Look like the new XWR spell won't be getting in my cube after all. I think this is solid #3 card in Boros. I place it above both Slayer's Stronghold AND Lightning Helix.
No way is it above Helix. The lifegain and ability to hit creatures is damn crucial. That being said, this seems like a snap include in most Cubes. More good, versatile cheap spells and fewer derp-derps for 12 million mana please WOTC, k thx.
I think this is somewhat worse than Helix, because it can't remove creatures. Situationally it can really shine, but on average, I think its not a consistent top performer.
Am I not seeing some forth mode for this card? 4 damage to a player + 2 highly situational modes seems not like something that should be replacing helix.
This card is really sweet! I don't know if it's above Helix, but depending on how many sweepers you run in your Cube the indestructible mode can be very relevant, and giving a dude double strike at instant speed is nothing to scoff at.
Two of the modes are functionally identical: They deal damage. If the board is stalemated and you need reach, it's four to the dome. If you have a creature that gets through unblocked, it can double strike for massive damage. Also not a terrible combat trick. It sort of shuts down the flexibility of the charm by making it mostly just a damage-dealing spell - but it beautifully exemplifies how all-out aggressive the guild is. They're going to break through your defenses any way they can.
Protecting your team from wrath, used as creature removal (double strike and/or indestructable) and/or causing the finishing blow.
It's all options that boros wants and all options that can have advantages in different situations.
Lightning helix is amazing in agro vs agro, but in other matchups its pretty meh.
Generally agro based decks that are effective in w/r are kind of "all in" that make the lifegain irrelevant vs midrange and/or control.
It's still a great card, but a little more situationally good.
I think this one is specially tuned for the classic boros archtype and is good in ALL matchups. Albeit good in slightly fewer decks.
Note: It's permanents you control are indestructible. Got a skull clamp you need protecting? Umezawas Jitte? One sided Armageddon?
It's behind all 3 of those but personally I would rank it 4th (even though I know many people love Slayers' Stronghold). For now I'll run both it & the Stronghold. We'll see if we still get a sweet Boros 1-drop.
Definitely happy for this card though I could see it getting outclassed of the top 5 if the remaining Boros cards are sweet. I'll be testing this tomorrow.
I'll be playing Figure, Vengeant, Stronghold, and this. I love helix, but this card looks like a raping. 4 damage is a lot for 2 mana. Instant doublestrike is great, and the wrath and removal protection is fantastic. Obviously, none of these would be good enough alone, but together this card is just what boros wants.
Better than Stronghold, IMO. Stronghold is normally for Boros' equivalent of the late game when it's trying to push damage after a wipe. This disrupts the wipe and can push damage.
I think this is the third best Boros card behind Ajani and Figure and slightly ahead of Fury and Stronghold. An argument could be made for either of those ahead of it though, which are better than Charm in non-aggro archetypes. It vindicates my decision to sell my foil Lightning Helix though. That card will never see play in my cube again.
I think Stronghold is the third best boros card after Ajani and FoD. Helix is prolly still 4th. After those, the new charm and the X spell goes for the next two slots i'd say.
Lightning Helix is actually quite mediocre except against aggro. If the lifegain is not very relevant (as in most matchups), all you have left is a narrow, overpriced, hard to cast Lightning Bolt.
Slayers' Stronghold has been good here, and don't forget when comparing it to spells that it doesn't take a spell slot. It's still #3 for me.
About Boros Charm: it looks like a really good aggro support card. Still it's a multi-colored card in a section that already has 3 very good cards, so the jury on this one and Aurelia's Fury is still out for us.
Boros will be a very strong and very deep guild after Gatecrash, that's for sure.
It is certainly not a bad card, but I really don't like how double strike on an unblocked creature is ~ dealing 4 to your opponent and choosing the double strike part on a creature that would have traded mid combat does something similar to the indestructible part.
Although it's similar, it's better than the first mode offensively if you control an unblocked guy with power =>3 (who is equipped) and saves a creature better in combat as long as the power/toughness deficit is small enough, so it's like a more situational and conditional but better backup mode for the other two. The indestructible part can counter removal on all your other permanents so may be the more useful mode.
It's an interesting third ability in that it strengthens the card's intent rather than diversifying it like the other charms.
