Kind of overshadowed by Kari Zev, this red 2-drop looks decent. 2/1 piker with first strike is a good baseline and is able to make a 1/1 body the next turn. Not the flashiest creature on the block, but I think this can compete with some of the lower end red 2-drops people are currently playing since that section isn't exactly stacked. Thoughts?
Staples / Has Job Security
- Kari Zev, Skyship Raider (not added yet but slam dunking it as soon as I can)
- Hellspark Elemental
- Keldon Marauders
- Young Pyromancer
Middle of the Pack
- Stormblood Berserker
- War-Name Aspirant
- Lightning Mauler
- Plated Geopede
Could Live Without
- Abbot of Keral Keep
- Ash Zealot
- Ire Shaman
Definitely cutting Abbot or Shaman for Kari Zev, wouldn't mind swapping Ash Zealot for Aether Chaser. Sacrifice haste / flavor text for an easier mana cost and token generation.
Staples / Has Job Security
- Kari Zev, Skyship Raider (not added yet but slam dunking it as soon as I can)
- Hellspark Elemental
- Keldon Marauders
- Young Pyromancer
Middle of the Pack
- Stormblood Berserker
- War-Name Aspirant
- Lightning Mauler
- Plated Geopede
Could Live Without
- Abbot of Keral Keep
- Ash Zealot
- Ire Shaman
Definitely cutting Abbot or Shaman for Kari Zev, wouldn't mind swapping Ash Zealot for Aether Chaser. Sacrifice haste / flavor text for an easier mana cost and token generation.
Funny, I like every card lower on your list more than Hellspark and Marauders. Aether Charger brings a lot of value for a cheap guy and it supports red tokens and artifact themes. Pseudo-vigilance is interesting in the mirror. Might test alonside the new pirate legend.
While this has some small synergies I do think in general having 3 power will just be better. 2/3 bodies are getting common in the cube, and threatening planeswalkers is key against some decks.
I don't think this card is bad. The first strike allows it to reliably attack early, and you can still get 3 power (and 2 bodies in this case) for 1R. With additional advantages if it can get back into play somehow (blink/bounce/regrowths/recursion) and make more tokens. I might give this a shot too.
I think this guy is pretty sweet. There are nowhere near enough 2/3 bodies in my cube to make this not good. Seriously, what is up with this set and all the awesome cheap critters?! I'll definitely be testing this.
I'm surprised people seem happier about this guy than glint sleeve siphoner. Do you like first strike more than menace? I prefer menace, especially on my early creatures. Or is it just because red two's are generally weak?
Reds two drops are worse than blacks, emphasized by our continual bombardment of black 2 drop staples. Seriously relentless dead has already left most cubes.
I'm surprised people seem happier about this guy than glint sleeve siphoner. Do you like first strike more than menace? I prefer menace, especially on my early creatures. Or is it just because red two's are generally weak?
Red is weaker, getting the 1/1 will happen a million times more often than drawing a card, it fits more decks that get built in my cube, synergies with the red token, blink and boros humans decks, and equipment/instnat-speed burn is amazing with first strike.
Now I don't know if this is going to make it by any means, probably in the 540 range.
But for a bit of perspective I believe there are exactly 2 other 1R 2 power first strikers. And this one has a real upside. With the new pirate adn the fact that 2 drops really aren't that slim for small cubes this will probably be more of a pauper play.
I'm surprised people seem happier about this guy than glint sleeve siphoner. Do you like first strike more than menace? I prefer menace, especially on my early creatures. Or is it just because red two's are generally weak?
Yeah, the black 2-cmc slot is way more stacked than red 2-cmc.... Regardless, I'm excited that they support each other with energy!
This guy seems pretty solid and has a lot of great synergies... I especially liked Clancy's remark about the artifact shenanigans (e.g. Tinker, Welder) and of course it pairs well with Alesha/Reveillark/Recruiters. I'm just not sure if I have room at 360, especially with Kari Zev already demanding a cut from that section.
My first impression is that I actually like Aether Chaser more than Young Pyromancer (which I don't regard as a staple at all). Pyromancer is a 2/1 that conditionally gives you a 1/1 on your next turn. Chaser is a 2/1 with first strike that conditionally gives you a 1/1 on your next turn. Yeah, yeah, Pyromancer has a far higher ceiling. Bla bla. Creates more tokens in the right deck. Bla bla. I don't care. I still think I like Chaser more.
My first impression is that I actually like Aether Chaser more than Young Pyromancer (which I don't regard as a staple at all). Pyromancer is a 2/1 that conditionally gives you a 1/1 on your next turn. Chaser is a 2/1 with first strike that conditionally gives you a 1/1 on your next turn. Yeah, yeah, Pyromancer has a far higher ceiling. Bla bla. Creates more tokens in the right deck. Bla bla. I don't care. I still think I like Chaser more.
I was thinking the same thing at first but i don't like that Chaser has to attack to make the token. The best part of pyromancer is the instant speed token generation. I think pyromancer also got slightly better with all the free spells with the 'expertise' cycle.
It shouldn't make the cut in small cubes. And it certainly can't even breathe the same air as Young Pyromancer. BUT, this is one of the better fringe "3=power for 1R" options out there, and I think medium-sized cubes could add this in as one of its lower-tier filler monsters for R/X aggro decks.
