Pointed Discussion

Another 'grizzly bears'. they keep printing these 2/2 with x ability creatures every time theres a new ability in a set. im starting to wonder if they acually use that card as a baseline, or if they are merely trying to get us players to use it as such. if we do, and grizzly is a baseline ( which i would rate a 2.5) then i have to rate this card at least a 3, but in its own block its still a 2.5.

In my opinion, it's one of the best two-drops out there. It's a great chump blocker because it comes back - even chumpier!

This card is actually really good, it's just a grizzly bear sure, but it can be played with two different types of mana, and comes back as a 1/1 even when it dies, assuming you don't have ways of moving negative counters. Being able to block with it twice is good even in late game, providing a great chump blocker. Shield of the oversoul turns it into a 4/4 flying indestructible persist creature. One of the better two drops available, along with the blade cycle from shards of alara.

Okay, question. If I've got a Sigil Captain in play, and this dies, when it comes back into play, does it get the Captain's counters? Do the Captain's counters cancel out the persist counters?

And, if it dies again, does it come back?

@cplmontana: Actually, yes, this will work with Sigil Captain.

"Sigil Captain's ability checks a creature's initial power and toughness upon being put on the battlefield, so it will take into account counters that it enters the battlefield with and static abilities that may give it a continuous power boost once it's on the battlefield (such as the one on Glorious Anthem)."

So when you persist this guy with a sigil captain in play, he comes back stronger than before. Neat.

Important Detail: It is the only nonblue and nonred 2-drop with persist...

With Heartmender it'll last forever unless it's killed twice in one turn.
Then again, that goes for all your persist creatures.

I haven't researched much into Elf tribal,
But I know for a fact that there has to be some "Whenever an Elf comes into play" ability somewhere.
Well, I think I found the two-drop for that Elf deck.
This is a solid card, no drawbacks.

Infernox10: It's a surprisingly short list. Just Elvish Vanguard and Wirewood Hivemaster.

Donovan_Fabian: The irony of an indestructible creature with Persist greatly amuses me. Thanks.

for 2 mana you can have a 2/2 and a 1/1 creatures.
useful blocker

Just being of a relevant tribe like elves makes it better than Grizzly Bears. The mana flexibility and recursion is even better.

Play with a Power Conduit to deal with the counters.

Its a pretty nice blocker for limited
4/5 Stars

A Bear is efficient, and almost always appreciated. Cheap, splash-able and with good combat abilities. The have a 1:1 curve (a one-drop of a specific colour has 2 points in either power or toughness and a keyword, or a fairly weak ability, with each after than increasing that amount by a third; 1 more power/ toughness point or another ability, and a two-drop could be 0/1 with three abilities. Another coloured mana cost equals roughly twice the value of , a different colour (that is allied) is roughly three times the value, a different colour (that is an enemy colour) is roughly four time the value, but an ability that has a drawback usually takes away from the cost, and a hybrid colour in the costing is usually pretty awkward; it is roughly 1.5x a , where a colour mana is 2x a , so they generally round it up or down. Less commonly, a good subtype can justify something costing more, and that is valued at roughly 0.5x a , which stakes with a hybrid colour).
And, going by that, this is brilliant. 1) It has a hybrid mana cost, 2) it has an ability, and 3) it is an Elf, so roughly two points above the curve.
If I were to rate card by the theory of 3 being standard, with 1 point equaling 0.5 a star, with art, flavour text and flavour each equaling 0.5 a star (but with a maximum of 1.5 stars extra), and usability in combos or very good synergy each equaling between 0.5 - 1.5 stars, and rarity beyond common equaling -0.5), I would rate this 5 stars.

I usually wouldn't rate a two-drop common utility bear 5 stars, so that is why I explained by reasoning.

This elf costs and is a 2/2 that goes to 1/1 after death via Persist. If you want the opposite, try Young Wolf.
The wolf costs and is a 1/1 that goes to 2/2 after death via Undying.