[Renojustin]

Because the Death blessing 2 AN attack requires a MR check to be successful, and the Fire blessing 6 AP attack doesn't, it seems that the Fire blessing would be of better use in a wider range of situations.

For instance, SCs and thugs, or any valuable troops, attacking you would always have to use Fire resistance or be eaten alive. In early and even mid game, that can be quite problematic for a lot of nations.

Against Death bless effects, these units already have high MR nearly by definition. So already, Fire works better against the troops that really matter. The only unit that a Death bless would work better against would be high protection, shielded units with low MR. And that window of opportunity will not last long, because MR is easily buffable through Earth and Astral magic.

Therefore, the affliction chance for your casters is likely the most useful effect from a Death bless, for many nations overshadowing the +4 Attack bonus from the Fire blessing. Death is also cheaper for many of the applicable pretender chassis. To me, it appears that that might be for a reason!