Admittadly it's much more splashable than Ball Lightning, but RDW is just that- RED. And without decent creatures like Ball lightning. Hell's Thunder, and Hellspark Elemental, RDW can't compete in the face of Leyline of Sanctity.
Much worse than Ball Lightning without trample. SInce nothing except RDW will want to run this, it's almost effectively useless in constructed.
n00bmag1
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(9 votes)
This is not that great. I can't reconcile the loss of Ball Lightning to this while retaining the sac limitation. The loss of trample and 1 power should have at least let him stick around if unblocked.
dragon504
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card would be cool and playable if it had trample.
pushbuttonmagic
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Yeah good in limited, he whacked me a couple of times today. Elemental Ox is a cool creature type, he scores for that!
Ruminite436
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I accept the power going down one in exchange for being more accessible to multicolor decks, but he really should have kept trample, or at least had flying like hell's thunder
UltimaCenturion
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(7 votes)
Why's this rated so low? This is likely going to see some tournament play. This is going to be one of RDW's answers to Sanctity, especially since it can singe away any creatures in this things path (nothing else to do with the burn spells), and if you're running izzet colors, for only one additional mana, this is unblockable. And even if they do have creatures, at least you can fry one of them. And besides, its budget ball lightning. And with fling, even if they choose to block, you can fling it in response. This is at least worth 3, but I would say it should be a 3.75.
a possible 5 damage for 3 mana is alright. a possible 5 damage for 3 mana as long as your opponent has no blockers on turn 3... not so good. this is easily chump-blocked and will see no constructed play.
and remember, limited-worthy = bad card.
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(12 votes)
@ Chinkeeyong Shut Up Draft Is Where It's At Takes The Most Talent, Standard Is Net Deck And Sucks The Fun Out Of Magic Plus This Card Is Good When Someones Tapped Out Even Though A Hornet Sting Can Kill It Plus The Art Is Great And The Creature Type Is Spectacular Elemental Ox !
I like this card, its the poor man's Ball Lightning sure, but hey not everyone is rich. Cards like this make Magic more accessible for new/young players. And nice combo Artscrafter, that is the Magic I like to see.
rillaan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
No trample? Really? Whats the point?
OrzhovGhostCouncil
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I used this tonight along with 2 Fire Servants and a Fling for a 5-mana-one-turn one shot.
sarroth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@niallcmurray86: Thanks for the comment. Yes, Ball Lightning is definitely superior, but I for one am thankful Wizards tosses budget-friendly takes on rares once in a while. I'm glad someone else agrees with me. No, Arc Runner isn't perfect, but I know plenty of players in my meta that can't justify spending the money on more than 2-3 rares for their decks, max. They don't play tournaments, so it works fine for them. Cards like these are for the more casual Magic player, and there's nothing wrong with that, just as there is nothing wrong with a nigh-useless card designed for a niche-deck Johnny player to exploit and get his kicks on, or a huge but high-CMC creature for Johnny. Not every card can be for Spike.
Shell_shockkun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm... No Constructed play hmmm?
I donno, I've been trying to fit something with Renegade Doppelganger without breaking the bank (looking at you Primeval Titan and Demon of Death's Gate)
and a turn two Renegade followed by this turn three?
that's 10 dmg...
put in other creatures with similar effects (umm... Ball Lightning?)
and maybe you got a weird aggesive Blue\Red deck
The only problem i have is running outta steam,
but since you're running blue, you can run the fixes (in addition to having a more consistent draw)
only problem now is losing the Renegade after you drop the Ox
The easy fix is dropping another creature after your battle phase that the renegade can copy
but more mana would make this slower and thus lose it's appeal, so i guess we're left with Ornithopter?
Hahahaa good luck getting 3 land, and those three cards though
boneclub
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
He's an Ox, I'll give him that.
djbon2112
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy + Fling: Attack for 5, then Fling to make it 10. With 2 cards.
Too bad Ball Lightning didn't come back, but at least we have this guy instead.
infernox10
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
My favorite 4-of in draft,
Along with Act of Treason and Fling.
For obvious reasons.
U-caster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I prefer this over lightning elemental.*EDIT-I see some players have developed ways to put this card into a nayan deck and play it on turn 2. In RDW, using pyretic ritual, you can easily play this card on turn 2.
