MTG Salvation

Is this card worth running? It seems crazy good with any equipment, and any chance for Red to draw extra cards is a welcome change.



Warning for image leeching.
—OP_Forever

The 1 power and double-red are significant drawbacks, but this is a 3 drop that gives red access to some utility that it doesn't normally get. I'm very excited for this card for my Stonebrow EDH deck, and I think it has some Cube implications as well. After all, Chandra, Pyromaster is playable right?

It is definitely interesting. I wouldn't mind testing it out for how much potential it could have.

seems solid in a deck with lots of burn spells to clear the path for you to swing. then you are "drawing" 2 additional cards per turn which is nuts

Double strike trample is really great with all the equipment in cube.
I think that makes up for the lack of evasion.
2 cards per turn is really easy to cast given red's low curve.

I just bought a Chandra's phoenix... Might have to replace that with this card.

I think this is definitely playable. It's a double striking ophidian.


Very funny that in the past three days.

This is the kind of red card I want to start seeing more.

Definite include, super fun stuff.

This is really, really interesting. It's similar to Ohran Viper, which does see some play in larger cubes, but it plays better with equipment (and things like reckless charge) and can't block nearly as well. That said, it gives red card advantage on a 3-drop, which is not something it's really ever had outside of ETB effects. I like it, although I think it will play best in GR decks as opposed to monored. Imagine soulbonding this guy with Wolfir Silverheart.

Its first two abilities are enough for me to consider running this card.

I can't help thinking that it would be better trading trample for another point of power. I'll test it anyways probably

Cube feels like a very favorable environment for this guy. Lots of equipment and burn to get him through, has little competition at 3 CMC in red, and frequently will get double card advantage due to red's low curve. He matches up very well when compared to Ohran Viper, and frequently gets to own the board in a format full of value pikers ... I think he'll be a staple.

Doesn't feel particularly mythic, but that's a problem for another forum.

Yes, I was really hoping for a red 3-drop that was good and interesting and this one looks like it could be it! I will definitwly test this.

Quote from hopefulhawkeye

This guy is a sexy target for a sword except A) The sword is at the same place on the curve as this creature.

In my 360 unpowered I often hold my swords back until I can play, equip, and swing. We run a lot of answers to artifacts and enchantments so you sort of have to time swords right. I don't really consider them 3 drops most of the time.


This guy looks fun if nothing else. I'll test him and see how often he needs other cards to be good. My guess is most of the time, but grabbing 2 extra options a turn is pretty awesome if he works.

Seems like a fun card, but I really wish it had haste and / or didn't depend so much on equipment / pump. Also worth noting that it says "play" not "cast" (relevant for playing lands that you exile).

Red could always benefit from more 3's (I slot Ruinblaster at 4). This seems at least worthy of testing; I can see curving this into Grafted Wargear or Empyrial Plate for massive beats.

Quote from Magic-Jiffen

Short question:
Do I have to pay the mana cost for an exiled card?

Yes, unfortunately.

Quote from Magic-Jiffen

Short question:
Do I have to pay the mana cost for an exiled card?

Yes. Wording is the same as Chandra, Pyromaster's middle ability.

The card would be unbelievably broken if you didn't have to.

That said, my first reaction is that this is a 360 staple.

Red is the color which least needs evasion on its saboteurs because of all the burn it has. It will net you on average 1 card every turn while dealing 2 damage. If you have aby way at all to pump it (equipment, battle cry, Reckless Charge, combat tricks, ...), it becomes completely ridiculous.

I think that everyone who thinks this needs haste or evasion, is grossly underestimating this card.

I think this creature has some potential. It's a red 3-drop with a high ceiling for damage output thanks to all the equipment out there, and the potential for that kind of card advantage if it can attack freely is really nice. The double-strike is nice with burn to keep him alive in combat, as is the 3 toughness. Seems like an improved Ohran Viper in red with a higher ceiling and greater damage output. And Viper's not bad to begin with. I think he'll be very comfortable in medium-sized cubes.

I dig this card quite a bit. I plan on testing at the very least. I really like how he can blow through X/1s and still get a trigger.

Finally an exciting red 3 drop! Red has plenty of functional 3 drops, artifact killers, one and dones(hell's thunder etc.), oddball value stuff like the phoenix etc. But there is nothing terrible aggressive. Hell I have even tried Splater Thug. My greatest fear is that the control deck counters my 4 drop, and then can stabalize because my 3 drop didn't put on the same pressure as my 1 and 2 drops. People asking for haste or evasion are insane. Double Strike and Trample on the same creature is a borderline mistake for something that only costs 3.

For reference lets look at wtwlf's 3 drop red creatures as a reference.

• Blistering Firecat
  
• Fire Imp
  
• Imperial Recruiter
  
• Keldon Vandals
  
• Manic Vandal
  
• Squee, Goblin Nabob

We have 2 combo creatures, 2 anti-artifact utility creatures, a shock on a wimpy stick, and a 4 drop that sneaks in for it's morph cost. If you are not already kicking ass with the 1,2 drops these guys are not getting it done.

Other 3 drops that I have toyed with

• Hell's Thunder
  
• Countryside Crusher
  
• Chandra's Phoenix
  
• Mindsparker

Only the phoenix has haste here, and the Crusher and Sparker have consistent 3 power but have some pretty serious trade off. Hell's Thunder is more of a planeswalker burn spell card than creature.

So I am pumped for this thing. My group loves double strike and they love equipment(so much so the vandals make them nervous). Much like my unnatural love for Silverblade Paladin which has fallen out of favor here, I think I have an new toy for the Boros the Blade archetype that often dominates my cube drafts.

I have even addressed the free card thing. I have no idea if this will matter. It will probably be occasionally hilarious to drop this guy the Armageddon, pulling lands off the opponents library. The spells mater or grizis control may toy with this gut as well. But really it is just gravy. And since we are playing cube it could be delicious delicious gravy.

Also one more reason for me to bring back the rampanger and other potential pumpers.

We've also been playing more red control as of late, and I like the body on this 3-drop for those kinds of decks. Works great against an early board with your Earthquakes and stuff.

I have been looking for other offensive red three drops lately, and this card seems likely better than the two I am running at the moment. You need cards like this aside from the utility drops like the Vandals and Recruiter. I think this card could also do a job in decks other than aggro and I like that side of him too. Definitely worth testing.

With all the 2/1 we are getting and value 2 and 3 drop with increased token support(Ophimancer, Young Pyromancer etc) I am bringing pyroclasm back. It is great to have a 3 drop that goes with it. And I may get Anger of the Gods or Slagastorm in there as well to give Grixis Control more punch. (Toxic Deluge has been good for that)

I can only imagine what it's like to hit someone with this and a Sword or Jitte equipped. I don't know what kind of deck can come back from a Cruel Ultimatum every turn (or swinging for 18 points of trample damage on the next turn in the case of Jitte).

I expect the ability to be worth about 1.5 cards on average. By the time you hit with this, you won't really need two lands, and if you hit two big things, then you get your choice of high-impact play.

Quote from TheTennesseeFireman

I can only imagine what it's like to hit someone with this and a Sword or Jitte equipped. I don't know what kind of deck can come back from a Cruel Ultimatum every turn (or swinging for 18 points of trample damage on the next turn in the case of Jitte).

You can even swing for 22 the next turn by pumping after the firststrike part of doublestrike ;-)