AWWW YEAH! Double strike does seem redundant in most cases. Allows your small guy to trade with their big guy if that's better than making your small guy unblockable. Good with lifelink, deathtouch, swords and Jitte, but it's definitely the most borderline mode.
Specialities about the cube: U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
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*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
This card is awesome. So many interesting interactions with the 2nd and 3rd abilities. Can't wait to Armageddon+Boros Charm or Wrath of God+Boros Charm when both players have creatures out. Somebody, somewhere is gonna double-strike a Blistering Firecat turn four (turn 3 morph, turn 4 flip+charm) as well, and that is gonna be sweet.
This is a pushed card. All the modes are worth more than one mana and all of them have multiple uses. It can kill creatures, players, and planeswalkers, and it can counter removal and wraths. I'm going to test it over helix.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
I like this alot, for cube especially. 4 damage will put a crimp is just about all the planeswalkers plans, and is a big enough chunk to put aggro over the top. And I think that is the most narrow use.
Double strike will often be used as creature removal, but with the amount of trample(and combat damage related effects) this could get silly. I can only imagine what this card would have added to my last boros deck that was super low curved and full of cheap equipment.
The last ability is any permanent. 1 mana effects usually just protect creatures. This will beak the symmetry on a lot of cards out there.
Put me in the camp of people not all that impressed with Lightning Helix. It's fine, but at the end of the day, protecting the whole team from Wrath, giving double strike to a sword-bearer, or going four to the dome to close out a game all seem better. I'll test and see, but my four card Boros section will probably be cutting Helix to make some room for Charm.
Look like the new XWR spell won't be getting in my cube after all. I think this is solid #3 card in Boros. I place it above both Slayer's Stronghold AND Lightning Helix.
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It's all options that boros wants and all options that can have advantages in different situations.
Lightning helix is amazing in agro vs agro, but in other matchups its pretty meh.
Generally agro based decks that are effective in w/r are kind of "all in" that make the lifegain irrelevant vs midrange and/or control.
It's still a great card, but a little more situationally good.
I think this one is specially tuned for the classic boros archtype and is good in ALL matchups. Albeit good in slightly fewer decks.
Note: It's permanents you control are indestructible. Got a skull clamp you need protecting? Umezawas Jitte? One sided Armageddon?
I lovee this charm!
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Yea, it's pretty far behind all of those.
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Definitely happy for this card though I could see it getting outclassed of the top 5 if the remaining Boros cards are sweet. I'll be testing this tomorrow.
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Good card, I'm definitely playing it.
I don't know how I feel about Aurelia's Fury yet in terms of rankings. Luckily I can play both because 720 is awesome.
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Slayers' Stronghold has been good here, and don't forget when comparing it to spells that it doesn't take a spell slot. It's still #3 for me.
About Boros Charm: it looks like a really good aggro support card. Still it's a multi-colored card in a section that already has 3 very good cards, so the jury on this one and Aurelia's Fury is still out for us.
Boros will be a very strong and very deep guild after Gatecrash, that's for sure.
Although it's similar, it's better than the first mode offensively if you control an unblocked guy with power =>3 (who is equipped) and saves a creature better in combat as long as the power/toughness deficit is small enough, so it's like a more situational and conditional but better backup mode for the other two. The indestructible part can counter removal on all your other permanents so may be the more useful mode.
It's an interesting third ability in that it strengthens the card's intent rather than diversifying it like the other charms.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
450, Peasant*, unpowered**
Specialities about the cube:
U tempo, B aggro, R slow-ish are supported. G aggro is not.
Currently trying to support tokens in all colors but blue, in different ways: W pumps them, B sacrifices them, R suicides them, G has decent-sized ones.
cube list outdated
*literal C/U definition according to gatherer
**some cards are banned. Library of Alexandria, Land Tax, Sol Ring.
(list not current)
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I didn't even think about this, dunno why.
Yeah, this card does seem very good.
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Double strike will often be used as creature removal, but with the amount of trample(and combat damage related effects) this could get silly. I can only imagine what this card would have added to my last boros deck that was super low curved and full of cheap equipment.
The last ability is any permanent. 1 mana effects usually just protect creatures. This will beak the symmetry on a lot of cards out there.
And control is good in the cube.
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