Gets eaten by Stormbreath Dragon. Stats are too low. Raid is too conditional to be reliable. $2 mythic rare.
It DOES pair poorly against Stormbreath, but I think this is pretty reasonable otherwise. You'll get two 3/4s most of the time and when you don't it's likely in a topdeck situation where a 3/4 with evasion wins the game a good chunk of the time anyway. I think this is worth testing/theory crafting on.
I agree that so long as Stormbreath is around this guy will be under valued, but in block and after rotation he could be good. The problem is that you aren't always going to have a creature to attack with, and a 3/4 flier with minimal life gain just isn't good enough on it's own. If it, and it's token had lifelink, that might be a different story but as it stands it's just okay. Still a nice curve topper for a white weenie deck.
Seems like a potent aggro/midrange finisher. Multiple bodies makes it tougher for control to handle without a board wipe, while also amplifying the power of mass pump effects like Spear or Ajani. 4 toughness means it survives Lightning Strike, Anger of the Gods, and Drown in Sorrow. Multiple bodies plus lifegain equates to an absolute powerhouse against aggro.
If a "wrath deck" is dominant then it looks pretty bad. But given the power of Caryatid/Courser/Fetches I really doubt that will be the case.
In what world is this bad against Stormbreath Dragon?
I'm failing to see it. It races against SBD, unless, wait, are you blocking with SBD? I'm fine with that, I won't attack and you're losing edge fast.
SBD hits -4
Roc lands
SBD hits -4
Roc hits 6 damage, gain 2+ life = we are both at 6 life lost, maybe less for me.
One more turn and Roc wins the race.
People trying to slot this into control decks that want to block with it are failing to understand that it's an aggressive card. Raid is a nice little hint there.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A voice for Timmy.
Commander R Ashling, the Pilgrim Mono Red Wildfire Control GBW Karador, Ghost Chieftain Abzan Dredge Rock WBR Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Mardu Aggro-Reanimator Midrange
This really should be a rare, but maybe that was too much for limited. I think it is weaker than Broodmate Dragon was, because it isn't as reliable on the board. Broodmate instantly gave unconditional board and card advantage, making it excellent in stalled games. This doesn't have the same effect because it is much harder to get full benefit when you are losing or stalled, and casting it by itself is never going to be a great decision. It needs to find its slot as a finisher in a midranged deck, but most of those will play Stormbreath over it (Haste and protection from white are very relevant).
Probably the best limited card spoiled so far. I would say it's borderline playable in standard, but will need a deck that wants it. Ideally you want to curve into it and drop it turn 5 or sooner to seal the game. It's absolutely terrible after a board wipe though, especially with no manlands in the format to keep up the beats
This really should be a rare, but maybe that was too much for limited. I think it is weaker than Broodmate Dragon was, because it isn't as reliable on the board. Broodmate instantly gave unconditional board and card advantage, making it excellent in stalled games. This doesn't have the same effect because it is much harder to get full benefit when you are losing or stalled, and casting it by itself is never going to be a great decision. It needs to find its slot as a finisher in a midranged deck, but most of those will play Stormbreath over it (Haste and protection from white are very relevant).
Feels rare, but I think you are right about it being too dumb in limited for that.
As for the dragon comps, I think you are overlooking the fact that this costs 1 less and is MUCH easier to cast that Broodmate while being a different color than the Stormbreath. I agree that a deck that can pick between Stormbreath and this as its finisher probably goes with the former. But for non-red decks this looks like a pretty appealing option.
In what world is this bad against Stormbreath Dragon?
I'm failing to see it. It races against SBD, unless, wait, are you blocking with SBD? I'm fine with that, I won't attack and you're losing edge fast.
SBD hits -4
Roc lands
SBD hits -4
Roc hits 6 damage, gain 2+ life = we are both at 6 life lost, maybe less for me.
One more turn and Roc wins the race.
People trying to slot this into control decks that want to block with it are failing to understand that it's an aggressive card. Raid is a nice little hint there.
SBD has monstrous and the option of not attacking.........
