The only reason I could see why Wizards put it at uncommon is because at common, Spawn tokens would never have a chance. With this at uncommon, they have a higher chance of surviving long enough to be used.
I don't know why anyone says anything about the Standard Constructed playability of this set. This set, for me, says "Give up Type 2 for a couple of months, Draft a couple of boxes with friends, and play the crap out of EDH."
If you think about it as just a way to kill Spawn tokens (not that you really would), then there's no reason for it to be an instant. If you ever played it on an opponent's turn, they would just sac the tokens and you'd be out a card.
Why is this not an instant, seriously? Once they reprinted Bolt, they declared Shock completely obsolete. And now this? In my opinion this is absolutely on level with Shock, even though it's a 2 for 1. The only reason I see for playing this card is the art combined with the cool flavor text. And that makes me mad for the first time since the beginning of rumor season...
[B-]
I don't know what school you went to but B- isn't a failing grade.
Branching two damage in this Standard seriously is not a powerful effect.
Eh, off two steppe lynxes or bushwhackers or plated geopedes or noble hierarchs sounds pretty decent if boros makes a comeback, and even somewhat decent against bloodbraid. This kils a lot of stuff in standard and is an interesting choice, losing one point of damage and instant speed for potential 2-1 seems like something people will consider in standard.
Huh? It can do:
1. 1 damage to 2 creatures.
2. 1 damage to 2 players.
3. 2 damage to 1 creature or player.
4. 1 damage to a creature and 1 to a player
1. 1 damage to 2 creatures....What creatures are you going to use it on ? Mana dorks ?
1 Damage to 2 players is meaningless. In 2HG the other 2 people still take 2.
If you want something like that run Earthquake which lets you scale the damage.
2. Shock is not a good card right now. There are a lot of creatures with toughness of 3 or more. Creature efficency is at a really high level right now. 2 Damage to a player is rather weak unless it does something else like cantriping or has a redirection affect like Harm's Way.
For a similar comparison Burst Lightning can do 4 damage to a creature or a player.
4. Doing 1 to a creature and one to a player really limits the amount of creature targets + 1 to the dome is not going to make much of a difference.
Searing Blaze does 3 damage to a creature and 3 damage to a player.
This card is the perfect example of a jack of all trades but master of none.
1. 1 damage to 2 creatures....What creatures are you going to use it on ? Mana dorks ?
Yes. That's what we call "being a good player."
1 Damage to 2 players is meaningless. In 2HG the other 2 people still take 2.
2. Shock is not a good card right now. There are a lot of creatures with toughness of 3 or more. Creature efficency is at a really high level right now.
Burst Lightning sees play and rarely is used for the 4 damage.
2 Damage to a player is rather weak unless it does something else like cantriping or has a redirection affect like Harm's Way.
Not much difference between this and bolt. Burn to the face is usually bad unless it's going to win you the game.
For a similar comparison Burst Lightning can do 4 damage to a creature or a player.
For 4 more mana, sure.
4. Doing 1 to a creature and one to a player really limits the amount of creature targets + 1 to the dome is not going to make much of a difference.
It's primarily removal. And it's good.
Searing Blaze does 3 damage to a creature and 3 damage to a player.
Twice the mana and a landfall trigger... bad comparison again.
This card is the perfect example of a jack of all trades but master of none.
Um, versatile cards are REALLY good.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
There are two types of people in this world: people who think that countermagic is the most powerful effect in the game and people who aren't morons.
My color is Purple. I value diversity, smashed color pies and obsolete Inquest articles. At my best, I can redefine MTG in a new and wonderful way. At my worst, I can end up as an Unhinged joke. My symbol is not defined. My enemies are 5 old and bureaucratic angry colors.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So, they dont want to lose the posibility to go back to Shock power level in the future?
Thanks to zaphod for great sign!!!
Epic win, and sigged.
Also, this card is kinda the nuts in RDW. They already had 3 bolt effects, now they have a forked one.
It may even be good in Jund.
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
Want to play League of Legends? Click here!
I will stick to Lightning Bolt, I think.
Trades
Pucatrade with me!
(Signature courtesy of Argetlam of Hakai Studios
Branching damage is seriously a powerful effect.
U Solidarity U
Luck is a residue of design.
I'm an aspiring Psychedelic Trance musician. Please feel free to enjoy my sense of life:
http://soundcloud.com/vacrix
1 mana for a spell that can possibly take out two early critters is a good card.
This card is exceedingly awesome in block constructed against vampires.
Good luck drafting a Bolt
I don't know why anyone says anything about the Standard Constructed playability of this set. This set, for me, says "Give up Type 2 for a couple of months, Draft a couple of boxes with friends, and play the crap out of EDH."
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
The only damage branching it could do is kill a mana dork and 1 to a player. It's not even worth it.
Searing Blaze is 10 times better than this card.
BUG Dredge BUG]
WUBRG Storm WUBRG
UBR FaerieStalker UBR
EDH
Sygg, River Cutthroat (1vs1)
Maga, Traitor to Mortals (multiplayer)
It will be good in limited, allowing you to two-for-one early or clear out some critical spawn tokens.
Huh? It can do:
1. 1 damage to 2 creatures.
2. 1 damage to 2 players.
3. 2 damage to 1 creature or player.
4. 1 damage to a creature and 1 to a player
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
I don't know what school you went to but B- isn't a failing grade.
edit. the title of his post was "FAIL"
Draft my cube!
Watch me stream!
Eh, off two steppe lynxes or bushwhackers or plated geopedes or noble hierarchs sounds pretty decent if boros makes a comeback, and even somewhat decent against bloodbraid. This kils a lot of stuff in standard and is an interesting choice, losing one point of damage and instant speed for potential 2-1 seems like something people will consider in standard.
1. 1 damage to 2 creatures....What creatures are you going to use it on ? Mana dorks ?
1 Damage to 2 players is meaningless. In 2HG the other 2 people still take 2.
If you want something like that run Earthquake which lets you scale the damage.
2. Shock is not a good card right now. There are a lot of creatures with toughness of 3 or more. Creature efficency is at a really high level right now. 2 Damage to a player is rather weak unless it does something else like cantriping or has a redirection affect like Harm's Way.
For a similar comparison Burst Lightning can do 4 damage to a creature or a player.
4. Doing 1 to a creature and one to a player really limits the amount of creature targets + 1 to the dome is not going to make much of a difference.
Searing Blaze does 3 damage to a creature and 3 damage to a player.
This card is the perfect example of a jack of all trades but master of none.
BUG Dredge BUG]
WUBRG Storm WUBRG
UBR FaerieStalker UBR
EDH
Sygg, River Cutthroat (1vs1)
Maga, Traitor to Mortals (multiplayer)
It doesn't have rebound.
Also goes on my list of best flavor texts.
It's not 2x2 dmg, it's 2x1 dmg.
Anyway, this card will be an instant 4-of in any red deck as soon as Bolt rotates, I'm willing to bet quite a bit that it will happen even earlier.
1 Damage to 2 players is meaningless. In 2HG the other 2 people still take 2.
Burst Lightning sees play and rarely is used for the 4 damage.
Not much difference between this and bolt. Burn to the face is usually bad unless it's going to win you the game.
For 4 more mana, sure.
It's primarily removal. And it's good.
Twice the mana and a landfall trigger... bad comparison again.
Um, versatile cards are REALLY good.