I personally think he's very solid and would rate him as the 3rd Izzet card before testing, behind Izzet Charm and Fire//Ice. I think he has a pretty interesting mix of abilities that hit all the right notes for me: Its first ability is very flexible, providing interesting ramping capabilities (among other things) while simultaneously protecting itself allowing a profitable attack phase; its second ability protects itself while providing the player a way to close out a game when needed and can be used consecutive turns right out of the gate; and finally an interesting ultimate that has a good possibility of ending the game. And all this at the golden cost of 4 cmc. Needless to say, I'm very excited to test this card!
Ral Zarek was just spoiled, and he seems like a perfect fit for my Cube. I currently run 4 gold cards for each guild, and while Fire//Ice, Electrolyze, and Prophetic Bolt are all solid cards, I always felt that the fourth slot was a bit loose, since I was running Izzet Charm or Mercurial Chemister. I think Ral's abilities are very fun, can definitely create amazing lines of play, and his ultimate is probably the craziest one I've seen on a Planeswalker!
You can do some cool things with grim monolith and mana vault with this, as well as giving one of your guys psedo vigilance, or if you use precombat you can clear the way for your team. His -2 is great and the fact that he can double searing spear out the gate makes me really like him. The ultimate is hilarious.
Definitely some interesting design on Ral Zarek. He's similar to Jace AoT in that you can just use his minus ability twice & do six damage over two turns. That seems pretty solid. The plus ability can give a guy pseudo-vigilance or tap a blocker to keep the path clear for your attackers. He seems like he'll fit better in more tempo-based decks than straight-up control. My 4th Izzet card is Prophetic Bolt so this could ultimately replace it. Can't wait to test Ral this weekend.
Ral is sweet. I wanted an archetype specific walker (ie instants and sorceries) but he's more than solid and at perfect 4cmc. Glad Izzet gets a permanent because it's sad when all the guild's cards go straight into the grave after casting.
Ral seems really sweet, removal on planeswalkers is always better than it seems because it protects them. Definitely seems better than Venser and Ajani 3, which still see quite a bit of cube play.
Ral Zarek seems eminently cubeable to me. The -2 is arguably better than Ajani Vengeant since he starts at 4 loyalty. And we all know exactly how good untapping permanents can be, especially when you've got Mana Vault, Grim Monolith, and Thran Dynamo to play with.
He's a real bomb for cube. First two abilities are good in everything, and the ultimate is very attainable and powerful. Plus he starts at 4. The closest parallel we have is probably Ajani Vengeant. There are many similarities.
He's a real bomb for cube. First two abilities are good in everything, and the ultimate is very attainable and powerful. Plus he starts at 4. The closest parallel we have is probably Ajani Vengeant. There are many similarities.
Too bad Ral's +1 ability doesn't necessarily protect him, wheras Ajani's does.
That said, I think Ral will prove to be a strong planeswalker, and provide some much needed variety to the U/R section.
I am very impressed with this new PW. His abilities are costed correctly and not over powered. I love that he has the ability to Volcanic Hammer twice out the gate. I also love the flavor of the ultimate since it fits perfectly with the Izzet mantra of tinkering with experiments and getting unknown results. All in all, I can't wait to cube with this bad boy!
Wish the art were better though. I like that it's steam punkish and it reminds me of (for those of you that have played or know of Warmachines) the Cygnar Warcasters.
His tapping ability is clearly less powerfull then Ajani's and Tamiyo's but the included untap opens up quite a number of possible tricks. Time Vault for those who run it for starters. Then you have stuff like Mana Vault, Grim Monolith, Kiki-Jiki, mana rocks, elves or just a random blocker as defence.
He looks good without being crazy over powered. A solid include. We only run Electrolyse (Izzet Charm did not work for us) so our Izzet section needed all the help it could get.
It isn't like my Izzet section is jam-packed with heat. I will definitely find room for him. Izzet Charm and Fire/Ice are obviously staying, but it's probably time Electrolyze hit the road. I'm still running Izzet Signet, but at 4 CMC for Ral, I think I'll leave it in and see how it plays out.
I mean, hell, we're all on a forum for something that most people would describe as a "children's card game"...do what makes you happy. You are never too old to enjoy yourself.
Ajani vengeant is the better card, but this guy looks good enough for 360 to me. He doesn't disrupt their mana or prevent attacks/tap activations, which is why vengeant is so savage. But Ral takes the prize for versatility. Mana ramp and vigilance in red/blue are two very cool uses of the guy, on top of the more in-color tapping blockers and burning things.
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 think his first ability is going to be a pleasant surprise, there are so many potential synnergistic possibilities. Off the top of my head:
Mana rocks (FAST MANA)
Artifacts like Mimic Vat, Cristal Shard, Erratic Portal, Nev's disk the turn it comes down. I'm sure there are more.
Lands (Duh), but with him it's possible to tap a manland for mana and then attack with it as well
Creatures requiring a tap activation cost: Fireslinger, Waterfront Bouncer, Deathrite Shaman, ect.
Just the ability to have an extra land untapped will be sweet.
The tap down aspect of his +1 isn't "protection" but it will definitely help get annoying blockers out of the way for a turn or get rid of a Maze or Kor Haven pre combat.
