When you shift a character to a new version it replaces the old versions ability right
They do this by making the rewards for playing in events better then simply using the gold to buy stuff in the shop and it is not based on winning anything in these events
That said, even having the option to use Shinryu [20-127L] for the Search ability will give your deck some extra consistency, allowing you to draw exactly what you need if youre in a bind
Additionally, they have a second ability that is very useful, but only able to be activated if they are in play
Archon of Cruelty is an amazing target for reanimation spells, because he provides his controller with a huge amount of value as soon as he enters the battlefield
Dragon of Mount Gulg (Ancient Copper Dragon) From a Commander or competitive standpoint, I can't quite figure out why this is as expensive as it is, it's sitting at $72.19 market