Probably not. For RW you'd be better off just running helix and bolt, deck depending. If you really need to deal with something non-destroying, maybe condemn? I believe there may be a larger issue if Path to Exile is out of your price range; perhaps the format itself isn't within reach at the moment? If you can't run path, it opens up the larger question of why you're playing white, as the few white cards that are decent are probably going to be price sticking points as well.
Don't take this as me trying to be mean or brutal, I'm just looking at your consideration in the cold light of day. If you're trying to build budget I might suggest mono green stompy?
At double the mana, I don't think it's good enough. I'd rather Condemn and Oust for one mana path replacements in non aggro match ups. If you are in RW, Lightning Bolt and Lightning Helix are also solid options, but can't kill larger creatures. You can also run Dismember along side Bolt to kill the larger things if you don't mind the lose of life.
since we are at cmc 2 here and presumably you play bolts because you are RW, may I suggest valorous stance? it seems just better than ride down for what you are looking to do, which I think is getting rid of things that your bolts cant kill. VS is the effect you want and it is less narrow than ride down with the plus of being able to protect one of your creatures.
Ride Down, for what it does, is one of the nicer instances of conditional removal in White's pie involving creatures that are blocking, mostly because it grants trample which in conjunction with removing a blocker can translate into "I just swung in unblocked".
But for that cost you could be slinging far more effective spells. Ride Down's biggest problem is it can't be proactive. It only gets rid of anything that gets in your way, so if you're losing to non-blockers (someone's untapping repeatedly with Dark Confidant, Twin's setting up its combo, etc) then it's not winning you any games.
Removal that relies on your opponent attacking/blocking tends to be bad removal. Some creatures generate so much advantage without having to attack or block, e.g. mana dorks, Melira combo, Twin's combo creatures (yeah, technically the combo requires attacking, but good luck stopping it with, say, Celestial Flare). And there's also the scenario of either player not having a creature in play, in which case a burn spell like Lightning Helix is just better.
Probably not. For RW you'd be better off just running helix and bolt, deck depending. If you really need to deal with something non-destroying, maybe condemn? I believe there may be a larger issue if Path to Exile is out of your price range; perhaps the format itself isn't within reach at the moment? If you can't run path, it opens up the larger question of why you're playing white, as the few white cards that are decent are probably going to be price sticking points as well.
Don't take this as me trying to be mean or brutal, I'm just looking at your consideration in the cold light of day. If you're trying to build budget I might suggest mono green stompy?
I guess I should have rephrased. I already have my playset of Path to Exile. I was wondering whether I should recommend Ride Down to other players as a budget-minded option. I agree that there are better cards (I still haven't picked up Valorous Stance yet, I have no idea why) than Ride, so I guess I'll just forget about it.
Probably not. For RW you'd be better off just running helix and bolt, deck depending. If you really need to deal with something non-destroying, maybe condemn? I believe there may be a larger issue if Path to Exile is out of your price range; perhaps the format itself isn't within reach at the moment? If you can't run path, it opens up the larger question of why you're playing white, as the few white cards that are decent are probably going to be price sticking points as well.
Don't take this as me trying to be mean or brutal, I'm just looking at your consideration in the cold light of day. If you're trying to build budget I might suggest mono green stompy?
I guess I should have rephrased. I already have my playset of Path to Exile. I was wondering whether I should recommend Ride Down to other players as a budget-minded option. I agree that there are better cards (I still haven't picked up Valorous Stance yet, I have no idea why) than Ride, so I guess I'll just forget about it.
I don't want to kill you creative enthusiasm because most on this site will always dismiss cards. This is one of the cases where there are literally better options. However, don't be afraid to try new cards.
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On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Don't take this as me trying to be mean or brutal, I'm just looking at your consideration in the cold light of day. If you're trying to build budget I might suggest mono green stompy?
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But for that cost you could be slinging far more effective spells. Ride Down's biggest problem is it can't be proactive. It only gets rid of anything that gets in your way, so if you're losing to non-blockers (someone's untapping repeatedly with Dark Confidant, Twin's setting up its combo, etc) then it's not winning you any games.
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Big Johnny.
If you can't afford path you have better choices:
Valorous Stance
Condemn
Oust
Celestial Flare
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
I guess I should have rephrased. I already have my playset of Path to Exile. I was wondering whether I should recommend Ride Down to other players as a budget-minded option. I agree that there are better cards (I still haven't picked up Valorous Stance yet, I have no idea why) than Ride, so I guess I'll just forget about it.
I don't want to kill you creative enthusiasm because most on this site will always dismiss cards. This is one of the cases where there are literally better options. However, don't be afraid to try new cards.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)