Pointed Discussion

I've seen some questions about this card, and people seem to think that It can kill a x/2 creature without first strike or double strike in one hit. I think their wrong, and here's why.
First Strike - "702.7b If at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike or double strike
as the combat damage step begins, the only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are
those with first strike or double strike. After that step, instead of proceeding to the end of
combat step, the phase gets a second combat damage step. The only creatures that assign combat
damage in that step are the remaining attackers and blockers that had neither first strike nor
double strike as the first combat damage step began,..."
Wither - 702.77a Wither is a static ability. Damage dealt to a creature by a source with wither isn’t marked on that creature. Rather, it causes that many -1/-1 counters to be put on that creature.

So the confusion from what I've seen is that people think if Rustrazor Butcher blocks a x/2 It does first strike damage with wither, making it a x-1/1, Which is true. However they also think that now that the creature has 1 toughness rustrazor kills it automatically due to hs first strike. Not true. Not true because that first combat phase is over, as soon as that x/2 is a x-1/1 rustrazor is done with his damage, and proceeds to take his own.

Claws of Valakut on any wither is good, here, not so much cuz it's already got first striek, but not bad!

as soon as damage is assigned from a wither creature, it gets the counter, so a first striker would apply it during the first damage assignment step. the other creature would begin the second damage step with the wither counter. Not only can this guy kill x/2's, he'll take -1 damage. A very resilient and cunning little goblin, 2 very worthy abilities and 2 toughness for 1R is worth 4 stars in my book

I don't think kronos is listening, Ephinophobia. I'm sorry.

Not sure what the confusion is all about, but it's pretty clear that a creature without first strike blocked by Rustrazor Butcher gets a -1/-1 counter before dealing its own damage, using its newly reduced power while doing so. Wither damage is dealt exclusively as -1/-1 counters, not -1/-1 counters + regular damage.

This guy is great. I would have accepted him as an uncommon, or as a three-drop, but this is just fantastic.
He tears up your opponents before they get to hit him.

Now, while first strike and wither seem like they would go well on a creature with higher power, the higher toughness really helps this guy out when you need him most: Early game.

He can easily block or be blocked by anything with a power of 2, and he wears down those tough guys quickly. He even softens the blow from tramplers a bit.

You should be glad if he's on the field by turn 2, because he tends to be able to take care of most everything on the field by that point.

This creature would be great with any power-raising equipment. Loxodon Warhammer maybe?

Wither + First strike = Essentially, add his power to his toughness once per combat. Nice.