Anything that can wreck Ball Lightning without needing to combat it is a friend of mine.
Worldwake sure did do a good job of neutering RDW. Ironic that one of the key RDW stallers is red itself.
It can also sneak a surprise kill on a Steppe Lynx or Plated Geopede and keep the pressure on Boros Bushwhacker players.
Besides, I've always loved the "pinger" creatures, and bringing Vulshok Sorcerer with better art and an easier mana cost at the cost of a point of power (pfft) is a welcome addition.
mutantman
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Generally, pingers are good in Limited. This one is no exception. Easily a top pick.
wolfv
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
i love the flavor of this card.
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Awesome card, the haste makes him devastating against a lot of landfall style creatures. After that, he is a Prodigal Pyromancer that blasts away.
Combine with Basilisk Collar and watch people get very concerned... bwahahaha.
4.5/5
jetzine
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
FINALLY. A Tim with Haste.
Grimn777
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
best red uncommon in worldwake for limited. too bad the rest of the red uncommon and common pool can't back it up. My prediction: Red = easily the worst color in wwk for limited.
VirtueVsVice
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(8 votes)
Idk, is this flavorful? Why "cunning" instead of, say, Passionate Sparkmage?
Cunning has to do with "cleverness" or "craftiness". Very {U} flavor.
the.tunnel.children
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great art, I love red spellcasters.
coyotemoon722
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the best cards in Standard right now. The sniper ability with basilisk collar is unbelievable. Protect him with green or blue and watch him dominate the board.
*Assuming you're not playing a white deck with Oblivion Ring in standard.
NeoSin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great for red burn, even if he is just chump blocking.
Norro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Replaces my vulshock sorcerers in my T1 damage deck XD
Cheza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(7 votes)
France men should have stayed blue France men. There seems to be bo reason, why a red mage should prefer a pinger over a cmc 1 power 2 creature or a Burn spell for instantaneous 3-4 damage to one target or 2-3 damage to each target. So this type of card should be black or blue... probably black is the best color.
Freysan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Probably the best red uncommon in type 2 now. Give him a basilisk collar, and he'll keep a board under control. Also, very nice low cost. He goes nicely as a defender for my red/blue burn deck.
spectermonger
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
I always wondered by prodigal sorcerer needed that 1 power...
PhyrexianLobbiest
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cheza, red likes it because it has a body. It's a burn spell that you can play every turn on top of the spells in your hand. A handful of Lightning Bolt is devastating; a hand full of Lightning Bolt and a field full of pingers dominates the board. Besides, you don't always want to waste your Lightning Bolt.
I don't know how many times my brother's Jace deck has chipped me to death with with one drop 1/1 fairies with flying; that can only block flying. I didn't want to waste the 3 damage from my Lightning Bolt on them (prefering to cast it against him directly). Outside of using Pyrotechnics to take all four of them out at once, nothing beats pinging the slippery bastards to death.
Also, there's a Cunning Lethomancer or something like that in black that makes people discard cards; so maybe it's a cycle of cunning Human Shamans.
KnockK
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Basilisk Collar!
raptorjesus69
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In my opinion, the best red 3 mana pinger. Better than Prodigal Pyromancer due to haste, less red intensive than Vulshok Sorcerer, puts most other pingers to shame.
Asinine-Ultimatum
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(12 votes)
He's not as amazing as people say he is. People seem to be rating this creature as if it already has Basilisk Collar attached.
armogohma
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Everybody seems to know about the combo with basalisk collar, but throw on a thornbite staff, and you have a repeatable one-sided wrath effect. Plus, if you cast the staff on the previous turn, it curves right in and equips itself.
NoobOfLore
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(24 votes)
Ok look at the man.
He's an awesome-bearded, bionic-eyed, steampunk lightning-wizard. What's he carrying all that crap for? Who knows? He does.
Of course, I kind of wonder why he doesn't have a power of at least one, with all those swords, daggers, and potions he's carrying.
Pretty much what I'm trying to say is that the artwork is awesome enough for a legendary, I think.
