To be honest, I don't hate this one all that much. It's not....good. But it's not irrelevant either. I could see it being used in a control red deck, like everyone else says, or even just in a midrange deck. Kills anything it can't block, blocks anything on the ground (and that really is EVERYTHING relevant), and once you either have a large manadork presence or have a couple of big guys, it becomes one itself and works as another creature they need to block. Seems fine, honestly, but probably will at best get fringe playability. Definitely would have been better if it could stack, but then it may have been broken as well.
I'm helping a friend build a Temur aggro. This card is absolutely amazing and essential. Frost walker, savage knuckleblade, rabblemaster and collective blessing to hit it. This guy is often a 8/6 for 3 with a potential 2 for 1 with his ability. This card is the most underrated card in the set right now. I'm picking up way more than 4. Temur will finally rise as a playable color combo.
The earliest I see this guy becoming a short term 8/6 is turn 5 - the red deck is NOT going to have the power on the table to activate him turn 4 after playing him on 3.
Having sitting removal on table turn 3 however is a nice deterrent to an opponent; sitting removal on board should make them think twice about playing a creature.
Pretty sure this will see play in standard, even if it's just SB material. But hell, blocks so much including rhino and can pop for 1 red to kill most annoyances in the format. (Stormbreath, Brimaz, Sidisi, Fleecemane, Goblin, Mentor, Heroics, Sabertooth). Walls and convoke aren't a bad thing. Not to mention, since his Formidable is activated, them hitting one of your creatures in response won't save them and gives you 8 power for more formidable fun.
"Seems a bit over powered, perhaps slap some clunky mana cost on it?"
"Much better, now it's totally unplayable."
Except, it's not. Jeskai control will love this guy, or grixis. Any way to untap then have instant speed removal available for one mana and the ability to block. Let's not forget with Elspeth tokens in Jeskai
Yes, 8 power on the board is very easy in Temur, combined with collected company, it's crazy easy to hit 8 power. I also can't read to save my life and it being an activated ability for 3 makes it suck. Oh well, try it anyways.
Yes, 8 power on the board is very easy in Temur, combined with collected company, it's crazy easy to hit 8 power. I also can't read to save my life and it being an activated ability for 3 makes it suck. Oh well, try it anyways.
Sure, but it's a little less easy to get to 8 power if you're running this card.
Was very excited about this card to start with. With running Temur, you can get 8 Power on turn 4-5 consistently using Knuckleblades, Polukranos, and Stormbreaths. Even an activated Knuckleblade and Rattleclaw mystic add to 8.
However, 3 mana casting means you are using a turn to drop this putting you behind on a deck that wants to get out in front and keep pressure on. Also, the 3 mana activation cost is not something you want to be paying. With Temur, you're better off keeping that mana for Knucklebade abilities, Temur Battle Rage, Stubborn Denial or a host of other things.
I can't see playing this in standard when their are a LOT of other 3 or less drops that just offer more utility for R/G or Temur.
Hornet's Nest is a better wall in most occasions. Block one turn, get deathtouch fliers the next. Knuckleblade & Frost Walker are much more aggressive. Courser of Kruphix still blocks a lot of things and hopes with pseudo card draw. Rabblemaster still exists.
This is a Charging Badger, one of those cards for players that like these build around me type effects.
Possibly one of those getya sideboard cards in control. They board out removal, you board in this. Wall and removal. The +8 power thing is actually the worst part about it.
The design is cool, unfortunately the numbers are a bit awkward. Hard to get 8 power on the battlefield without your opponent having a chump blocker or removal. But the flame slash gives it a pretty decent "worst case scenario". Kind of a dog against control decks though.
This is melvin's card. It drips with versatility and different ways to use it. The mana costs means spike hates it but that's okay. I think it was mostly made for casual.
play it, let it buy you time to get whatever you want going. If you get it big you can combo it with a fling if your opponents life is low. it's a great target for fruit of the first tree as it has a big butt and can die at will.
Those looking for a constructed competitive card are probably out of luck here, but it seems like a good card for casual.
A bit odd seeing 0/6 on a red creature that isn't a defender/Wall, but it makes sense when you realize that's just a cover for this really being a 8/6 creature that requires you to jump through a hoop to make it work. I like the sac ability, nice little add-on. Pretty cool card.
Feels more like the first ability.
We'll see as more cards come out but it seems to describe the board state; having a "formidable force".
Because they don't want me splashing red in my Training Grounds deck solely for what's supposed to be a junk rare.
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty
MTGS egos at their finest.
Thoughts on proxies:
Bad rares/mythics shown first - WHERE'S THE GOOD STUFF?!?
Good rares/mythics shown first - "WOTC has shown all the good rares and are now just giving us trash."
None of you ungrateful kids will ever be happy with what you're given, will you?
Anyways, cool card. I won't be using it, but it looks like it could be useful somewhere in non-serious play.
At least it's one more spoiler....
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
... nice thing to recur with Horde of Notions, easy enough to make it to formidable with Incandescent Soulstoke and/or Ashenmoor Liege in play...
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The earliest I see this guy becoming a short term 8/6 is turn 5 - the red deck is NOT going to have the power on the table to activate him turn 4 after playing him on 3.
Having sitting removal on table turn 3 however is a nice deterrent to an opponent; sitting removal on board should make them think twice about playing a creature.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
It could easily be an uncommon, a good one and would totally pull its weight.
But as rare ? This is fairly disappointing ...
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
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it's like a slow flame javelin. but could also end the game faster.
probably not constructed worthy, though.
"Hey guys check out this cool design"
"Wow, Johnny is gonna love that"
"Seems a bit over powered, perhaps slap some clunky mana cost on it?"
"Much better, now it's totally unplayable."
Except, it's not. Jeskai control will love this guy, or grixis. Any way to untap then have instant speed removal available for one mana and the ability to block. Let's not forget with Elspeth tokens in Jeskai
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Sure, but it's a little less easy to get to 8 power if you're running this card.
However, 3 mana casting means you are using a turn to drop this putting you behind on a deck that wants to get out in front and keep pressure on. Also, the 3 mana activation cost is not something you want to be paying. With Temur, you're better off keeping that mana for Knucklebade abilities, Temur Battle Rage, Stubborn Denial or a host of other things.
I can't see playing this in standard when their are a LOT of other 3 or less drops that just offer more utility for R/G or Temur.
Hornet's Nest is a better wall in most occasions. Block one turn, get deathtouch fliers the next. Knuckleblade & Frost Walker are much more aggressive. Courser of Kruphix still blocks a lot of things and hopes with pseudo card draw. Rabblemaster still exists.
Possibly one of those getya sideboard cards in control. They board out removal, you board in this. Wall and removal. The +8 power thing is actually the worst part about it.
play it, let it buy you time to get whatever you want going. If you get it big you can combo it with a fling if your opponents life is low. it's a great target for fruit of the first tree as it has a big butt and can die at will.
Those looking for a constructed competitive card are probably out of luck here, but it seems like a good card for casual.