MTG Salvation

I don't think it is better than Lightning Helix. "Only" just as good. Helix is great in any RW deck, while the charm is better in aggressive ones.

Counter target removal spell for any of your permanents is relavent in any deck, double strike is great in midrage, control for your finisher, and lava spike is good in aggro. I'd argue that lightning helix is less versatile then boros charm.

Quote from Ausschliessi

I think the major downside to this card is that you can't tapout in your turn if you want to keep it open, and that sucks except when you also have burn in hand. Still a great card though.

This can be said of instants in general. The other side would be that you can cast it whenever

-AA

Quote from simpygdog

Counter target removal spell for any of your permanents is relavent in any deck, double strike is great in midrage, control for your finisher, and lava spike is good in aggro. I'd argue that lightning helix is less versatile then boros charm.

I'd argue that Lightning Helix is more versatile than Boros Charm. Few cards are more versatile than instant removals that can also burn an opponent's face. I would play Helix in every deck running both its colors. Charm however gets less interesting the slower / more controlish your deck is.

That said, I would simply run both, as should anyone with 4 or more Boros cards.

Quote from Antknee42

This can be said of instants in general. The other side would be that you can cast it whenever

It is an advantage that you can cast proactive instants whenever you want to. Being a reactice card is a drawback, since you have to keep your mana open in case your opponent plays a card that you want to react to.

That said, I would simply run both, as should anyone with 4 or more Boros cards.

I actually have Helix at #5 now.

Quote from wtwlf123

I actually have Helix at #5 now.

Double cleave is good in a control deck, and the last thing i want in a low creature deck is my fatty or planeswalker to die. I don't think this is crab in control. The four damage mode is, but the rest of the card does pretty much everything white and red would want if you were running those two cards in a control build, *** + this = fun times.

Quote from simpygdog

I don't think this is crab in control.

But this little guy is. In control. Of his Hedron.

Quote from Star Slayer

It is an advantage that you can cast proactive instants whenever you want to. Being a reactice card is a drawback, since you have to keep your mana open in case your opponent plays a card that you want to react to.

The modes play both ways, however, depending on the situation. Boros Charm is by no means a reactive-only card. The reactive ways to play this card, especially the indestrucible mode, can actually teach you how to play aggressive Magic better (by not over-extending, and instead holding up the Charm on occasion).

I'm not seeing the downside, personally.

-AA

P.S. Good friend and notable Cubist Adam Prosak might have had a 3-4 Hedron Crab deck at PT Austin during the draft rounds. He was even late for a round (game loss) and didn't come close to losing a round with it. Also, he walked like Zoidberg after each round back to the Cube tables.

That. Is. Hilarious. Zoidberg ftw. I actually noticed my mispelling right as i pushed submit, but liked it that way, so I didn't change it.

I loved that card in both draft and standard.

Also he isnt in control of it, flavor text says he is a great mind, but still stumped.

I was definitely on the "Boros Charm isn't as impressive as some people think" bandwagon, but we drafted last night and a Boros deck did pretty well with it and loved the charm. In particular one time it was great for him because I tried to remove a blocker before attacking, he responded with Charm, and then my attack never happened because all his **** was indestructible.

He also used it several times to dome a planeswalker.

I'm still less than blown away by it, and I rank it below lightning helix, but it's good enough for cube.

I think I'm actually leaning towards this being better than Lightning Helix in Multiplayer cubes. The Wrath-saver mode is just too handy there. Will be testing it in my cube when the time comes, so we'll see if I'm right.

This is every bit as good as Ajani and Figure from our current experience. It really has no business costing only two mana at instant speed. It's such a bomb - at least two modes always seem to be relevant at any given time.

I do love the Charm cycles in cube.

Quote from Goodking

This is every bit as good as Ajani and Figure from our current experience. It really has no business costing only two mana at instant speed. It's such a bomb - at least two modes always seem to be relevant at any given time.

I do love the Charm cycles in cube.

I'll subscribe the "two modes are always relevant" statement. I can't remember the exact situation, but it went something like this: At a prerelease, I used it as a combat trick to give my guy double strike, so I said "Boros Charm" - "Lol woot, your guys are indestructible now..." - "Wait, I can do that too? This card is GOOD!"

Boros Charm was discussed here in the Random Cube Card of the Day thread.