[mtgnexus] Random Card of the Day - Rishkar, Peema Renegade

[Mookie]

Arcades, the Strategist is a fine commander, but not one I'm particularly interested in - it sort of feels like the deck builds itself. Just throw in a bunch of walls / defenders and some ways to protect Arcades (since your deck falls apart without him). That said, I can definitely understand the appeal. Turning Wall of Denial into one of the best beaters in the game is definitely tempting.

[DirkGently]

As I've said before, arcades is emblematic of a lot of bad design imo. doran, the siege tower wall tribal was a great meme, because wall tribal is inherently stupid. It should take a lot of work to make it function so that it feels like an achievement. Arcades feels like wotc saying "hey, we saw the great joke, so now we made it so it's just a regular viable strategy and no longer funny or interesting!"

[Serenade]

As I've said before, arcades is emblematic of a lot of bad design imo. doran, the siege tower wall tribal was a great meme, because wall tribal is inherently stupid. It should take a lot of work to make it function so that it feels like an achievement. Arcades feels like wotc saying "hey, we saw the great joke, so now we made it so it's just a regular viable strategy and no longer funny or interesting!"

Sounds like your next deck!

[hyalopterouslemur]

I remember people saying changelings made Mistform Ultimus less special.

That said, something like Arcades should be few and far between. Like, Doran, the Siege Tower exists, then Assault Formation, but then you get Arcades, the Strategist just after that. Belligerent Brontodon, High Alert, Huatli, the Sun's Heart, Ancient Lumberknot, Treefolk Umbra...

Cards that muck with the rules like this should be more like "one every few years", not "one every few sets".

[Serenade]

Glad we only have one Zilortha, Strength Incarnate…for now.

[hyalopterouslemur]

The issue isn't even that so many variants exist; it's so many being printed in quick succession. Huatli was in the very next set after High Alert. Treefolk Umbra was one set later. It's like using Savage Punch on Ghoulsteed.

[3drinks]

Monday, March 21st, 2022; Krark-Clan Stoker

A pretty reasonable under the radar sac outlet.

[vandertroll]

This is not too shabby with some untap shenanigans!

[Mookie]

Well, Krark-Clan Stoker certainly looks less threatening than Krark-Clan Ironworks and Goblin Welder. I don't think that alone is enough for me to want to run it though. It's not a reliable mana dork because sacrificing an artifact is a pretty high cost, and needing to tap shuts off most combo potential. If you're looking to sacrifice artifacts for value, it compares poorly to Welder and similar effects (Daretti, Scrap Savant, Goblin Engineer, etc). I could maybe see playing it as redundancy in Daretti or Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith that intends to have a ton of artifacts to sacrifice. Hmmm...

[hyalopterouslemur]

The good: It's red (not colorless) mana, and because it taps, Mana Reflection and Nyxbloom Ancient apply. Plus, it's a mana cheaper.

The bad: Creatures are more vulnerable, and it taps, meaning any combo shenanigans with Krark-Clan Ironworks now require extra steps, and can't be done on the turn it comes out without help. Also, it now requires red.

Compared to Krark-Clan Ironworks (and for that matter, Ashnod's Altar) this is fixed, meaning the main reason you play it, to do broken things, is now impossible.

[folding_music]

beautiful. I love fixed versions of effects which are basically too good, that we tolerate cos they end the game instead of dominating it throughout. tap effects for sacrificing are gorgeous and MTG to me.

[3drinks]

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022; Swift Warkite

I always smile when I see this guy. Good times with Cauldron Dance, and now it comes with a evasive 4/4 body. Always gets lost in the shuffle these days but always puts in work.

[Dunharrow]

It's not that good. Maybe it it triggered more than once - like on attacks or beginning of combat

[pokken]

Pretty great text for an uncommon tho

[TheAmericanSpirit]

A secret gem for Ball Lightning tribal?

[brainface]

Might have a home in Kaalia, Zenith Seeker. More cute than good, but pretty cute.

Why you gonna call something swift warkite and not give it haste though, I don't know. It's clearly a recursive hellkite.

[3drinks]

Might have a home in Kaalia, Zenith Seeker. More cute than good, but pretty cute.

Can confirm this is where I play it. It does well. Little extra oomph for the early on the curve Herald of Torments and Serra Avengers but most at home bringing back Kaalia for obvious reasons. It's worth two of her triggers on it's own.

[brainface]

Yeaaah I just placed an order for one. It'd be better if I had more sac outlets in the deck beyond "attack with 3/3 vigilant until they're tired of it" but that still just looks like a great payoff. Thanks, random card of the day thread!

[hyalopterouslemur]

It's acceptable. I kinda wish it was from attacking or doing combat damage to an opponent, but it's acceptable as is.

It's not going to be Sun Titan because Sun Titan is the apex of what this ability should be.

[Hawk]

I agree that it's wrong to compare this to Sun Titan - totally different colors! I think its best to compare it to other reanimation effects on a stick.

- It looks okay compared to Bladewing the Risen. Bladewing is likely better in dragon tribal, while this is better in a dashing aggro deck.
- It's a bit slow compared to Phyrexian Delver but at the advantage of a much better body.
- It's mostly obsoleted now by Orcus, Prince of Undeath but not strictly so.

It's tricky to say what deck is the best home for this is the real problem. Dragon-centric decks have Bladewing, while "weenie matters" decks are likely running stuff like Alesha, Who Smiles at Death or Sun Titan.

[Serenade]

Man, I forgot this card say GY. I thought it only was hand! Probably neat with Fleshbag tribal.

[3drinks]

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022; Champion of Dusk

[Serenade]

My buddy plays midrange Edgar, and this guy helps A LOT.

Overall it reminds me of yesterday: a good ETB ability on a thicker creature can be nice! Wonder when we will get the changeling/Pact of the Serpent version of this guy.

[TheAmericanSpirit]

Tribal card that provides generic tribal payoff is tribal. More at 11!

[hyalopterouslemur]

Reminds me of Graveborn Muse, but not as dangerous, barring Timothar, Baron of Bats or Mikaeus, the Unhallowed or something like that. You do have to worry about opponents blinking him though.

(As an aside, it is weird to see a black card, and a legend at that, named something like "honoring courage".)