5 Mana needs to win games in this format. People have tried him in BW Sisters and stuff like that. Serra Ascendant just seems better.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Best part of the OP is the word "swell". I love that word. It needs to make a comeback in society. It's a pretty swell word.
Anyway, t_c is right. Blood Baron and thragtusk alike don't see much play, even batterskull sees minimal. 5 mana is a lot for modern, so if you are paying that much it ought to be game-winning or really really strong. Examples: through the breach for emrakul, kiki-jiki, mirror breaker with one of the other combo pieces, baneslayer angel.
I'd probably rather a Baneslayer. She's more consistently a flying hardly beatable in combat beat stick.
I mean, if the life totals played out that way sure, but I'm willing to bet if your deck frequently gets to 30 life, you're probably playing other things that are synergistic with lifegain, (ie Serra Ascendant) and i think Baneslayer does a better job of turning those things on. (for Pridemate, it's evasive. for Ascendant it's 1 more life per turn, and she's hardier in combat, i think).
I'd probably rather a Baneslayer. She's more consistently a flying hardly beatable in combat beat stick.
I mean, if the life totals played out that way sure, but I'm willing to bet if your deck frequently gets to 30 life, you're probably playing other things that are synergistic with lifegain, (ie Serra Ascendant) and i think Baneslayer does a better job of turning those things on. (for Pridemate, it's evasive. for Ascendant it's 1 more life per turn, and she's hardier in combat, i think).
He's a house in EDH, though.
In BW/x decks, I'd actually rather play Blood Baron than Baneslayer Angel. I've had Thundermaw Hellkite die to removal so often the turn after it swings that Baneslayer would just die on the spot, while at least Blood Baron can't be targeted by basically all of that stuff.
What Blood Baron really competes with is Batterskull. Both are black (well, Germ tokens are) and have Lifelink, 5 cmc, and resilience to removal, but Batterskull has Vigilance, can still be cast if colour screwed, and resists board wipes, while Blood Baron...can't be blocked by Lingering Souls, Restoration Angel, Voice of Resurgence/its token, Deathrite Shaman, Bob, etc. Sadly, Vigilance is pretty clutch against aggro decks.
In BW/x decks, I'd actually rather play Blood Baron than Baneslayer Angel. I've had Thundermaw Hellkite die to removal so often the turn after it swings that Baneslayer would just die on the spot, while at least Blood Baron can't be targeted by basically all of that stuff.
What Blood Baron really competes with is Batterskull. Both are black (well, Germ tokens are) and have Lifelink, 5 cmc, and resilience to removal, but Batterskull has Vigilance, can still be cast if colour screwed, and resists board wipes, while Blood Baron...can't be blocked by Lingering Souls, Restoration Angel, Voice of Resurgence/its token, Deathrite Shaman, Bob, etc. Sadly, Vigilance is pretty clutch against aggro decks.
I guess it is true that he is immune to essentially every bit of removal that (commonly) gets played. I mean, Flame Slash is the only thing i've seen in any popular lists that does off him. I suppose i'm underestimating him a bit.
I agree with the 'vs. Batterskull' analysis; Gaining life while not taking damage is way better. To add to it: most decks have little non-creature removal MD, so it kinda has a pseudo-protection thing going on.
I'm pretty sure Batterskull is just better. The ability to equip to another creature after removal has taken out the Germ is clutch. Using removal on a Batterskull Germ feels almost as bad as not being able to use removal on a Blood Baron, but the Skull can survive a board wipe too.
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I played a Gorehouse.dec, thats how i call it, and the Bloodbaron forces so much opponents to scoop when he resolves.
The protection is so ****in huge even if u cant imagine it.
I was playing with a Junk deck and my opponent a 4 Colors Gift, after SB he showed the Baron. All my removal were useless Path to exile, Dismember, Maelstrom Pulse. And Baron crushed me. Seems to be pretty solid against midrange decks.
Baron is very good against midrange decks like Jund, but poor elsewhere. The card is rather slow and doesn't exactly get the buffs easily. You could play it in Soul Sisters but the deck wants to put pressure way before this card becomes available. It's just so useless against so many decks that I'm not sure it'll find a home. You'd need a BW Control deck to put this in and I'm not sure one exists.
Don't forget Phyrexian Crusader. Bolt, Path and Helix don't work, but not being pro-green means that he wears a Rancor or takes a Groundswell exceedingly well. We only have to watch out for Abrupt Decay.
I could definitely see Blood Baron as a top of the curve card. Very hard to kill if he sticks.
Don't forget Phyrexian Crusader. Bolt, Path and Helix don't work, but not being pro-green means that he wears a Rancor or takes a Groundswell exceedingly well. We only have to watch out for Abrupt Decay.
I could definitely see Blood Baron as a top of the curve card. Very hard to kill if he sticks.
Were you talking about crusader or baron? baron definitely doesn't die to decay because of multiple conditions, but you made it sound like you were talking about him
Both pro white and black, with resistance to bolt, is huge.
But it certainly has some weaknesses:
-Opponent can still just hold back burn to double bolt, etc.
-It's not a good answer to Tarmogoyf.
-It has no natural flying.
What best covers its weaknesses seems to be pump effects. They help Vs big greens, double bolts and have synergy with the lifelink.
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
I personally think it's strong, I don't play a lot of modern, but I've been working on my first deck for months now, and I'm strongly considering using Blood Baron.
