You're talking about Elite Vanguard. Yea still a great card as well imo especially for soldier/token decks. If I draw Tormented Hero and Ajani's Pridemate I'll always keep my hand even with only two lands on start. Tormented Hero with a turn two Ajani's Pridemate are best friends.
Getting a 2/1 attacker out on Turn 1 can be nice, but he's still a 1-toughness, so if your opponent gets a 1-power dude out, he's gonna die on his first attack unless you beef him up. There have been two Turn-1 plays I've consistently been grateful to see. First is an Elvish Pioneer when I've got not only the spare Forest, but another land so I know I wouldn't just be playing that Forest on Turn 2 anyway. Ramp decks are immensely frustrating when the ramp cards don't line up for you, after all. The other has been when I can drop a Kraken Hatchling right away. Sure it can't do damage, but that's not why I'm playing him anyway. I want him out there early to hold off my opponent while I build up my resources. Being a 4-toughness, he takes some effort to get rid of. He can't deal with flyers, but unless I get a crap draw I'll have something to deal with them soon enough.
You're talking about Elite Vanguard. Yea still a great card as well imo especially for soldier/token decks. If I draw Tormented Hero and Ajani's Pridemate I'll always keep my hand even with only two lands on start. Tormented Hero with a turn two Ajani's Pridemate are best friends.