Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Avacyn Restored Spoiler Part 4: Red

Red's turn on the chopping block, we've got a handle on the new stuff with Soulbound and Undying, what other mechanics does Avacyn restored have up it's sleeve.

#125) Aggravate - A 5 mana sweeper spell that only does a single point of damage, but it forces all the creatures it damages to attack this turn, a interesting choice, since it only deals 1 damage

#126) Archwing Dragon - A 4/4 with flying, haste and it returns to your hand at the beginning of the end step, a nice little piece of work plus it costs a mere 2, Red, Red meaning that it is much better then first anticpated honestly, i like this guy.

#127) Banners Raised - Battle cry on a instant yes, at instant speed all creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn, a interesting finisher.

#128) Battle Hymn - Normally adding mana for each creature in your control is good, but when it costs only 2 mana, it's even better and at instant speed, causing me to go how the hell did this get past R&D

#129) Bonfire of the Damned - First mythic of the color, it's a XX spell, meaning you pay X and then X again to deal damage, where X is the number you pay to each creature target player controls, a 1 sided Lavalanche as one had put it, also it has miracle where it's only 1 X, not bad for a balance

#130) Burn at the Stake - So 2, red, red, red for a sorcery that deals damage, but you can tap any number of creatures you control as you cast this, this does 3x the number of creatures you control in damage form, so if you tap 4 creatures, you deal 12 damage, a big spell, should see some constructed play here.

#131) Dangerous Wager - 2 drop, basically it's the new Faithless Looting, except you gotta discard your whole hand, then draw 2 cards, i'd rather play the Wheel of Fortune reprint in constructed, limited is going to like this though.

#132) Demolish - It seems like every color is getting a reprint and this is no exception to that rule, 4 mana for a destroy target artifact or land, pretty much a limited staple if you ask me.

#133) Dual Casting - Honestly i love this card, being able to basically say, i'll copy that spell, then kick said spell maybe i dunno Rite of Replication, this is really great material for red, it's Increasing Vengeance on a stick, but a aura, wow.

#134) Falkenrath Exterminator - 3 mana 1/1 that can get bigger each time it deals damage to a player, giving it a +1/+1 counter for each time, it also has an ability that works along side this, you pay 2 and a red and it deals damage equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it to target creature, great rare bomb removal here.

#135) Fervent Cathar - Normally 2/1's to me are lack luster, in this case i'm not right when it comes to being lack luster, for a 2/1 with haste and for 3 mana, it better be good well it makes you able to get a extra point or two of damage across since it makes a target creature unable to block for the turn it is played.

#136) Gang of Devils - 6 mana for a 3/3 that when it dies, you deal 3 damage divided as you choose, interesting choice here, but limited only material

#137) Guise of Fire - So for 1 mana, you get a +1/-1 pump and the enchanted creature has to attack each turn, i like it, couple this with some good vampires and your set.

#138) Hanweir Lancer - 3 mana for a 2/2 with soul bound and it's soul bound ability is first strike, interesting but perhaps a little too late.

#139) Havengul Vampire - 4 drop 2/2 that when it deals combat damage it gets a +1/+1 counter on it and when something dies, it also gets a +1/+1 counter on it, can you say limited bomb in red.

#140) Heirs of Stromkirk - 4 mana 2/2 Intimidate and whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it, and it is uncommon, making these guys look superb in limited and of course EDH.

#141) Hound of Griselbrand - Undying of course on a 4 drop, rare double striker that's a 2/2 can you say serious beat stick in red, should see some constructed play due to Undying.

#142) Kessig Malcontents - 3/1 3 drop that deals damage equal to the number of humans you control to target player when it enters the battlefield, wow much, Red/White humans is something new in this block.

#143) Kruin Striker - 2 mana 2/1 that grants a target creature +1/+0 and trample for when another creature enters the battlefield under your control, holy crap much, this is a great common for red

#144) Lightning Mauler - 2 mana for a 2/1 human berseker with soulbound where it gives haste as well as being a uncommon, wow sign me up.

#145) Lightning Prowess - Granting haste and being a pinger aka dealing 1 damage is not bad, couple this with Deathtouch and you got yourself a threat, for 3 mana it's pretty impressive, red is showing some serious skills here in this set.

#146) Mad Prophet - 4 drop hasty dude that's a 2/2 and a Merfolk Looter in red, nice limited material.

