Just saw this card go up, and would like others' thoughts on it - it looks like a decent Hellrider impression for black aggro, with the bonus of a bit of lifegain and an additional ability in exchange for not having haste. I definitely think I'll be testing him out. I think he's a good enough curve-topper for aggro even without the second ability.
It's a lot like a black Hellrider, but trades haste for life gain instead (that still works from the turn you drop it, so it will probably have some decent initial impact). I have been wanting more decent black lifegain, so likely this is going for a spin in my cube. The extra R/W ability can lead to a blowout in the event of a board stalemate so it's very nice gravy IMO.
I think that the 2CMC 2/2 who becomes 3/2 first strike if you have a red or white permanent is borderline cubeable if you needed extra Mardu cards. Also, Orcish Lumberjack is an interesting ramp card. First really good Orc though and the first one in my cube.
I dunno. I like it for standard, but in cube it seems too slow for me.
I get the comparisons to Hellrider, but losing Haste is kind of a big deal as it pertains to functionality as a curve topper in aggro decks.
Yes, there will be times where you curve out perfectly and get an extra 3 damage and 3 life for a 6 point swing, and that's great. However, I think testing will eventually prove that a Hill Giant is too slow without haste for most powered cubes for this kind of deck. Additionally, it doesn't do anything to help the Smokestack / Pox deck because you want your threats to be A) recurrable and B) typically cost 2 or less mana since the point of the deck is to keep resources in the early stage of the game.
I could be wrong, but I look at this card as a solid addition to 540+ cubes while ultimately being too weak to bump anything out at a smaller size.
EDIT: All of the above is written with the understanding that it would be slotted into a Black section. If Mardu, I still think Butcher of the Horde is the better card.
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He's not a slam dunk but he does do a decent Hellrider impression in the color that needs it most, plus life gain in black is always a bonus. I'm going to test him out.
I really like this guy! Playable lifegain for black! Sure, Hellrider is better for an aggressive deck due to haste, but the lifegain can be relevant and if you get to use his activated ability... yikes! Simply forcing all opposing creatures to block your smallest attacker can push a lot of damage through. And that's just a basic idea - there are other, more interesting ways to force horrible blocks. Unlike Butcher of the Horde, he can even be played in two common two color aggro decks. No need to splash a third color for this guy!
The lack of haste does hurt, but I still think he fits well with black's recurring creatures and tokens. I think he will do an excellent job in grinding out wins through attrition, I look forward to testing him.
Yeah, this seems great. The activated ability is unfortunately super weak, but it will occasionally do something. But really, this is a mono black card, and I think it's probably good enough.
I think that the 2nd ability is mostly just gravy and this will likely find a place in my Cube as a black card. This will also be the 2nd Orc in my Cube...
...after Mirror Entity. (come one, it is a lousy joke, but it needed to be said.)
Yeah, this seems great. The activated ability is unfortunately super weak, but it will occasionally do something. But really, this is a mono black card, and I think it's probably good enough.
If you have any board presence, it basically reads win the game. Make all your opponent's creatures block the smallest guy and then hit them with everything else + the "hellrider" trigger.
I played hell rider probably 200 times in standard and 50 times in cube, and Its clear to me this guy isn't as good. The 4 hasted damage is verryyy relevant a lot of the time
Where this guy will shine is vs green with a lot of blockers and not much removal. Suicide your bloodghasts etc potentially race 6/6 tramples and random green life gain. Force their mana dorks to block.
In red vs black Agro mirrors, he'll eat a searing spear way too much to extract his needed value.
That being said a slightly worse hell rider is still easily cube able
Does seem very sick in a white/black token strategy and is easily playable in heavy black Agro.
The cost is pretty nice, and it has two valuable effects. Not sure how I feel about it (if I had a Mardu slot, this guy vs Butcher of the Horde, for example) but it's certainly not a bad card.
I believe the life gain will not be irrelevant. How many of the black 1 drops cause you to lose life? I'm always looking for ways for black to gain life.
Aside - did they change the text font? for this set or generally?
This is a hard cube card to evaluate because it has the base stats of a Hill Giant and no ETB ability but a high upside if you have curved out well. It's saving grace is that it does not need to attack for you to benefit from the ability, allowing it to act like an enchantment, buffing your recurable creatures until the time is right to strike.
