The ability feels very white to me. I don't know why. I just think toughness boost doesn't belong in an aggressive color like red.
mdakw576
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
The toughness boost is a flavor thing, even though as is it's crap.
roqbthepirate
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
4/10 on turn 6 in a all red deck is... interesting... but not particularly useful. RDWs doesn't need this guy.
ZEvilMustache
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Red and blue elementals in the base set have always felt underpowered and bland. I like how the new batch mixes things up while remaining interesting in the flavor sense. Fire Servant might actually see constructed play, but the rest will be ignored. And only a handful of drafters will be happy to play this guy. But, still, this is a huge step forward.
ToidiDiPuts
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I have to agree with all of you guys. This card does not feel red. If it was +1/+0 per mountain it would feel red, but being +0/+1 it just feels like it should have been a white weenie.
I would love to love earth elementals in this game if they were actually good.
VirtueVsVice
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
It would be much more playable if it only had a CMC of 4, or maybe if the cost stayed but it got +1/+0 instead (like everyone has already said).
Galgus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I would suggest running this with spells that swap power and toughness like Strange Inversion or Inside Out- it would make for a great surprise.
n00bmag1
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Doesn't feel red at all.
jonnyrue2u
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Feels cosey in a R/G Doran, the Siege Tower themed deck, or with Inside Out. It has it's uses. 4/5 for being unique in red.
rubber
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(5 votes)
What's that between his legs? XD
count_dorku
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
VirtueVsVice: 4 mana? That wouldn't be mere power creep, that'd be power sprint. Most colours don't even get 4/4 for 4 mana, let alone 4/8 (in a mountain-heavy deck).
In fact, I can't offhand think of a 4/4 for 4 or better creature that didn't come with some kind of horrible cost, although I suspect white and green may have a couple hidden somewhere.
It wouldn't just be better than Earth Elemental, it'd be absurdly better. (Not that that's overly difficult.)
Test-Subject_217601
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Inside-Out, Doran, Dwarven Thaumaturgist. Besides, toughness helps it survive, and that's a good thing.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This guy let me kick serious butt in limited. But constructed is too full of Doom Blade and the like.
iPreferStormCrow
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Usually by the time you get this out in a mono-red deck, it's gonna be a 4/10. Perfect for burn decks in need of a little defence.
Condor_96
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@scumbling1: Notice how all the cards you listed are either rare or mythic. Fire Servant is uncommon, and it's already incredibly powerful in a mountain-heavy deck. A friend of mine runs a mono-red deck, and the only thing I can do about it is hope for a Stormtide Leviathan. I've seen it at 4/15 before - the LAST thing it needs is a lower cmc.
Kryptnyt
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@scumbling1 It's just not true anymore. It hasn't been since Llorwyn. The most powerful creature cards are rares. There are very few exceptions anymore. The only ones I can think of are Bloodbraid elf and Qasali Pridemage.
Areps
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
doom blade
alphagprime
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I know most comments on here are in reference to tournament play but I only play casually. That being said I'm surprised no one else has mentioned the idea of pairing this guy with Claws of Valakut . By the time you get him on the field in mono-red with the enchantment he would be a 10/10 w/ First Strike. Though 9cmc for that is a little steep for something so simply but if you through him in the back of a primarily spell based deck or a bunch of weenies your opponent won't expect him and you could force them to change their strategy at the very end. Good luck blocking 8+ 1cmc 1/1's and this guy with First Strike. And with red cards like Wild Evocation you could even get him out for free and still have 5 or 6 mana sitting around for a late game Fireball or Lava Axe , speaking purely casually of course.
Comments (22)
If it was +1/+0 per mountain it would feel red, but being +0/+1 it just feels like it should have been a white weenie.
In fact, I can't offhand think of a 4/4 for 4 or better creature that didn't come with some kind of horrible cost, although I suspect white and green may have a couple hidden somewhere.
It wouldn't just be better than Earth Elemental, it'd be absurdly better. (Not that that's overly difficult.)
It's just not true anymore. It hasn't been since Llorwyn. The most powerful creature cards are rares. There are very few exceptions anymore. The only ones I can think of are Bloodbraid elf and Qasali Pridemage.