Plus repeatable Searing Spears. This guy is going to mess with all sorts of board states. Can't wait to get him into my cube!
I think his first ability is going to be a pleasant surprise, there are so many potential synnergistic possibilities. Off the top of my head:
Mana rocks (FAST MANA)
Artifacts like Mimic Vat, Cristal Shard, Erratic Portal, Nev's disk the turn it comes down. I'm sure there are more.
Lands (Duh), but with him it's possible to tap a manland for mana and then attack with it as well
Creatures requiring a tap activation cost: Fireslinger, Waterfront Bouncer, Deathrite Shaman, ect.
Just the ability to have an extra land untapped will be sweet.
The tap down aspect of his +1 isn't "protection" but it will definitely help get annoying blockers out of the way for a turn or get rid of a Maze or Kor Haven pre combat.
Plus repeatable Searing Spears. This guy is going to mess with all sorts of board states. Can't wait to get him into my cube!
Yah I fixed the OP. When I first saw him I immediately thought Ajani and Tamiyo's ability without realizing the tapped down permanent would just untap on their turn. Still cool though, I love untapping effects and there arent many in cube that are playable.
Yeah, everyone can remove their Suffocating Blasts and Double Negatives now and not feel bad. I still dig Prophetic Bolt, though...
The tap/untap is neat, and it will be interesting how it will be used. Being able to double bolt is certainly fine, and getting more value than that out of the card will be pretty good. This card isn't as good as AV, though.
I'm a fan. I can't wait until someone misses all 5 flips and, well, flips.
I am running electrolyse, izzet charm, and prophetic bolt with the loothouse. Fire/Ice is in my hybrid section. I have always loved the bolt but 5 mana has been a little bit of a drag but I usually get there about the same time loothouse starts activating so the bolt is my number 3.
My group has been asking for an iconic izzet card to draw people into the guild and this might do it. Otherwise I might go dracogenius.
I personally think he's very solid and would rate him as the 3rd Izzet card before testing, behind Izzet Charm and Fire//Ice. I think he has a pretty interesting mix of abilities that hit all the right notes for me: Its first ability is very flexible, providing interesting ramping capabilities (among other things) while simultaneously
protecting itselfallowing a profitable attack phase; its second ability protects itself while providing the player a way to close out a game when needed and can be used consecutive turns right out of the gate; and finally an interesting ultimate that has a good possibility of ending the game. And all this at the golden cost of 4 cmc. Needless to say, I'm very excited to test this card!From the DGM and Cube thread:
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On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Too bad Ral's +1 ability doesn't necessarily protect him, wheras Ajani's does.
That said, I think Ral will prove to be a strong planeswalker, and provide some much needed variety to the U/R section.
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Wish the art were better though. I like that it's steam punkish and it reminds me of (for those of you that have played or know of Warmachines) the Cygnar Warcasters.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=385729
He looks good without being crazy over powered. A solid include. We only run Electrolyse (Izzet Charm did not work for us) so our Izzet section needed all the help it could get.
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hope to get this in foil!
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He looks great to me but I'm fairly new to cube and have a small list.
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I would definitely say so based on power level. We asked for the Ajani Vengeant of Izzet and Wizards delivered.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=484979
The way Ajani plays most for me is lightning helix, tap, tap, lightning helix.
Ral will probably play this way mostly: Lightning bolt, tap, lightning bolt.
Thus almost protecting itself as good as Ajani. I think Ral will prove itself to be in the top 5 best planeswalkers in cube.
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Mana rocks (FAST MANA)
Artifacts like Mimic Vat, Cristal Shard, Erratic Portal, Nev's disk the turn it comes down. I'm sure there are more.
Lands (Duh), but with him it's possible to tap a manland for mana and then attack with it as well
Creatures requiring a tap activation cost: Fireslinger, Waterfront Bouncer, Deathrite Shaman, ect.
Just the ability to have an extra land untapped will be sweet.
The tap down aspect of his +1 isn't "protection" but it will definitely help get annoying blockers out of the way for a turn or get rid of a Maze or Kor Haven pre combat.
Plus repeatable Searing Spears. This guy is going to mess with all sorts of board states. Can't wait to get him into my cube!
Yah I fixed the OP. When I first saw him I immediately thought Ajani and Tamiyo's ability without realizing the tapped down permanent would just untap on their turn. Still cool though, I love untapping effects and there arent many in cube that are playable.
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The tap/untap is neat, and it will be interesting how it will be used. Being able to double bolt is certainly fine, and getting more value than that out of the card will be pretty good. This card isn't as good as AV, though.
I'm a fan. I can't wait until someone misses all 5 flips and, well, flips.
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Now the hard part is figuring out what to cut, Izzet Charm, Fire / Ice or Electrolyze?
I'm leaning towards cutting Electrolyze, thoughts?
I'm still not convinced it will be #1, but I'm sure its good enough to crack any 360 list I would put together, making it #3 for sure, possibly #2.
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I am running electrolyse, izzet charm, and prophetic bolt with the loothouse. Fire/Ice is in my hybrid section. I have always loved the bolt but 5 mana has been a little bit of a drag but I usually get there about the same time loothouse starts activating so the bolt is my number 3.
My group has been asking for an iconic izzet card to draw people into the guild and this might do it. Otherwise I might go dracogenius.