What if... What if you played it withStormbreath Dragon and the Mardu deck we're all looking for is actually mid-range starting at powerful 3 drops and ending at 5 drops? It makes your redundancy pretty sick in the 5 drop slot, I don't think that's a bad thing; if you're racing in game two, choose between staying aggressive or getting life while attacking. Yes, Sarkhan is already the redundancy we needed, but he isn't as good against a White deck as Stormbreath Dragon or Wingmate Roc; one dodges white removal entirely and the other demands more removal in general. Against Black you can take Stormbreath Dragon out and put in/keep Wingmate Roc/Sarkhan.
If you don't attack with SBD you lose out on a lot more than I do when I don't attack with Wingmate Roc. Wingmate Roc trumps SBD in racing, trumps it in blocking, and is harder to remove. SBD will probably be removed before it can go monstrous, and if it does go monstrous it is guaranteed to die to a Crackling Doom if it hasn't already.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A voice for Timmy.
Commander R Ashling, the Pilgrim Mono Red Wildfire Control GBW Karador, Ghost Chieftain Abzan Dredge Rock WBR Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Mardu Aggro-Reanimator Midrange
I understand peoples concern about this guy vs stormbreath , but to be realistic, how many decks will you play against that run stormbreath? maybe a quarter of your matchups ( if your only playing against T1 strategies) yes, thats a lot, but that also means 3/4 of the time you wont be playing against a stormbreath deck, and the card will be fine
Even against Stormbreath this thing is fine. Creates a stalemate, which is not a bad thing...especially if you eventually draw into your anthem effect.
The 3/4 stat and two creatures for the price of one is good when Standard is littered with "Creatures you control get +1/+1 or +2/+2" boosts, especially for White.
Indeed. There's two permanent mass pump effects (Spear of Heliod and Hall of Triumph), meaning getting 4/5 Rocs should not be that uncommon of an occurence, and two of the three White strategies (Mardu and Jeskai) look like they'll be strong on the attack. This card will be a massive beating most times.
Just saw this spoiled on twitter. Seems rather powerful to me, two 3/4 fliers for 5 plus some life gain.
Stats are too low.
Raid is too conditional to be reliable.
$2 mythic rare.
It DOES pair poorly against Stormbreath, but I think this is pretty reasonable otherwise. You'll get two 3/4s most of the time and when you don't it's likely in a topdeck situation where a 3/4 with evasion wins the game a good chunk of the time anyway. I think this is worth testing/theory crafting on.
If a "wrath deck" is dominant then it looks pretty bad. But given the power of Caryatid/Courser/Fetches I really doubt that will be the case.
I'm failing to see it. It races against SBD, unless, wait, are you blocking with SBD? I'm fine with that, I won't attack and you're losing edge fast.
SBD hits -4
Roc lands
SBD hits -4
Roc hits 6 damage, gain 2+ life = we are both at 6 life lost, maybe less for me.
One more turn and Roc wins the race.
People trying to slot this into control decks that want to block with it are failing to understand that it's an aggressive card. Raid is a nice little hint there.
Commander
R Ashling, the Pilgrim Mono Red Wildfire Control
GBW Karador, Ghost Chieftain Abzan Dredge Rock
WBR Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Mardu Aggro-Reanimator Midrange
Feels rare, but I think you are right about it being too dumb in limited for that.
As for the dragon comps, I think you are overlooking the fact that this costs 1 less and is MUCH easier to cast that Broodmate while being a different color than the Stormbreath. I agree that a deck that can pick between Stormbreath and this as its finisher probably goes with the former. But for non-red decks this looks like a pretty appealing option.
SBD has monstrous and the option of not attacking.........
This guy would be really annoying with Mardu Ascendancy on the board; troll points for curving T3 Ascendancy, T4 Iroas, T5 Roc or Stormbreath/Sarkhan. We have Brimaz, King of Oreskos, Ascendancy, and Roc or Stormbreath make Iroas an attacking fatty. Maybe it's too magical.
Anyway, I think this guy is going to be nuts with Mardu Ascendancy at a minimum; huge bonus with Iroas, God of Victory and/or Goblin Rabblemaster.
Does Deicide even see play? Revoke Existence is in white and is more versatile with Scuttling Doom Engine doing things.
"Reveal a Dragon"
Commander
R Ashling, the Pilgrim Mono Red Wildfire Control
GBW Karador, Ghost Chieftain Abzan Dredge Rock
WBR Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Mardu Aggro-Reanimator Midrange
EDH has plenty, maybe we will get one in standard.
You're basically getting this guy and a free Starlit Angel for the same cost.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries