Magic: The Gathering

[Armando]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

It doesn't have a triple mana-cost to it, which in a multi-color deck would be very prohibitive - especially if you want to run this in Naya.

Fair point. After giving it some thought it does make sense that you'd get a mix of N colored mana sooner than N of the same color, and that paying a mix of colors leaves you with more options than using up more of one color.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering



One thing to remember is that This guy costs 1 mana less than the Spark Trooper + Boros Charm combo, sticks around for far longer and won't die to a single Geistflame. Honestly? Speaking strictly as a card used as a finisher? I think I might prefer the Hellkite.

Still, the Spark Trooper is new option for a finisher for R/x in Standard that isn't a Thundermaw Hellkite. Plus Spark Trooper can come out a turn earlier.

I also really like this combo for Boros Decks:

+ +

Admittedly that is more a starter but the thought of starting out with a 1/1, that flips into a 3/2 on turn 2, with it double striking on turn 3, then dropping in the Trooper on Turn 4 for a Double Striking 6/1 paired with a Double Striking 2/2 for a total of 16 damage over those turns makes me giggle and also makes me really want to build a Naya deck for Gatecrash with Huntmaster thrown in for good measure.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Remember that Paladin can only Soulbond with one creature at a time. If it's paired with the Werewolf, it can't pair with the Elemental.

Also, making another R/G modern combo deck in Cockatrice right now. I'm just finishing the part where I grin at all the possibilities and am starting the part where I grimace at all the stuff I have to cut out.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I never said Thundermaw wasn't a good option, and yes it does stay longer (and clears the way through for itself) but Ball Helix is still an amazing 4 drop, even on his own.

Again, a 12-point Life swing can't be ignored. I also very specifically said late game for that combo; technically you could also hold the charm in your hand and use thundermaw and then play it next turn. But the fact that it's a 4 CMC 12-point swing is brutal, especially against other aggro decks. Really the only major issue with him atm is Blind Obedience.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

You're vastly overestimating the importance of the life gain.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Not against another Aggro deck or midrange Jund.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Actually I have a midrange Jund deck that laughs at Trooper. Instant Speed damage is the bane of 1 Toughness creatures.

Don't get me wrong, the Trooper is a very nice finishing option that isn't a Hellkite...But if I'm honest I still prefer the Hellkite in my standard decks for a Red Finisher right now. Obviously, things will change in Gatecrash when the cards are released.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Well again, the whole set hasn't been revealed, removal of any kind is always relevant, and I also feel it's worth pointing out that he's a soldier - that could possibly come into play.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

The main reason I prefer the Hellkite as a finisher is because if it is allowed to resolve, there is no way you are preventing that 5 damage from hitting you because it is functionally unblockable when it hits the table, 10 if I pair it with a Paladin or can also drop a Boros Charm. If I Cloudshift on the next turn, that is another 5 unblockable damage, 10 if a Paladin or Charm is around.

What I was trying to point out with the Trooper is that you can use a simple 1 damage spells/abilities to counter it, a single Izzet Staticaster will nuke the thing (and won't need any sort of Deathtouch on it to do that), instead of dropping your more valuable "Destroy Target Creature" type removal. Also remember that detain also fucks over the TrooperCharm Combo while the Hellkite is just stalled for one turn.

It is a nice addition for a soldier deck if you can get around the horrible toughness that it has, and I never said that it was a bad lategame finisher, just that the Hellkite is better and harder for your opponent to deal with.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I'm not arguing against the Hellkite, nor do I need the weaknesses of Ball Helix pointed out to me I been playing mtg for some time; only reason I never played it competitively was money - I had some damn good deck designs back in the day, and I f'ing called that Modular would be OP as shit back in the day when everyone I knew said I was full of shit, that it would never take off - and then Arcbound Ravager happened


I prefer the Hellkite too overall, because he's permanent and is outside of Mortar range. But he still costs 5, and that's why I don't like comparing them - Ball Helix is pretty much a guaranteed win on T4 if you don't hold back some kind of deterrent or haven't dealt with the board, as I outlined several posts back. But he's not alone, there are other T4 drops like Hellrider that also basically spell death if you either don't answer them right then and there, or wipe the board. I'm a little sad that Battle Hymn costs 2 mana though, since the best you can do is use it turn 5 (provided you have 4 critters - turn 4 I guess if you had a pair of Gather the Townsfolk/Krenko's Command) to cheat out Aurelia.

