you find a way to protect it, this card might be a way of triggering ASCEND.  Keep in mind, you don't need to maintain 10 permanents, you just need to hit that number once, then you have it for the rest of the game.  

The other cards with ASCEND:


Not too exciting.  The 2/4 deathtouch creature would be great in limited.  For standard builds-there are better cards out there (Gonti, Lord of Luxury, Hostage Taker, etc....).

So, what do I think of the ASCEND mechanic?  I believe that it is probably a useful mechanic, but not really one that you should base a deck on.  You should look at the ASCEND triggers closely to make sure you plan for a response, especially against things like Vona's Hunger.  Watch your opponent's permanent count and be ready to respond, especially if you are going wide with a lot of creatures.  

I'm interested in your thoughts.


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