Red has always been lacking variety in its 2-drops, especially at 1R and for larger cubes. This card is a sight for sore eyes, and only the second red 3-power 2 drop that doesn't die after it swings once (Geopede being the first). Not having evasion is a shame, but 2 toughness can be relevant and every time it goes in it hurts, especially with burn backing.
I think it is for red aggro decks what Blade of the Sixth Pride is for white ones. Red wants that effect more, but it' still pretty unimpressive. I'm not sure whether I need another cheap vanilla beater this bad.
He's a *slightly* better Grizzly Bears - yes, he's in red which makes him far better (red has terrible two drops and burn to help him get through), but I don't see him making the cut in 540s or lower.
I am definitely making room for both him and Ashy in my 540 (i'm currently at less than 520 but will move to 540 with this new set). Although mono red is probably the single best deck when it comes together, it has always been lacking in the 2 drop department and these 2 cards fill that quite nicely.
These are the red two drops the average 540 runs. After removing Hearth Kami for Ashen Zealot, I think Fireslinger and Ember Hauler remain as the worst options, but I like them both better than Chainwalker. And I don't even run the Fireslinger.
I think I give him a try at 600, but I don't see him making the cut below 500. There are plenty 2+ power first strike and 4+ toughness 2-drops in cube that completely invalidate him. I have learned this the hard way with Garruk's Companion. Chainwalker is better since he is red (and therefore more needed) and costs only 1R (and is therefore easier to cast in a two color deck), but he will still suffer from the same problems that Companion did.
He's a *slightly* better Grizzly Bears - yes, he's in red which makes him far better (red has terrible two drops and burn to help him get through), but I don't see him making the cut in 540s or lower.
3 power is a lot better than 2 for a 2-drop, not slightly (let alone *slightly*) - as a beater it does 50% more damage. Not being able to block is hardly a drawback for an aggro creature as it is, and this one can be played to block in a pinch.
Garruk's Companion big problem was the CC in its cost, and to a lesser extent, being green. This card has neither problem.
The only card of those I would rank it above is ember hauler. I am the red drafter in our group and I never run the hauler because I feel like I have better options. Maybe I will feel the same way about this card but that seems like a good swap for testing.
I think I'd probably play this guy at 540. I would have included him in this update if I didn't get the Ash Zealot and the Shred-Freak in the same set.
I'm giving him a shot in my 450. I cut Chandra's Phoenix, an underperforming 3 drop to make room for him, instead of cutting another 2 drop. I'd say he seems much better than Ember Hauler (who I cut a long time ago) and almost definitely not better than Keldon Marauders.
I'm excited to give red aggro decks 4 new aggro creatures in this set, with the two R/B unleash guys, this dude, and Ash Zealot. IMO these are all clear upgrades to the cards being played before.
I'm giving him a shot in my 450. I cut Chandra's Phoenix, an underperforming 3 drop to make room for him, instead of cutting another 2 drop. I'd say he seems much better than Ember Hauler (who I cut a long time ago) and almost definitely not better than Keldon Marauders.
I'm excited to give red aggro decks 4 new aggro creatures in this set, with the two R/B unleash guys, this dude, and Ash Zealot. IMO these are all clear upgrades to the cards being played before.
Let me know how he plays out for you. I like the creature, but I'm wondering how necessary it'll be after the addition of Ash Zealot and both B/R hybrid aggro dudes. I decided to exclude it out of necessity and competition, not because I think it's bad.
3 power is a lot better than 2 for a 2-drop, not slightly (let alone *slightly*) - as a beater it does 50% more damage. Not being able to block is hardly a drawback for an aggro creature as it is, and this one can be played to block in a pinch.
Garruk's Companion big problem was the CC in its cost, and to a lesser extent, being green. This card has neither problem.
It can be played to block, but once you play it with Unleash, you can no longer block with it. It's not a significant downside, but it's not strictly better than Grizzly Bears as is.
I would say it is *slightly* better, because it is slightly better. I'd take Hellspark Elemental, Keldon Marauders, and Ember Hauler all over this.
But yeah, it's probably not as bad as I was making it out to be. I just don't particularly think vanilla 3/2 for 1R is that great, and this is worse than that.
But yeah, it's probably not as bad as I was making it out to be. I just don't particularly think vanilla 3/2 for 1R is that great, and this is worse than that.
I'd play a vanilla 3/2 in red for 1R, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, it's no tarmogoyf, but I've tried to win too many games attacking with Hearth Kami and Torch Fiend not to appreciate 3 power on my two drop.
It's a fine duder. And as stated multiple times, better because its red. I don't think it has a home in cubes 500 and lower, however. At least not at the cost of one of the other two drops already in the majority of cubes. I would probably slide in ember hauler before I would consider this guy, and if I am one of the people who dropped kargan dragonlord or hearth kami for ash zealot (which I'm not), I would get them back in before this guy.
It's a fine duder. And as stated multiple times, better because its red. I don't think it has a home in cubes 500 and lower, however. At least not at the cost of one of the other two drops already in the majority of cubes. I would probably slide in ember hauler before I would consider this guy, and if I am one of the people who dropped kargan dragonlord or hearth kami for ash zealot (which I'm not), I would get them back in before this guy.
IMO the problem with this approach is that you're trying to upgrade one of red's two drops to fit this guy in. That's not the problem. The problem is red doesn't have ENOUGH playable two-drops. With 2 more in this set I think this is a fine opportunity to adjust your curve downwards and play a few more 2 drops.
Just for example, using your cube, you have 11 aggro 2drops in white (not counting wall of omens). In red you have 9. Of those 9, 2 sacrifice themselves to kill things, 2 don't stay on the board, and 1 is a 1/1 with a utility ability instead of mixing it up in combat.
