MTG Salvation

Carnival Hellsteed 4BR
Creature-Nightmare Horse
First strike, haste
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.)
5/4

Sorry if that still counts as image leeching D:

Anyhow......discussion about this card? Personally I like it, probably won't see much constructed play though(which I'm fine with. More for me.).

Not bad, it's essentially a 6/5 hasty first striker that can't block. It's decent for an aggro deck, but to me it's a bit high cmc for aggro.

Easy first pick in limited, probably not good enough for constructed.
Maybe if it had trample instead of FS???

I don't know. I'm still viewing 6 drops from a Titan point-of-view. This doesn't quite cut it for Standard.

R&D's shameless attempt to rope in the bronies.

I like him. I don't think he's good (Even with Haste, the most underrated ability of all time), but at least his first strike and power make him a good enough defender that there is at least a nice tension between using him as an attacker or blocker in limited.

I think the problem with him is he is just too easy to chump, would rather play something like Thundermaw Hellkite as a top end win condition in a midrange deck... this card just won't have a home unless we see more synergistic abilities associated with Unleash.

On the surface it seems like a good card; two decent abilities and a new mechanic that can make it just slightly bigger (it's flavorful as well). But it's actually not that good at all.

Can it kill a titan when unleashed? Yes, very easily. But do the titans care? No because Apocalypse Pony (that should be this card's new name forever) can't block the titan. If Apocalypse Pony wants to block the titan, then it dies . . . oh wait, I'm completely dumb and forgot that the titans aren't in standard anymore. My bad.

However, Apocalypse Pony basically falls into this weakness; it has nothing in the way of evasiveness against the opponent, which will result in chump blocking. Who invests six mana for a guy to get chump blocked all day? Additionally, six mana in an aggro deck had better be game winning; something of this power level that late in the game just won't cut it.

End of the day, I'm going to say that this is nothing more than a fun jank rare.

If control becomes a thing again, this could be good against it, or even in it, if grixis control does indeed come true. But until more of what RTR has to offer is revealed, I will have to reserve judgement.

Hmm i can see it being a potential finisher in a control deck but olivia is currently looking better suited for the job.

Well, you gotta have something to replace the Titans, right?

And it's one more card for those trying to break Heartless Summoning.

Could be good with the corpse jacker in a jund list. It would be a decent finisher in there being as it would come in as a 7/6 hastey first striker for 6.

Quote from oskaretc

Can you guys please just sit back, ignore playability and appreciate that it's a nightmare horse?

I was going to say it's unplayable in constructed, until I read this.

Of the PreRelease promos this is probably the best one.

I approve of this card, if only for all of the wonderful alters it will spawn.

pretty straight-forward. will usually kill in 3 strikes. but i think too many decks will be able to deal with it easily. i do like the surprise factor.

If I ever try to cast this off of cavern of souls I'm gonna declare pony now. Darnit.

Picture playing this in a 4 color deck in limited. They go to declare blocks, and you throw Selesnya Charm onto this...your opponent then cries

At 6 CMC, I'd rather have something more than just a beater.

What's kinda nice about this guy's toughness is that, if you Unleash him, you can Auger Spree him and not worry about the toughness decrease (Since he has First Strike). I know at least one player is going to try that little combat trick at the prerelease.

Quote from Unskilled Ninja

What's kinda nice about this guy's toughness is that, if you Unleash him, you can Auger Spree him and not worry about the toughness decrease (Since he has First Strike). I know at least one player is going to try that little combat trick at the prerelease.

Whoa, that sounds like a nice finisher. Solid 10 points of damage if it connects.

This guy is crazy good. You all keep saying he will get chumped. Did you all miss magmaquake and bonefire? We also have rancor in the format.

I feel like unleash is set up abuse heartless summoning.

I'm always going to mistakenly assume this has flying. Nightmare and all...

Quote from Unskilled Ninja

What's kinda nice about this guy's toughness is that, if you Unleash him, you can Auger Spree him and not worry about the toughness decrease (Since he has First Strike). I know at least one player is going to try that little combat trick at the prerelease.

Yeah that is actually one of the few uses I saw out of Augur Spree as well. Plus if your opponent lets it through as unblocked and hope they can attack to finish you off, then Augur Spree with this nightmare pony will result in some devastating finishes.

Stuff like Rage Reflection or Wound Reflection just make this horse all the better.

This card(as well as most other rakdos cards) looks like it will really benefit from Heartless summoning

2RB 5/4 first strike haste can't block looks pretty damn efficient to me. Blocking really isnt an issue for rakdos as you're in colors that are heavy in removal and you're playing aggro anyways. I think people are seriously underestimating this card.