The pump is a super important part of Fires’s value, but I still think this is an overall better card. Not being able to counter creatures is a big deal for control decks in a format short on wrath effects. The +1/+1 counter option is also super nice for creatures that already have haste, with good abilities, a counter theme, etc.
I like Pitiless Pontiff much better than the Bell-Haunt. Cartel Aristocrat is better for shenanigans, but Pontiff just makes ground combat an impossible proposition. Bell-Haunt just isn’t impressive enough on raw power for such a nightmare mana cost.
As far as split cards go, the Azorius one seems like it has a nice play pattern, but the others just seem like a poor fit for peasant.
Simic in Peasant tends to operate a lot at instant speed in my experience, so I think this card definitely deserves some attention. Rarely do we get a noncreature with such a sweeping and swingy effect these days.
Cubetutor Link
Cubetutor Link
As far as split cards go, the Azorius one seems like it has a nice play pattern, but the others just seem like a poor fit for peasant.
Cubetutor Link
Cubetutor Link