Yeah - why not - Runeclaw Bear - just - yeah - why not? (sigh)
Oleander
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Yeah, this is just getting stupid now. In several articles previewing 2010, there was a bit at the bottom that was slowly ticking off which cards, that have been in the game since the beginning, were getting the axe and which ones were staying. If I recall correctly, Grizzly Bears was struck off that list. Lo and behold, this thing looks a lot like Grizzly Bears to me, but it's not Grizzly Bears, now is it? See, it's not called Grizzly Bears, therefore it's not the exact same card. This makes the 5 renamed reprint.
DoctorKenneth
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(6 votes)
ZEvilMustache: From a fantasy perspective, two Grizzly Bears are not really a match for any of the humans that would be summoned by Planeswalkers. In a world where Giant Spiders are lurking in every forest to eat your face, every soldier, theif, and warrior better know how to fight. A pair of bears would be the least of their concerns when they could very well be dragon food. Bears and other wildlife, no matter their size or number, are traditionally what heroes in training hone their skills on before going off to fight more serious things. When Planeswalkers summon humans that do not use mounts or magic, they're usually just such soldiers and capeable warriors. Giants are 3/3 minimum. Trolls, magical beasts, and even angels move into the 3/3-4/3 range. Two bears do not.
Their plurality was never a flavour issue. One would not assume they could kill a singular bear any more than any other creature with multiples within their art. And if it was a matter of synching up the power and the art, there are worse offenders than the bears.
But I should thank them. This vast flavour improvement has enriched the game immensely for me. And thank you, Core Set Survivor, for getting my hopes up about Grizzly Bears finally getting axed. Thanks. Really.
True_Mumin
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Great! A COMPLETELY new card! So much better than those useless Grizzly Bears (which never fit the fantasy theme anyway. You know, since MtG is SO fantasy right now).
MasterOfEtherium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Love The Art Hes Tearing A Human Up And That Arm Looks Like Cables LOL
ZEvilMustache
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(9 votes)
The crux of this reprint is it's singularity. This is one bear. And one bear should be enough to maul lonely humans (who have increased in size since alpha from always being 1/1, to being upward to 2/2 without mounts or magic). Grizzly Bears, being plural, simply don't work. They should be 3/3 or 4/3... And what happens if I manage to kill one of the Grizzly Bears? Will it become a 1/1?
They've wanted to make this change for years. I'm surprised it took them so long.
Ok, so Grizzly Bears is more realistic, while Runeclaw Bear is more fantasy. Who cares? No ones ever going to play either anyway.
Jagyr_Ebonwood_02
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(7 votes)
"The crux of this reprint is it's singularity. This is one bear. And one bear should be enough to maul lonely humans (who have increased in size since alpha from always being 1/1, to being upward to 2/2 without mounts or magic). Grizzly Bears, being plural, simply don't work."
Yes, which is why they finally did a renamed reprint of Llanowar Elves - oh, wait. :p
Queen_of_the_Fae
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
@DoctorKenneth: How exquisite you are! I think I might just be in love with you(r level of reason)! One cannot comment better than this man(?)!
Why is a grizzly bear a 2/2... but you pump it with magical steroids... and it becomes a 2/2? Why mess with something that isn't broken? *coughcombatcough*
And what is up with the censors censoring the first 3 letters of assume? Wizards needs some better robots...
Brokendrake
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(6 votes)
I liked the grizzlies better.. :( They should have reprinted Ashcoat Bear if they really wanted a new bear to replace grizzlies.. (except maybe a bear with flash isn't very flavorful..)
Mode
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Well i can understand the fantasy matter, yet Grizzly Bears have become a somewhat iconic creature in Magic since 2/2 creatures with a cmc of 2 were at times refered to as "grizzly", followed by this card's simple structure and being the first 2/2 two-drop. On the other hand, some players call such creatures "bear" as well, so at the end it's maybe not such a thread to worry about.
MinorPandemic
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Fantasy or no fantasy, it doesn't get much better than telling someone the you are going to attack them with your GRIZZLY BEARS!!!!!!
Forgeling
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Runeclaws give a bonus of +1/+0, a silver coat gives a bonus of +0/+1.
Cybertronian
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(7 votes)
Being from Memphis, I'm quite partial to my Grizzlies. Can I get the Vancouver people to back me up? I want my Grizzly Bears!!!
OutlawD1
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(5 votes)
The art is hammy and over the top. but I agree the older art looked like they belonged in a zoo Ashcoat bear is really the perfect blend of fantasy and real world for a card like this
There needs to be creatures that remind us of real world creatures. They gives us some bearing on how powerful other creatures are, and help us get into the Magic's fantasy setting (or any fantasy setting)
animefanboy2005
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
well i guess it will due, but im going to miss the good old days of the grizzly bears.
Locohead
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Thank you Wizards for all of these "new" M10 cards.
ratchet1215
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I agree with the censoring comment. It's very cumbersome to have to work around the asterisks in your comment, and it's insulting that the site assumes you're swearing and ***s its gun at you.
