Great card, core in Unicorn

Actually, it's one of the few "Way Of The..." cards that I'd consider cutting from a deck. Of course it's nice to retain initiative, but that's a marginal advantage that is combo dependent, and there's so little room in a conflict deck. This card is one of the first to leave the deck when cutting for room.

3x core after playing a few games with Unicorn. I may have doubts with other less tested cards like Breakthrough or Ide Messenger. But experience has shown that each "Way of" card is core in every clan. If it looks bad, it wasn't probably used in the intended way. It boosts every Unicorn card and its in-faction machanic of hitting first.

I'd only consider to mulligan it if I drew additional copies in my initial hand.

My one issue with Way of the Unicorn is that on the very last turn of the game (or the penultimate turn if you're 2nd player at that point) it's redundant. However, hopefully you don't need a top-deck to save you at the end, and it's a pretty solid card to have at the start, and for most cards the key question is whether or not you'd be happy to see it in your opening hand.

It's really good for making sure you can get the ring you want (either for the effect or the fate, or to deny your opponent the effect or the fate). It's also good if you pursue a play-style where it's likely both you and your opponent will hit 3 province breaks on the same round, thus allowing you to have first shout at the stronghold next round. The whole 'characters that explicitly tell you they're better in the first round' is merely a bonus if you happen to be running them, not imho the point of the card.

Luckily Unicorn has the battle maiden to make use for redundant cards in hand.

Yeah. Actually, these days in Unicorn I'd consider running exactly ONE copy, and saving it for the very last turn of the game. You know, the one when having initiative means the difference between game win and game lose.

I agree that it is useful for last turn, but have seen greater utility with it for grabbing high fate rings for first attack (Unicorns like bonuses to their fate economy) or denying certain rings to opponents (keep Air or Earth out of Scorpion hands, keep the specific ring they need this turn out of Phoenix hands, keep Fire out of Crane hand [though not sure they need it anymore to honor their dudes]).

I feel the Way of Unicorn will be in the competitive decks when Unicorn becomes more competitive. (Of course I am not competitive myself so what do I know?)