Red needs more depth at the two mana slot. Stop thinking about upgrading your existing two drops and start thinking about making the two drop slot in red deeper.
In your cube there are 5 red creatures that kill artifacts. You could easily convert one of them to an actual beater instead of a utility guy (I'd recommend cutting Keldon Vandals myself). Alternately you could do what I did and cut Chandra's Phoenix, an underwhelming 3drop when it comes to dealing damage to the opponent. Something like Blistering Firecat or Kiki-Jiki could also go. Either way, you have lots of options at higher mana costs that aren't nearly as important to your red decks as a better 2drop would be.
In my cube, I ultimately started shaving because I'd build these red aggro decks and have 5 two drops and 4 four drops in them, and be left trying to cut Hellrider, Koth, Hero of Oxid Ridge, or Flametongue Kavu, after I'd already cut Blistering Firecat and Goblin Ruinblaster. If this is a familiar situation for you, it should help drive home the point that the average curve for your red creatures is too high, even if those red creatures are substantially more awesome than a 3/2 that can't block.
To be clear: not trying to single you out or be rude or anything, it just made sense to use your cube as an example to prove my point
The problem is red doesn't have ENOUGH playable two-drops.
But red's already getting two more from this set that aren't this guy that aren't replacing current 2-drops. So that problem has already been largely solved by the rest of the cards from this set (for small-medium sized cubes).
1R
Unleash
2/1
I haven't seen much discussion on this card since it got spoiled, I'm wondering where it ranks on the cubability scale.
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Kargan Dragonlord
Stormblood Berserker
Keldon Marauders
Plated Geopede
Hellspark Elemental
Lightning Mauler
After replacing Dragonlord with Ash Zealot, I don't think Chainwalker's better than any of them.
He is very solid though. Might just add him to the 2-drop section anyway. Let's see what others think.
Modern: Jund Legacy: RUG Delver EDH: Captain Sisay
I'd definitely suggest running him as an extra 2 drop. 6 seems really low to me, even in 360.
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He's a *slightly* better Grizzly Bears - yes, he's in red which makes him far better (red has terrible two drops and burn to help him get through), but I don't see him making the cut in 540s or lower.
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Keldon Marauders (16x)
Hellspark Elemental (16x)
Stormblood Berserker (15x)
Plated Geopede (14x)
Lightning Mauler (14x)
Kargan Dragonlord (14x)
Ember Hauler (13x)
Hearth Kami (8x)
Fireslinger (8x)
These are the red two drops the average 540 runs. After removing Hearth Kami for Ashen Zealot, I think Fireslinger and Ember Hauler remain as the worst options, but I like them both better than Chainwalker. And I don't even run the Fireslinger.
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
Garruk's Companion big problem was the CC in its cost, and to a lesser extent, being green. This card has neither problem.
Controversial opinion alert: of Sylar's list, I think Chainwalker beats out Ember Hauler, Hellspark Elemental and Keldon Marauders.
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I'm excited to give red aggro decks 4 new aggro creatures in this set, with the two R/B unleash guys, this dude, and Ash Zealot. IMO these are all clear upgrades to the cards being played before.
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Let me know how he plays out for you. I like the creature, but I'm wondering how necessary it'll be after the addition of Ash Zealot and both B/R hybrid aggro dudes. I decided to exclude it out of necessity and competition, not because I think it's bad.
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It can be played to block, but once you play it with Unleash, you can no longer block with it. It's not a significant downside, but it's not strictly better than Grizzly Bears as is.
I would say it is *slightly* better, because it is slightly better. I'd take Hellspark Elemental, Keldon Marauders, and Ember Hauler all over this.
But yeah, it's probably not as bad as I was making it out to be. I just don't particularly think vanilla 3/2 for 1R is that great, and this is worse than that.
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I'd play a vanilla 3/2 in red for 1R, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, it's no tarmogoyf, but I've tried to win too many games attacking with Hearth Kami and Torch Fiend not to appreciate 3 power on my two drop.
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IMO the problem with this approach is that you're trying to upgrade one of red's two drops to fit this guy in. That's not the problem. The problem is red doesn't have ENOUGH playable two-drops. With 2 more in this set I think this is a fine opportunity to adjust your curve downwards and play a few more 2 drops.
Just for example, using your cube, you have 11 aggro 2drops in white (not counting wall of omens). In red you have 9. Of those 9, 2 sacrifice themselves to kill things, 2 don't stay on the board, and 1 is a 1/1 with a utility ability instead of mixing it up in combat.
Red needs more depth at the two mana slot. Stop thinking about upgrading your existing two drops and start thinking about making the two drop slot in red deeper.
In your cube there are 5 red creatures that kill artifacts. You could easily convert one of them to an actual beater instead of a utility guy (I'd recommend cutting Keldon Vandals myself). Alternately you could do what I did and cut Chandra's Phoenix, an underwhelming 3drop when it comes to dealing damage to the opponent. Something like Blistering Firecat or Kiki-Jiki could also go. Either way, you have lots of options at higher mana costs that aren't nearly as important to your red decks as a better 2drop would be.
In my cube, I ultimately started shaving because I'd build these red aggro decks and have 5 two drops and 4 four drops in them, and be left trying to cut Hellrider, Koth, Hero of Oxid Ridge, or Flametongue Kavu, after I'd already cut Blistering Firecat and Goblin Ruinblaster. If this is a familiar situation for you, it should help drive home the point that the average curve for your red creatures is too high, even if those red creatures are substantially more awesome than a 3/2 that can't block.
To be clear: not trying to single you out or be rude or anything, it just made sense to use your cube as an example to prove my point
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But red's already getting two more from this set that aren't this guy that aren't replacing current 2-drops. So that problem has already been largely solved by the rest of the cards from this set (for small-medium sized cubes).
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!