I have been making a Life gain Junk deck in Standard that uses Sanguine Blood as a finisher and the Blood Baron is a soul crusher in that deck. Considering mana fixing and ramp is a stronger in modern, I could see a T4 Barron followed by a T5 Sanguine Blood and a powerhouse. The only problem I see with all of this is the need for 5 mana. However, Deathrite Shaman in modern is much more powerful for ramping with all the fetches around.
Just some thoughts.
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No idea because my favorite decks keep getting banned or having the rules changed against them
I suppose he might be a little better than Divinity of Pride but I can't see him as anymore than maybe a 2 of finisher. Play to him being a vampire somehow? Maybe like some sort of Path of Bravery, Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, Tithe Drinker, Lifelinking/Vampire sub theme? All I got. Sry.
I played Blood Baron for a while in modern in a BWR midrange brew I had at the time and was pretty excellent. About the only thing you'll run into that will stop him is goyf, wurmcoil and a fed ooze. At the very least you can run him in the SB for the matches where he really excels (grindy ones).
I think the biggest problem is that he's embarrassingly bad when facing a tarmogoyf. That's not to that's insurmountable, as both white and black have ways to get rid of goyf, but it's a pretty big problem when your five drop gets manhandled by a 'goyf. Also, he still dies to Snapcaster mage + bolt.
A vanilla 4/4 with lifelink isn't going to see modern play. His ability only really blanks path, and there many easy ways to remove him. 5 mana is a lot for modern. (thragtusk says hi )
I tried really hard to include him recently in one of my decks and he was always kind of disappointing in most situations. I find that he is a very bad card to draw unless you are already the aggressor. So pretty much he is good against control decks, but can often be too little too late against most aggro decks. His lack of first strike or flying make him kind of a weak finisher and defender.
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Anyone tried him out yet? Second ability is win-more, but Protection from B/W and life link are pretty swell! Can't be bolted either!
Anyway, t_c is right. Blood Baron and thragtusk alike don't see much play, even batterskull sees minimal. 5 mana is a lot for modern, so if you are paying that much it ought to be game-winning or really really strong. Examples: through the breach for emrakul, kiki-jiki, mirror breaker with one of the other combo pieces, baneslayer angel.
I mean, if the life totals played out that way sure, but I'm willing to bet if your deck frequently gets to 30 life, you're probably playing other things that are synergistic with lifegain, (ie Serra Ascendant) and i think Baneslayer does a better job of turning those things on. (for Pridemate, it's evasive. for Ascendant it's 1 more life per turn, and she's hardier in combat, i think).
He's a house in EDH, though.
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In BW/x decks, I'd actually rather play Blood Baron than Baneslayer Angel. I've had Thundermaw Hellkite die to removal so often the turn after it swings that Baneslayer would just die on the spot, while at least Blood Baron can't be targeted by basically all of that stuff.
What Blood Baron really competes with is Batterskull. Both are black (well, Germ tokens are) and have Lifelink, 5 cmc, and resilience to removal, but Batterskull has Vigilance, can still be cast if colour screwed, and resists board wipes, while Blood Baron...can't be blocked by Lingering Souls, Restoration Angel, Voice of Resurgence/its token, Deathrite Shaman, Bob, etc. Sadly, Vigilance is pretty clutch against aggro decks.
I guess it is true that he is immune to essentially every bit of removal that (commonly) gets played. I mean, Flame Slash is the only thing i've seen in any popular lists that does off him. I suppose i'm underestimating him a bit.
I agree with the 'vs. Batterskull' analysis; Gaining life while not taking damage is way better. To add to it: most decks have little non-creature removal MD, so it kinda has a pseudo-protection thing going on.
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The protection is so ****in huge even if u cant imagine it.
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I could definitely see Blood Baron as a top of the curve card. Very hard to kill if he sticks.
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"Just fight without fear. Your soul is protected by the hand of Avacyn and will never submit to evil."
Were you talking about crusader or baron? baron definitely doesn't die to decay because of multiple conditions, but you made it sound like you were talking about him
That said, Baneslayer sees very, very little play in the format.
But it certainly has some weaknesses:
-Opponent can still just hold back burn to double bolt, etc.
-It's not a good answer to Tarmogoyf.
-It has no natural flying.
What best covers its weaknesses seems to be pump effects. They help Vs big greens, double bolts and have synergy with the lifelink.
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10/10, I tapped.
That said I can see it in Melira Pod as a one of over Baneslayer Angel
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MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
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Hermit Druid Combo:
Just some thoughts.
Reach out and torch someone . . .
I have a few ideas - Xathrid in Modern? Soul Sister twist?
3 Xathrid Necromancer
1 Athreos, God of Passage
3 Gravecrawler
4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
4 Serra Ascendant
4 Path to Exile
2 Duress
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
draw, removal, discard staples to fill out.
Thoughtseize, Dark Confidant are anti-synergy.
Possibles? Ranger of Eos, gotta go. Will finish later.
Modern - Bogle, Infect (hey, i'm new!)
EDH - Prime Speaker Zegana, Reaper King
Standard - MBD, G/b Devotion, Blue Devotion, Boros Burn, BG Dredge, W/G Aggro, Dimir Heroic
ENCHANTMENT AGGRO!
JundBGR
RW Blood MoonRW
Pauper
Delver U
Elves G
Control B
Commander
Edgar Markov BRW
Captain Sisay GW
Niv-Mizzet, Parun UR
Tymna and Ravos WB