That said, I'd like to ask the people who mention Tinker synergies etc: what kind of deck do you see running both this card and Tinker/Welder plus something to cheat into play? My Tinker decks tend to be of the type where the deck could also potentially cast the cheat targets by playing the long game (similar to running Natural Order in creature-based ramp), but I really don't see that happening with this card. Do you just randomly splash blue in red aggro to run Tinker and maybe a Wurmcoil? The idea seems even more far fetched to me than actually running Alesha and Hornet Queen in the same deck.
I play lots of blue/red tinker decks that have the ability to combo early and also play the long game. They generally have a few mana rocks, Welder/Daretti, Tinker, a couple bombs, and Tezz 1.0 if I'm lucky. In that deck I don't think this card would be an all star, but an additional artifact early in the game is certainly welcome, especially when you can curve this right into Tinker.
I think it's cute that they work together, but this and Tinker/Welder don't go in the same deck.
I do like how I can sacrifice the Servo to Pia and Kiran Nalaar though. And how this is actually a solid 2-drop for Purphoros decks. Those interactions seem cool, and actually kinda likely, unlike Tinker/Welder, which I don't think will ever see play in the same shell as this guy.
I mean, if I was absolutely desperate for playables this might go into a Tinker deck ...but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm.
Itemized list of the notable synergies with Aether Chaser
- First Strike / token generation pairs very well with equipment
- Purphoros triggers
- Greater Gargadon / Flesh Carver fodder
- Recurring Nightmare fodder
- Pia and Kiran Nalaar fodder
- Braids / Smokestack fodder
- Opposition support
- Token can tap to Whirler Rogue
- Doubles up on anthems / +1/+1 counter distribution / battle cry triggers
- Can provide value with blink / bounce / recursion shenanigans
- Alesha / Recruiters / Reveilark synergies (you have to be pretty desperate to Recruit it though)
- Incidental energy support for Aether Hub / Glint-Sleeve Siphoner (assuming you're playing those)
- Is a human for those who support humans
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StaffKind of overshadowed by Kari Zev, this red 2-drop looks decent. 2/1 piker with first strike is a good baseline and is able to make a 1/1 body the next turn. Not the flashiest creature on the block, but I think this can compete with some of the lower end red 2-drops people are currently playing since that section isn't exactly stacked. Thoughts?
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StaffStaples / Has Job Security
- Kari Zev, Skyship Raider (not added yet but slam dunking it as soon as I can)
- Hellspark Elemental
- Keldon Marauders
- Young Pyromancer
Middle of the Pack
- Stormblood Berserker
- War-Name Aspirant
- Lightning Mauler
- Plated Geopede
Could Live Without
- Abbot of Keral Keep
- Ash Zealot
- Ire Shaman
Definitely cutting Abbot or Shaman for Kari Zev, wouldn't mind swapping Ash Zealot for Aether Chaser. Sacrifice haste / flavor text for an easier mana cost and token generation.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
Funny, I like every card lower on your list more than Hellspark and Marauders. Aether Charger brings a lot of value for a cheap guy and it supports red tokens and artifact themes. Pseudo-vigilance is interesting in the mirror. Might test alonside the new pirate legend.
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Red is weaker, getting the 1/1 will happen a million times more often than drawing a card, it fits more decks that get built in my cube, synergies with the red token, blink and boros humans decks, and equipment/instnat-speed burn is amazing with first strike.
Now I don't know if this is going to make it by any means, probably in the 540 range.
But for a bit of perspective I believe there are exactly 2 other 1R 2 power first strikers. And this one has a real upside. With the new pirate adn the fact that 2 drops really aren't that slim for small cubes this will probably be more of a pauper play.
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StaffYeah, the black 2-cmc slot is way more stacked than red 2-cmc.... Regardless, I'm excited that they support each other with energy!
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
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That said, I'd like to ask the people who mention Tinker synergies etc: what kind of deck do you see running both this card and Tinker/Welder plus something to cheat into play? My Tinker decks tend to be of the type where the deck could also potentially cast the cheat targets by playing the long game (similar to running Natural Order in creature-based ramp), but I really don't see that happening with this card. Do you just randomly splash blue in red aggro to run Tinker and maybe a Wurmcoil? The idea seems even more far fetched to me than actually running Alesha and Hornet Queen in the same deck.
I do like how I can sacrifice the Servo to Pia and Kiran Nalaar though. And how this is actually a solid 2-drop for Purphoros decks. Those interactions seem cool, and actually kinda likely, unlike Tinker/Welder, which I don't think will ever see play in the same shell as this guy.
I mean, if I was absolutely desperate for playables this might go into a Tinker deck ...but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
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Staff- First Strike / token generation pairs very well with equipment
- Purphoros triggers
- Greater Gargadon / Flesh Carver fodder
- Recurring Nightmare fodder
- Pia and Kiran Nalaar fodder
- Braids / Smokestack fodder
- Opposition support
- Token can tap to Whirler Rogue
- Doubles up on anthems / +1/+1 counter distribution / battle cry triggers
- Can provide value with blink / bounce / recursion shenanigans
- Alesha / Recruiters / Reveilark synergies (you have to be pretty desperate to Recruit it though)
- Incidental energy support for Aether Hub / Glint-Sleeve Siphoner (assuming you're playing those)
- Is a human for those who support humans
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