Sparky might only end up a 1-of, or used as sideboard material against other aggro decks idk it'll depend on what else is in the set but I have a pretty good feeling he'll see constructed play as a finisher. Both Rakdos & Selesnya can win by T4 handily, and this guy is just what Boros needed to do that as well.


Still sour about Aurelia being a 3/4 for 6 though...

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

because it is functionally unblockable

Not that it's ever relevant, but . . .



I love the flavor text on this guy.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I meant it from a Competitive Standard point of view but you probably already knew that

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Full spoiler is up - the full set is actually pretty disappointing compared to RTR - they knocked it right out of the park flavor-wise, but as far as power creep goes... eh, they pretty much revealed the best early on. A couple of interesting new ones shown in the full spoiler but otherwise just a lot of junk sadly.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering



Not the most powerful card in the set by a long shot but I can see her being pretty fun in the right sort of decks. It also doubles up as a nice Draw and Filter Engine if paired with something that can uptap it multiple times.

it also looks like Orzhov decks are going to end up ridiculously overpowered in Multiplayer settings. Extort being on noncreatures is insane.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Honestly I think Dimir by far got the best cards out of gatecrash, followed by Orzhov and then Gruul. Simic got some cool but expensive/slow tricks and aside from a few absolutely insane rares, the bulk of the Boros cards are trash. Doesn't surprise me in the least (though it does still disappoint) that WotC completely pussed out on making Batallion an effective strategy, or really giving Gruul some solid aggro options.

Domri Rade is nuts, but I still miss cards like Rumbling Slum, Burning-Tree Shaman & Skag-clan Mauler. All of those were insane. The only really good card that shines this time around is the Ghor-Clan Rampager, and even then it's largely because of his GR Bloodrush; I was honestly expecting Gruul to have a lot more mana-efficient beaters with cheap bloodrush triggers, not over-costed bullshit that's OK late game and somewhat decent as a combat trick.

Really I think the only 2 cards out of GTR that are going to have a major impact on the format are Aurelia's Fury & Blind Obedience. Possibly skullcrack vs certain decks (oh and the spotlight, that's gonna hose the new bant auras hard).



I'm honestly super pissed at this set. Orzhov, while getting some cool new stuff, in totality is nowhere near the power level it was last go around; No Bob, Faith's Fetters, Pillary of the Sleepless or Souls of the Faultless (Culling sun would have been a great reprint option). Most of the Battalion guys are crap because they only buff themselves and not the whole group - if Boros Elite was +2/+2 to all creatures, that thing could have easily replaced Champion of the Parish as the new staple 1-drop (or gone right beside it for janky fun). Firemane Avenger needed to cost 3 or less for what she does, or better yet, JUST REPRINT HELIX! Aurelia is too tiny, doesn't even have first strike (honestly what the FUCK is up with that) and costs 6... Assemble the Legion *could* have been viable at 4 as a new R/W Mobilization but no... can't have RW aggro being effective. I would have much preferred Boros have a mechanic based around auras or equipment, to emphasize their training. In part because Battalion, while flavorful, encourages over-extending. But also because they're supposed to be the best trained soldiers on the plane - so it stands to reason they ought to be benefiting the most from having good kit. But they probably felt that would be rehashing Mirrodin again.


I dunno. I love that Dimir is actually really good this time around, but I'm just so horribly disappointed that the other guilds got shafted. The set wins 11/10 no contest for knocking the flavor right out of the park, but as far as power creep goes? Meh. I really, really wish they'd stop adding so many over-costed EDH cards as well - can we not just have side releases like coldsnap or anything really, just separate from standard? Like those 5 avatars they printed, not 1 of those is going to see play in constructed or limited. Please just put Commander in it's own criteria and release stuff exclusively for it, while allowing standard stuff as well.