The card seems good in a RG Monsters style deck, where you have loads of big creatures so the first half is almost always a remocal spell. Being able to target a PW is part of the unprecedented amount of flexibility we're seeing in this set and to some degree GRN as well, and it's probably a nod to BO1 on Arena. The latter half is a do-nothing beater at decent rate, which is very nice to have in case your opponent doesn't have any targets or you don't have any creatures to use for the first half. Good card. I was hoping for something more low to the ground, but this demands some beef to be good.
Guess that's nigh-confirmation we won't be seeing Ruric Thar on a card this set.
And where's the uncommon Gruul split card...?
Since I'm already crunching the red/green gold cards, let me share the approximate list of cards still left to be spoiled:
Split uncommon
CCDD uncommon
Hybrid common
Guildmage uncommon
Unknown rare
Unknown common
Unknown uncommon
Unknown uncommon
Since Gruul already has two legends and two mythics, Ruric must both be a rare and break symmetry of two legends per gold color combination. Either that, or he has gone mono-colored and he's the red or green mythic. All of these options seem unlikely, but who knows.
I appreciate Azorius goes a more aggressive route this time around. WU color pie is more than just passive control.
Are you talking about other cards than this, like Dovin? Because this is a super controlling card. Removing an attacking or blocking creature is terrible in aggro. The back half is backup in case Teferi gets answered, and will often not be played until turn 9-10 with counter backup.
I remember the worst part being that you could get mana screwed by the lost draw step. If you need to draw a land, you can't attack into open mana. And two of these in a row feels like GG.
Between this and Tef, prepare to draw the same cards over and over again. That'll be fun. At least this time we have Gruul Spellbreaker to provide a glimmer of hope.
Hey guys, remember UW Control from the last Ravnica standard? The one with Supreme Verdict and Sphinx's Rev? Let me let you in on a little secret about that deck: Azorius Charm was secretly a key component to its success. It's back. Another key component? Mana Leak. Also back.
Believe you me, this card will define Standard. I still have nightmares about trying to play aggro in that environment.
I haven't even read the back half yet.
Edit: Oh great, it has a wincon attached for no extra cost. Yeah, this card might look unassuming, but it's one of the best cards for Standard spoiled so far.
Like it or not, this is a future staple. Ixalan onwards eternal is likely to be a thing, and I doubt that they ever want to print a better catch-all two mana counterspell than this. They even gave it a short and sweet plane-independent name. Keep the foils you pull.
I came in here hoping for a Burning-Tree Emissary like card, a busted RG two drop. I'm almost relieved that I didn't get it, that card was way broken in standard.
You're right, I haven't. But I have played my share of aggro decks, and I usually don't want to spend a card and an early turn to make future creatures slightly better instead of applying immediate pressure by adding threats or removing blockers. Not to mention how bad it is to top deck. How is this card a legit thing? What am I not getting here? Are you talking about some slow RG monsters deck or EDH or something?
A green/red Watchwolf with additional flexibility? Yeah, this is great. Super premium two drop in limited, could see Standard play if RG aggro (low curve and burn, not RG monsters) is a deck.
I got so excited for this until I saw the rarity. Even without the self-tutor, I loved the design for limited as a bear that scales into the mid and late game.
Nonbo with Nykya, but what isn't?`
Since I'm already crunching the red/green gold cards, let me share the approximate list of cards still left to be spoiled:
Since Gruul already has two legends and two mythics, Ruric must both be a rare and break symmetry of two legends per gold color combination. Either that, or he has gone mono-colored and he's the red or green mythic. All of these options seem unlikely, but who knows.
I remember the worst part being that you could get mana screwed by the lost draw step. If you need to draw a land, you can't attack into open mana. And two of these in a row feels like GG.
Between this and Tef, prepare to draw the same cards over and over again. That'll be fun. At least this time we have Gruul Spellbreaker to provide a glimmer of hope.
Believe you me, this card will define Standard. I still have nightmares about trying to play aggro in that environment.
I haven't even read the back half yet.
Edit: Oh great, it has a wincon attached for no extra cost. Yeah, this card might look unassuming, but it's one of the best cards for Standard spoiled so far.
You're right, I haven't. But I have played my share of aggro decks, and I usually don't want to spend a card and an early turn to make future creatures slightly better instead of applying immediate pressure by adding threats or removing blockers. Not to mention how bad it is to top deck. How is this card a legit thing? What am I not getting here? Are you talking about some slow RG monsters deck or EDH or something?
I'm brewing RG aggro, and this does NOT go in.
Oh well, casual favourite I guess.