AmericanVigor
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Epic win for Ping.
chinkeeyong
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Deceptively powerful. Even without the Collar, he surgically removes 1 toughness creatures and puts your opponent on a nigh unblockable clock.
DacenOctavio
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
The best part is, if someone tries to mind control him, he can ping himself :)
Other than that, this guy with basilisk collar sure wins a lot of arguments. Except for indestructible arguments.
Long_Con
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
lol NoobOfLore - that's exactly what I said.
This guy has more weapons on him than ANY other Magic card, and he has zero Power. WTF? :)
TheSwarm
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
This kid screams izzet, its too bad he wasn't around for ravnica.
NeoKoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Almost strictly better than Prodigal Pyromancer.
Hanksingle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He looks like he should be doing...I don't know...something more impressive. Summoning a meteor or something with the word 'Maelstrom' involved.
How is this art not on someone more immediately threatening?
penguinmage25
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
wow he is very scary guy
sonorhC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Prodigals have always been good, and trading off that point of power that they never use for haste is a bargain.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@TheSwarm Who knows, he might be back in Return to Ravnica!! :)
TheWrathofShane
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I remember smashing the collar + pinger combo in constructed tourney with Naturalize. Yes I maindeck that thing... came in handy didnt it?
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd point out the rare case the point of power matters that this guy and Gelectrode can't do: Block a 2/2 and trade with it.
While it seems pretty edge case, I'd bet it comes up more than you think. Still, haste probably is better..
Nagoragama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turn two Nightshade Peddler. Turn three kill anything at instant speed with haste.
MizziumSculptor444
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is a classic example of a card you underestimate until you face it, then fear it every time after.
wicked_pick
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's great, but as a mono-red player.. Vulshok Sorcerer is better..
I also see him as Kamahl, Pit Fighter's grandpa.. that's why he's a 0/1... lol
Comments (36)
Worldwake sure did do a good job of neutering RDW. Ironic that one of the key RDW stallers is red itself.
It can also sneak a surprise kill on a Steppe Lynx or Plated Geopede and keep the pressure on Boros Bushwhacker players.
Besides, I've always loved the "pinger" creatures, and bringing Vulshok Sorcerer with better art and an easier mana cost at the cost of a point of power (pfft) is a welcome addition.
Combine with Basilisk Collar and watch people get very concerned... bwahahaha.
4.5/5
Cunning has to do with "cleverness" or "craftiness". Very {U} flavor.
*Assuming you're not playing a white deck with Oblivion Ring in standard.
Give him a basilisk collar, and he'll keep a board under control.
Also, very nice low cost. He goes nicely as a defender for my red/blue burn deck.
I don't know how many times my brother's Jace deck has chipped me to death with with one drop 1/1 fairies with flying; that can only block flying. I didn't want to waste the 3 damage from my Lightning Bolt on them (prefering to cast it against him directly). Outside of using Pyrotechnics to take all four of them out at once, nothing beats pinging the slippery bastards to death.
Also, there's a Cunning Lethomancer or something like that in black that makes people discard cards; so maybe it's a cycle of cunning Human Shamans.
He's an awesome-bearded, bionic-eyed, steampunk lightning-wizard.
What's he carrying all that crap for? Who knows?
He does.
Of course, I kind of wonder why he doesn't have a power of at least one, with all those swords, daggers, and potions he's carrying.
Pretty much what I'm trying to say is that the artwork is awesome enough for a legendary, I think.
Other than that, this guy with basilisk collar sure wins a lot of arguments. Except for indestructible arguments.
This guy has more weapons on him than ANY other Magic card, and he has zero Power. WTF? :)
How is this art not on someone more immediately threatening?
Block a 2/2 and trade with it.
While it seems pretty edge case, I'd bet it comes up more than you think. Still, haste probably is better..
Turn three kill anything at instant speed with haste.
Vulshok Sorcerer is better..
I also see him as Kamahl, Pit Fighter's grandpa.. that's why he's a 0/1... lol