Red has been wanting a card like this for years. It just isn't the color that normally gets something this efficient!
A3Kitsune
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Red Uktabi Orangutang.
Temple_Garden
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
A sorcery speed shatter that comes with a creature that can do more than just chump block AND has two useful creature types (take that mr ape) that's not behind the curve. This guy is main deck worthy, especially with a block with the word "Mirrodin" coming up.
One of the better red commons to be printed in a core set in years.
PEVE_O
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I think this guy will be handy in scars.
vsasntore
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Whats not to love about this card? I extra mana for a shatter that also is a 2/2 creature? Perpahps my favorite common from M11; will be very handy in scars.
oh this card will be brilliant when scars comes out.
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A very, very fringe card in constructed prior to Scars, I can see this jumping greatly in popularity. While artifacts are going to become more popular in many decks, there are 3 reasons why this guy could see a tonne of play. 1. Liquimetal Coating 2. Sun Titan 3. Mimic Vat
With a turn 2 Coating followed by a turn 3 Manic Vandals, you have a turn 3 vindicate with a 2/2 body. It can easily be recurred by Sun Titan if it dies, or it can cause absolute nightmares if they decide to feed it to your Mimic Vat for some reason. Heck, it can stop ground attacks altogether just because your opponent doesn't want you to be able to vindicate so easily!
I kind of wish I hadn't passed up so many foil ones in drafts now. =S
@DacenOctavio - you can't really use the term 'strictly better' when they're so different. This one costs 1 mana more and is sorcery speed, but does come with a 2 for one. However, I can think of two cases where Shatter is better, for different reasons. 1. If the opponent is holding a Stifle and no creature spell counters, Shatter will be better as Stifle could stop this ability, whereas it couldn't stop a Shatter. 2. An opponent plays something immediately critical like Akroma's Memorial or Eldrazi Monument. If you have to wait for your turn to get rid of it you may not live that long.
It's easy to see that it's not 'strictly better'. Strictly better comes about with something like Shock Vs Galvanic Blast. Shock is always 2 damage for R, whereas Galvanic Blast is normally 2 damage for R but can be boosted to 4. It's *almost* strictly better, but even then, there might be a situation where Shock would be preferable - like attempting to kill a 2/2 creature when your opponent could be holding a card like Swerve; the extra damage would be overkill and would hurt you more if redirected.
He's Destroyin His Rivals Meth Lab LOL, What A Hater
Lyoncet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This has to be one of the most cost-effective 2-in-1s in recent memory. Often they end up having too much extra cost/restriction tagged onto them to be worthwhile (oh hello there Heartstabber Mosquito), but this guy's pretty much the exact same cost as his constituent parts, in one card: a Grizzly Bears (2 CMC) plus a Shatter (2 CMC) at sorcery speed (-1 CMC). And unless your opponent plays something that will give them an insurmountable lead that turn, the sorcery speed doesn't even hurt you that much.
It's true that now this guy has Oxidda Scrapmelter to compete with now, but I think in most cases I'd rather run this guy. Being a 3/3 is really great, but the one extra mana not only means that you have to wait until turn 4, but you're a lot more likely to end up short of being able to play it. Plus, it doesn't fit as well into many decks if they're a) aggro or b) tribal – plenty of warriors and berserkers in Red; not so many beasts. And with the recent rise in Tempered Steel decks with their heavy reliance on Steel Overseers, that's an extra +1/+1 you're keeping off every creature your opponent has in play. (Of course, if that deck gets out of hand, Shatter would probably be a better sideboard choice.)
MindAblaze
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Another creature that loves Heartless Summoning as much as I do, combine with Liquimetal Coating and Havengul Lich for an excellent amount of shenanigans. Repeatable permament destruction for ? Sure, why not?
Comments (19)
One of the better red commons to be printed in a core set in years.
Magic could use more cards that follow this design trend, instead of Armored Cancrix.
1. Liquimetal Coating
2. Sun Titan
3. Mimic Vat
With a turn 2 Coating followed by a turn 3 Manic Vandals, you have a turn 3 vindicate with a 2/2 body. It can easily be recurred by Sun Titan if it dies, or it can cause absolute nightmares if they decide to feed it to your Mimic Vat for some reason. Heck, it can stop ground attacks altogether just because your opponent doesn't want you to be able to vindicate so easily!
I kind of wish I hadn't passed up so many foil ones in drafts now. =S
@DacenOctavio - you can't really use the term 'strictly better' when they're so different. This one costs 1 mana more and is sorcery speed, but does come with a 2 for one. However, I can think of two cases where Shatter is better, for different reasons.
1. If the opponent is holding a Stifle and no creature spell counters, Shatter will be better as Stifle could stop this ability, whereas it couldn't stop a Shatter.
2. An opponent plays something immediately critical like Akroma's Memorial or Eldrazi Monument. If you have to wait for your turn to get rid of it you may not live that long.
It's easy to see that it's not 'strictly better'. Strictly better comes about with something like Shock Vs Galvanic Blast. Shock is always 2 damage for R, whereas Galvanic Blast is normally 2 damage for R but can be boosted to 4. It's *almost* strictly better, but even then, there might be a situation where Shock would be preferable - like attempting to kill a 2/2 creature when your opponent could be holding a card like Swerve; the extra damage would be overkill and would hurt you more if redirected.
Viridian Shaman in red.
It's true that now this guy has Oxidda Scrapmelter to compete with now, but I think in most cases I'd rather run this guy. Being a 3/3 is really great, but the one extra mana not only means that you have to wait until turn 4, but you're a lot more likely to end up short of being able to play it. Plus, it doesn't fit as well into many decks if they're a) aggro or b) tribal – plenty of warriors and berserkers in Red; not so many beasts. And with the recent rise in Tempered Steel decks with their heavy reliance on Steel Overseers, that's an extra +1/+1 you're keeping off every creature your opponent has in play. (Of course, if that deck gets out of hand, Shatter would probably be a better sideboard choice.)