#147) Malicious Intent - 2 Mana for a aura that you tap enchanted creature and target creature can't block, not bad in limited, red is getting better

#148) Malignus - 5 drop, mythic rare and it's power and toughness are equal to the highest life total among opponents, is this going to be the 4 dollar mythic i think so, it's EDH material though.

#149) Pillar of Flame - 2 drop Shock, that when the creature damaged by this dies, it is exiled instead, great replacement for Gut Shot in mono red.

#150) Raging Poltergeist - 5 drop vanilla 6/1, no thanks

#151) Reforge the Soul - Did they just fricking reprint Wheel of Fortune but with miracle, oh yes they did for a mere 1 and a red for it's miracle cost and 3, red, red for it's casting cost the standard effect of Wheel applies here, nicely done as a rare wizards.

#152) Riot Ringleader - 3 drop 2/2 that when it attacks it gives all your creatures including itself a +1/+0 until end of turn, sweet limited material here, might see some constructed play i dunno.

#153) Rite of Ruin - 7 mana for a effect where a order bewteen creatures, artifacts and lands is chosen and then each player sacrifices one of the first, 2 of the second and 3 of the third, at sorcery speed, dollar rare.

#154) Rush of Blood - 3 drop instant that grants +X/+0 until end of turn where X is the target creature's power, a interesting instant that can seriously be a threat late game.

#155) Scalding Devil - Another pinger, 2 mana 1/1 you gotta pay 3 mana to use it's pinging ability, limited only.

#156) Somberwald Vigilante - 1/1 1 drop that when it's blocked it deals a single point of damage to the blocker, a nice 1 drop in this set at least.

#157) Stonewright - One could say Firebreathing and old school players would get it immediately, yes this particular soul bound ability is all about Firebreathing on a 1 drop 1/1, but it works for both the creature it's paired with and itself, not a bad way to give us a good new ability with some awesome old ones added in.

#158) Thatcher Revolt - Well for 3 mana you get what you pay for 3 1/1 human tokens on the field, i'll be damned a red token generator that makes humans, only downside is you gotta sacrifice em at the next end step.

#159) Thunderbolt - And yet here is another reprint for this block, 1 and a red for a 4 damage spell to target creature with flying or 3 damage to target player, limited material much.

#160) Thunderous Wrath - 4, red and a red for a instant that is uncommon, it deals 5 damage to target creature or player, has the ability of Miracle which states "You may cast this card for it's miracle cost when you draw it if it is the first card drawn this turn" so opening draw of a turn this can be abused, otherwise this is a 6 mana instant, way to balance the cards here wizards.

#161) Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded - 2 red mana, for a mythic planeswalker, wait, 2 mana walkers exist now, wow much here, it starts with a mere 2 loyalty, has 3 abilites +1) Draw a card, then discard a card at random -4) Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded deals damage equal to the number of cards in target player's hand to that player -6) Gain control of all creatures until end of turn, untap them, they gain haste until end of turn. All i've got to say is really, you waste a 2 mana walker who's supposed to be balanced on this guy, while Koth of the Hammer is still making mono red better, for the short time he's still around anyways, i expect this guy to be lack luster.

#162) Tyrant of Discord - 7 drop 7/7 that when it enters the battlefield target opponent chooses a permanent he/she controls at random and sacrifices it, if a nonland permanent is chosen, repeat the process until a land is chosen, holy crap EDH bomb much here.

#163) Uncanny Speed - Mach speed go, +3/+0 and haste when this is cast on one creature, for 2 mana, a very nice combat trick honestly.

#164) Vexing Devil - Whoever came up with this needs to be shot, a 4/3 for 1 stinking red mana, oh look goblin guide is going next rotation so let's print something better for red decks, how about a 4/3 that opponents either gotta lose life to as it enters the battlefield or deal with a 4/3 for 1 red mana, can you say broken rare much.

#165) Vigilante Justice - 4 drop that is a enchantment and when a human enters the battlefield, target player or creature is dealt 1 point of damage, very nice enchantment here.

#166) Zealous Conscripts - Another intro pack rare, 5 mana for a 3/3 with haste and it also has, when this enters the battlefield, untap target permanent, you gain control of it till end of turn, it gains haste until end of turn, did i mention this is a 3/3, with a Traitorous Blood on it.

Well that's it for red, for this set at least, stay tuned for green later on.

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