Definitely testing.
Most of my red Agro decks are pretty burn heavy so the symmetrical creature effect seems strong against decks that are typically good against red Agro.
Menace lines up well naturally with that ability too... (more blockers they have the more it burns them)
Players can't gain life can occasionally make an astronomical difference. Considering, burn is willing to trade a card for 3 damage. I think it's a lot more important part of vortex than a few people in this thread seem to think.
It being a 3 mana creature (vulnerable) with moderate/low damage damage output compared to its competition does concern me tho.
I don't think it's a slam dunk, but wouldn't be surprised at all if testing proved it to be excellent.
Manic Vandal is a very useful utility creature that has preformed well in my cube since its inception. I like this dino but it won't randomly slot into nearly as many decks and I don't think it well ever fill a niche as well as vandal. Although they are the same cc, they're really just different cards and are not competing for the same role.
I like this. Evasion is always nice on a 3-power 3-drop. Shutting off lifegain may not be relevant all the time, but blanking lifelink or making Lone Missionary just a dork can be huge for a red deck. The ping ability will help against tokens and other decks that want to cast creatures; against control, I'll take a point to put another threat on the board. This looks like a solid addition.
Manic Vandal is a very useful utility creature that has preformed well in my cube since its inception. I like this dino but it won't randomly slot into nearly as many decks and I don't think it well ever fill a niche as well as vandal. Although they are the same cc, they're really just different cards and are not competing for the same role.
I agree that Manic Vandal and this are "just different cards" that they "are not competing for the same role." However, you must take into consideration that not all cubes are powered or heavy on artifacts. In my cube we don't play Manic Vandal at all because it would just be a sideboard card, hence, the role it is competing for doesn't exist. The role Rampaging Ferocidon plays as an red aggro/burn 3-drop, on the other hand, exists in all cubes.
The problem with Ferocidon is that it's purely an aggro creature. It only truly competes with Goblin Rabblemaster / Hanweir Garrison, but those are both better and have applications in token shells. Hard to make room between all the utility / aggressive creatures, but I think I will test this over Fire Imp, which I put back in recently. I really like indirect damage from creatures like Harsh Mentor, and this can just hose a lot of cards.
I think this is worth a spin at 720. I've been really impressed with menace in general, and the extra damage against decks that try to stop aggro with blockers is going to add up. I don't see this being a high pick, but I think it'll make decklists, the sort of card that's brought in or out based on the matchup. Gonna keep Manic Vandal but cut Release the Gremlins to try him out.
That 3rd point of toughness impresses me. Alternatively the fact that it costs only a single red, despite all those stats and abilities. Pretty good package overall.
Not sure I like it more than Sin Prodder though. That card advantage effect is pretty neat for red. (Both being 3/x menace for 2R with the potential to deal additional non-combat damage to the opponent makes Prodder the closest comparison imo.)
This card feels decent to us. We like the fact that it helps aggro against its worst nemesis archetype, alias midrange. It punishs your opponent for having to land of at least two blockers for it while also preventing him your getting extra life point. In a RB aggro deck, that has the reach to destroy almost everything in there way, it seems pretty annoying to block. Our guess is that it can Force Spike you, just by its triggered ability, before you can suceed to do it properly. Pretty good dinosaur! Splashable as well!
About the Prodder comparison, we think the dinosaur is better, and by a significant marge, in aggro shells. Although, the Prodder is a better cube card overall because it can go into multiple archetypes. So basicly, the dinosaur is more powerful at doing his thing, while the devil is more versatile. Tough call.
I'm probably being greedy, but I wish this had had flash instead of menace. I'd like to include it in my edh cube as a foil to all the token strategies I run, but I rather it was a something I could flash-in as a response to avenger of zendikar, secure the wastes, or tempt with vengeance than just as a deterrent to those getting cast in the first place.
I hear that, unfortunately not many flash creatures in red. Mostly only creatures in time spiral block had it, with a couple exceptions. It would probably need another color for flash.
This card has been great. It's a friggin beating. Sometimes it dies to removal, but when it sticks it makes coming back against the red aggro decks *really* tough, and by t3 most decks are in a position of trying to come back against that deck.
He’s been a mixed bag for me. It’s very double-sided and matchup dependent. Red has a lot of stake in going wide, which constrains deck building with Ferocidon. Might end up replacing it tonight back to Fire Imp or something.
I've found it to be more useful in more burn heavy strategies, alongside swiftspear and soul scar mage than in creature/token based aggro, but even there it's no slouch.
I've been pleasantly surprised by the dino thus far.
Most of my red Agro decks are pretty burn heavy so the symmetrical creature effect seems strong against decks that are typically good against red Agro.
Menace lines up well naturally with that ability too... (more blockers they have the more it burns them)
Players can't gain life can occasionally make an astronomical difference. Considering, burn is willing to trade a card for 3 damage. I think it's a lot more important part of vortex than a few people in this thread seem to think.
It being a 3 mana creature (vulnerable) with moderate/low damage damage output compared to its competition does concern me tho.
I don't think it's a slam dunk, but wouldn't be surprised at all if testing proved it to be excellent.
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Feldon yes, imp doubtful, vandal not even close.
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I agree that Manic Vandal and this are "just different cards" that they "are not competing for the same role." However, you must take into consideration that not all cubes are powered or heavy on artifacts. In my cube we don't play Manic Vandal at all because it would just be a sideboard card, hence, the role it is competing for doesn't exist. The role Rampaging Ferocidon plays as an red aggro/burn 3-drop, on the other hand, exists in all cubes.
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Not sure I like it more than Sin Prodder though. That card advantage effect is pretty neat for red. (Both being 3/x menace for 2R with the potential to deal additional non-combat damage to the opponent makes Prodder the closest comparison imo.)
Maybe I should cut Alesha, Who Smiles at Death for it though?
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About the Prodder comparison, we think the dinosaur is better, and by a significant marge, in aggro shells. Although, the Prodder is a better cube card overall because it can go into multiple archetypes. So basicly, the dinosaur is more powerful at doing his thing, while the devil is more versatile. Tough call.
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I've been pleasantly surprised by the dino thus far.
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