Wait...darn it!
darkfury
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Silvercoat Lion is a de***ion, its a prized white lion worth far more on the black market then a regular yellow one, thus our new yard stick to replace the Grizzly Bears of old, no magic involved. on the other hand, the etched runes on this bear has caused it to gain strenght and size, meaning this isnt actually a full grown bear. its a 1/2 without the runes
Zulp
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Look what they've done to our Grizzlies. The barstuds.
Vinifera7
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
The one grizzly ate the other and the extra fat went straight to his paws.
True_Smog
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Grizzly Bears for ever !
KrosanGardener
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
There is just a visceral familiarity of grizzly bears that feels good. Runeclaw bear? Why are it's claws runed? That should be relevant in some way. Vanilla creatures should make us smile by being purely, joyfully easy to recognize. Runeclaw bear doesn't cut it in that category.
I love how this has 1/3 the rating of Grizzly Bears even though they have the same stats. You don't mess with nostalgia. This card actually epitomizes everything that's wrong with M10 and Wizards' new "appeal to new players at all costs" approach. Not to mention the art is atrocious and looks like something out of World of Warcraft. Also, PEVE_0 wins the Internet.
ThaBishop
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
Woop now my bearenstine bear deck shall destroy all under a tide of hair and claws
StreamHopper
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
"Vee are much better zan zee little puny baybee grizzly bears you are yoozed to. Vee vill crush, und break, und smash viss our rune claws."
PEVE_O
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(22 votes)
The first time my friend showed me Magic he had a Grizzly Bears, and then I thought " What is wrong with you WotC? Why so unoriginal?" I stopped playing Magic. When M10 was released my friend showed me Runeclaw Bear and I was bursting with excitement. "Bears become stronger because of magic," I thought "that is the coolest idea I have ever heard!" I went to the bank and cashed my check from Walmart. I spent the whole thing on M10 boxes. Sure my kids couldn't eat for two weeks, but I had Runeclaw Bear .
Mechanically Runeclaw Bear is Awesome! I have gotten one out as early as turn 2! It combos with Giant Growth to make a even bigger magic angry bear. I recently bought a bunch of Muraganda Petroglyphs because that is another way to make Runeclaw Bear amazingly strong.
I have seen other competitive decks use cards like Baneslayer Angel I think these players are just inexperienced. I mean look at how much mana Baneslayer Angel takes to get onto the battlefield. It doesn't even have protection from bears. All my decks have X4 Runeclaw Bears because it is simply the best card in the game 5/5 !
GainsBanding
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
Worst flavor / nostalgia / tribute to the game's history change in M10. Grizzly Bears being just normal, non-magical bears makes the bigger creatures even more special. What? Everything's gotta have runes or glowing eyes or something? Sometimes it's just some bears turning sideways.
NeoKoda
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Ugh, those LEGS.
AvatarofBro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You guys are trollin'. The RCB's is hands down the best card in my deck.
Comments (38)
ಠ_ಠ
Their plurality was never a flavour issue. One would not assume they could kill a singular bear any more than any other creature with multiples within their art. And if it was a matter of synching up the power and the art, there are worse offenders than the bears.
But I should thank them. This vast flavour improvement has enriched the game immensely for me. And thank you, Core Set Survivor, for getting my hopes up about Grizzly Bears finally getting axed. Thanks. Really.
They've wanted to make this change for years. I'm surprised it took them so long.
7/15/09 Edit: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/47
Yes, which is why they finally did a renamed reprint of Llanowar Elves - oh, wait. :p
One cannot comment better than this man(?)!
Why is a grizzly bear a 2/2... but you pump it with magical steroids... and it becomes a 2/2?
Why mess with something that isn't broken? *coughcombatcough*
And what is up with the censors censoring the first 3 letters of assume? Wizards needs some better robots...
Ashcoat bear is really the perfect blend of fantasy and real world for a card like this
There needs to be creatures that remind us of real world creatures. They gives us some bearing on how powerful other creatures are, and help us get into the Magic's fantasy setting (or any fantasy setting)
Wait...darn it!
Not a huge fan of the artwork... between this and the new art on Tundra Wolves, I'm wondering if any of these guys have seen wild animals.
Seriously what was the point of cutting Grizzly Bears if your just going to put the same card with a different name in?
Also, PEVE_0 wins the Internet.
"Bears become stronger because of magic," I thought "that is the coolest idea I have ever heard!"
I went to the bank and cashed my check from Walmart. I spent the whole thing on M10 boxes. Sure my kids couldn't eat for two weeks, but I had Runeclaw Bear .
Mechanically Runeclaw Bear is Awesome! I have gotten one out as early as turn 2! It combos with Giant Growth to make a even bigger magic angry bear. I recently bought a bunch of Muraganda Petroglyphs because that is another way to make Runeclaw Bear amazingly strong.
I have seen other competitive decks use cards like Baneslayer Angel I think these players are just inexperienced. I mean look at how much mana Baneslayer Angel takes to get onto the battlefield. It doesn't even have protection from bears.
All my decks have X4 Runeclaw Bears because it is simply the best card in the game 5/5 !