No way this guy makes smaller lists but I'll be testing him out in my 720 card cube
From a cube persepctive, this has been an interesting set so far. Very few slam dunk inclusions but a lot of fringe role players. I like sets like this because people will start having to make some tough decisions leading to a lot of variety between cubes. I like how Magic is evolving!
Edit: Too bad the art sucks. Why are you so dark and small?
The cost is pretty nice, and it has two valuable effects. Not sure how I feel about it (if I had a Mardu slot, this guy vs Butcher of the Horde, for example) but it's certainly not a bad card.
Out of all the wedge cards, Butcher has performed worst for me. I never gets played or drafted. I may try this guy in his slot.
This guy is a house. Haste or no. Hell rider is Awesomesauce but this guy enables second and third swings with its blocking ability. Also just get a deathtoucher with more than one power and destroy half their creatures by assigning one damage to each. Totally cool
The cost is pretty nice, and it has two valuable effects. Not sure how I feel about it (if I had a Mardu slot, this guy vs Butcher of the Horde, for example) but it's certainly not a bad card.
Out of all the wedge cards, Butcher has performed worst for me. I never gets played or drafted. I may try this guy in his slot.
Yes, RWB is a really uncommon color combination for decks in my cube as well. And the few decks that run all those colors are usually creature-light and aren't particularly interested in the Butcher.
This orc here on the other hand can be okayish with just black mana (and he is even splashable then) and good with either red or white. No need to go three-color with this dude. I don't think that he is amazing, but this flexibility alone will make sure that he sees more play in my cube than the Butcher.
I like it, and it may be the black anthem I've been looking for, but black at 4 is really crowded. What are people cutting for this. And a 3/3 is really underwhelming. Give me a 5/2 or 2/5 or 3/4.
I like it, and it may be the black anthem I've been looking for, but black at 4 is really crowded. What are people cutting for this. And a 3/3 is really underwhelming. Give me a 5/2 or 2/5 or 3/4.
Just saw this card go up, and would like others' thoughts on it - it looks like a decent Hellrider impression for black aggro, with the bonus of a bit of lifegain and an additional ability in exchange for not having haste. I definitely think I'll be testing him out. I think he's a good enough curve-topper for aggro even without the second ability.
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I get the comparisons to Hellrider, but losing Haste is kind of a big deal as it pertains to functionality as a curve topper in aggro decks.
Yes, there will be times where you curve out perfectly and get an extra 3 damage and 3 life for a 6 point swing, and that's great. However, I think testing will eventually prove that a Hill Giant is too slow without haste for most powered cubes for this kind of deck. Additionally, it doesn't do anything to help the Smokestack / Pox deck because you want your threats to be A) recurrable and B) typically cost 2 or less mana since the point of the deck is to keep resources in the early stage of the game.
I could be wrong, but I look at this card as a solid addition to 540+ cubes while ultimately being too weak to bump anything out at a smaller size.
EDIT: All of the above is written with the understanding that it would be slotted into a Black section. If Mardu, I still think Butcher of the Horde is the better card.
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If you have any board presence, it basically reads win the game. Make all your opponent's creatures block the smallest guy and then hit them with everything else + the "hellrider" trigger.
Where this guy will shine is vs green with a lot of blockers and not much removal. Suicide your bloodghasts etc potentially race 6/6 tramples and random green life gain. Force their mana dorks to block.
In red vs black Agro mirrors, he'll eat a searing spear way too much to extract his needed value.
That being said a slightly worse hell rider is still easily cube able
Does seem very sick in a white/black token strategy and is easily playable in heavy black Agro.
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Aside - did they change the text font? for this set or generally?
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No way this guy makes smaller lists but I'll be testing him out in my 720 card cube
From a cube persepctive, this has been an interesting set so far. Very few slam dunk inclusions but a lot of fringe role players. I like sets like this because people will start having to make some tough decisions leading to a lot of variety between cubes. I like how Magic is evolving!
Edit: Too bad the art sucks. Why are you so dark and small?
Out of all the wedge cards, Butcher has performed worst for me. I never gets played or drafted. I may try this guy in his slot.
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/3pq
The comparision with Hellrider is probably the best one we have, which is unfortunate because they are significantly different.
This guy is really unique, really good, and really testable.
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This orc here on the other hand can be okayish with just black mana (and he is even splashable then) and good with either red or white. No need to go three-color with this dude. I don't think that he is amazing, but this flexibility alone will make sure that he sees more play in my cube than the Butcher.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
Yeah, this guy at 3/4 is sexy.