NeverendingDream
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(8 votes)
Mooooooooooooooooooo
Diachronos
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Ball Lightning has +1/+0 and trample over this at the cost of being {R}{R}{R} instead of {2}{R}.
Ball Lightning is really only good for mono-red, dual-color at the very best unless you're always lucky with getting the three red mana. Arc Runner has an easier casting cost for multicolor, so I think it's reasonable to weaken him a little in exchange for the flexibility.
channelblaze
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Quite whining, this is fine in limited, and it's not amazing, but it's still pretty cool in limited. It's obviously not ball lightning, but whatever. LAVA OX FTW!
Personally, I think it's a good COMMON. It's not a rare like ball lightning, so it's not super awesome, but it's not horrible. I wish it had trample, but whatever.
PolskiSuzeren
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(12 votes)
Some of these comments are just hilarious. Constructed play? Demon of death's gate breaking the bank? HAH! I don't even play red and I know that this is absolute garbage. Even losing ball lightning, I'll play elemental appeal before I EVER consider this.
Also, master of etherium: Please, please stop posting. You have no idea how incredibly painful it is to read your comments, and the fact that your comments are stupid doesn't help. There are so many people here who feel the same way as me, don't think I'm the only one.
Also, who the hell said ball lightning was expensive? It's a $5 card.
This has been your daily dose of douchebag, brought to you by players who get annoyed when people try to justify bad cards.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Think about it this way: you had to sacrifice 1 more power and trample for greater splashability, at common no less. At the very least, it'll kill something if it's blocked, and due to it's ability to be played easily with green, giving it something like Predator's Strike is easy. Doesn't seem so bad now, does it? Besides, he's an Ox.
Cigarette
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Personally, I like him.
A playable lightning elemental? Yes please.
Marjoram
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(5 votes)
Without trample this card is close to useless 0.5/5
Internet_decks_lame
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not quite as good as Ball Lightning if the deck is mono-red... But this guy only requires one red in the casting and is also an elemental like the ball. Choosing this over ball could offer another color splash which could result in a nice B/R or U/R elemental deck and still retain speed and aggression.
3/5
JWolps
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@MasterOfEtherium, don't let PolskiSuzeren get you down, I enjoy reading your comments.
Artscrafter
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(6 votes)
I agree with it being unfair to compare this to Ball Lightning since they're meant for different formats. This is for limited, Pauper, or budget casual.
Some Pauper deck ideas for this, using Standard cards: deck: Keep the board clear until turn 5, then drop this plus Assault Strobe and Tainted Strike = win. If you can't keep their whole board down then just kill all flying/reach and Flight Spellbomb gets it there.
deck, turn 6: Arc Runner + Distortion Strike, swing, then Fling for a total of 12 damage.
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wonderful card for budget casual. You can turn his sacrifice into a profit with Culling Dais. I recurred one 3 times and drew 4 cards off of the dais. It was magnificent. Also, try giving him Sylvok Lifestaff.
krauser-gogetthegirl
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i know this bull isnt that great but i love usin him for some reason. in mono red ill wait till i have a strait shot and hit for five then fling his ox ass straight to someones face. but using him with the leyline of anticipation as a blocker on your opponents turn is the best use i have found for him.
Prizrak
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Artscrafter, if you're going to make a pauper deck, Kiln Fiend is much better than this: http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=153006
But I agree that this is a fun card for other formats.
Zaneshift
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Considering that there's Slagstorm and Flame Slash aplenty in my standard mono-red burn deck, I find it handy sometimes to run 1 or 2. If they have a blocker, it essentially turns creature-only burn into player damage as well. Sure, it's useless if they have a lot of chump blockers, but isn't that what Pyroclasm is for?
Trample aside, I think that it would be interesting to see one of these burn elementals (the Ball Lightning family of creatures) that came with flash or a kicker that damages a creature perhaps-- to give options besides attack when there's no creatures without having to mow them down. I mean, if this had flash, it would be a fun 5 burn at an attacking creature -or- a 5 burn to a player without creatures.
Sweet art. It's not "better" than Ball Lightning, but it has a more flexible cost, so now your decks that aren't mono-red can successfully run some pseudo-Ball Lightning.
Annoyingblueplayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you think about it this is either an undercosted lava axe or (on turn 3-5 usualy) a creature kill for three mana. That seems pretty good to me, but there is also the fact that your oponet choses what suits them best.
mattblack04
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This card turn 2 or 3 usually means "we trade or you take 5 damage" unless you waste a burn card on it. Unfortunately there's usually a turn 1 creature to chump block. Turn-n-sac damagers really should get Trample by default. It's really all they got.
Mode
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
A common budged Ball-Lightning that's splashable. If not useful for constructed, it's at least a pretty good pick in limited.
Edit: Nevermind, this doesn't have trample. This is a terrible excuse for a Ball-Lightning at best if you can just chump-block it.
Duh! My brain read this card with trample, since i totally expected it to be one of those x/1 trample-haste-sacrifice one hit wonders.
And don't give me that "Well it's not strictly worse than" *** because we all know that Ball has one and only one use: Acting as a living burn spell. On turn three, Ball Lightning exists to cause some major damage to an opponent, not just be chumped out of existence.
Comments (45)
This is likely going to see some tournament play. This is going to be one of RDW's answers to Sanctity, especially since it can singe away any creatures in this things path (nothing else to do with the burn spells), and if you're running izzet colors, for only one additional mana, this is unblockable. And even if they do have creatures, at least you can fry one of them.
And besides, its budget ball lightning. And with fling, even if they choose to block, you can fling it in response. This is at least worth 3, but I would say it should be a 3.75.
and remember, limited-worthy = bad card.
I donno, I've been trying to fit something with Renegade Doppelganger without breaking the bank (looking at you Primeval Titan and Demon of Death's Gate)
and a turn two Renegade followed by this turn three?
that's 10 dmg...
put in other creatures with similar effects (umm... Ball Lightning?)
and maybe you got a weird aggesive Blue\Red deck
The only problem i have is running outta steam,
but since you're running blue, you can run the fixes (in addition to having a more consistent draw)
only problem now is losing the Renegade after you drop the Ox
The easy fix is dropping another creature after your battle phase that the renegade can copy
but more mana would make this slower and thus lose it's appeal, so i guess we're left with Ornithopter?
Hahahaa good luck getting 3 land, and those three cards though
Too bad Ball Lightning didn't come back, but at least we have this guy instead.
Along with Act of Treason and Fling.
For obvious reasons.
Ball Lightning is really only good for mono-red, dual-color at the very best unless you're always lucky with getting the three red mana. Arc Runner has an easier casting cost for multicolor, so I think it's reasonable to weaken him a little in exchange for the flexibility.
Personally, I think it's a good COMMON. It's not a rare like ball lightning, so it's not super awesome, but it's not horrible. I wish it had trample, but whatever.
Also, master of etherium: Please, please stop posting. You have no idea how incredibly painful it is to read your comments, and the fact that your comments are stupid doesn't help. There are so many people here who feel the same way as me, don't think I'm the only one.
Also, who the hell said ball lightning was expensive? It's a $5 card.
This has been your daily dose of douchebag, brought to you by players who get annoyed when people try to justify bad cards.
Doesn't seem so bad now, does it? Besides, he's an Ox.
A playable lightning elemental? Yes please.
3/5
Some Pauper deck ideas for this, using Standard cards:
http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=153006
But I agree that this is a fun card for other formats.
Trample aside, I think that it would be interesting to see one of these burn elementals (the Ball Lightning family of creatures) that came with flash or a kicker that damages a creature perhaps-- to give options besides attack when there's no creatures without having to mow them down. I mean, if this had flash, it would be a fun 5 burn at an attacking creature -or- a 5 burn to a player without creatures.
Just a thought.
It's not "better" than Ball Lightning, but it has a more flexible cost, so now your decks that aren't mono-red can successfully run some pseudo-Ball Lightning.
If not useful for constructed, it's at least a pretty good pick in limited.
Edit: Nevermind, this doesn't have trample.
This is a terrible excuse for a Ball-Lightning at best if you can just chump-block it.
Duh! My brain read this card with trample,
since i totally expected it to be one of those x/1 trample-haste-sacrifice one hit wonders.
And don't give me that "Well it's not strictly worse than" *** because we all know that Ball has one and only one use: Acting as a living burn spell. On turn three, Ball Lightning exists to cause some major damage to an opponent, not just be chumped out of existence.