Am I missing some amazing combo with this guy or does this just suck?
raptorjesus69
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Ball Lightning, what have they done to you now? You cost 2 more and you don't have trample and haste...
Leonin_Kha_Cameron
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(6 votes)
his inferiority to Ball lightning is obvious, but even compared to other commons like him, (Lightning Elemental comes to mind) he is bad.
SleetFox
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(6 votes)
This guy is better as a blocker than as an attacker. It basically says "attack me and you lose a creature. Go ahead, try it."
...And it costs 5 mana to do that, and it's extremely vulnerable to even the smallest source of indirect damage. It's a horribly overcosted card, but they can't all be gems, can they?
Richard_Hawk
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The ugly duckling of the new Scars set..poor guy.
HanZzz
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This guy is pretty awful, simply sneeze at the wrong time and it dies. Bladed Pinions on this would be fun though, but really why bother?
Minus_Prime
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(15 votes)
Red deck doesn't win. Not this time.
LTJZamboni
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Card is good if you attach equipment to it that gives it first strike.
Kori260
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
It looks cool......
I also doubt this was meant to replace ball of lightning, im pretty sure that was a one time thing. Just be happy we have Arc Runner to work with.
Gavrilo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Compare it to Incurable Ogre, which is from set with "5+ power matters" mechanic. Sure, he's still far from Chimney Imps glory, but ain't too useful even in limited.
Troutz
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(7 votes)
I thought this card sucked until I thought about it for a bit. Then I realized.....
Nope, I still think this card sucks. 0.5/5
Gezus82
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(9 votes)
if you are playing this, you are wrong it's that simple
I like how in the art he is connected to the ground and presumably his power source by a thin thread of fire which mimics his low toughness quite nicely.
Mightyass
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Ball Lightning was designed for Spikes, this card is the Timmy version of it. It seems to me pretty strange that you are comparing a cheap common to Constructed bomb rare. I would never play this card but I know a good number of people who would - and they would start with a first strike aura/equipment
Ladnarud
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Why does everyone compare this to Ball Lightning? Lightning is an expensive rare... it's more mono-red oriented... and you can only use it for a turn. Sure, this guy is pretty bad, but he's not a strictly worse version of Ball Lightning.
This guy is much more multi-color friendly. Just give him a Distortion Strike or two, and you've got 14 damage over two turns. Then throw him away. Not the best option, of course, but certainly better than you guys are making him out to be.
2/5
Selez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
On constructed: No.
On limited: These guys will always go late, and for good reason. The only way this card is even playable is if you're also running Bladed Pinions or Accorder's Shield; otherwise, run a land.
Diachronos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Downright pathetic compared to most R creatures.
Ball Lightning cost RRR instead of 4R, and had haste and trample. True, you had to sacrifice him at the end of the turn you played him, but really: it's a 6/1, he's going to die to any blocker your opponent throws in his way.
This? No abilities, and ridiculously expensive for a 6/1; there are plenty of MUCH better red beatsticks for ~5cmc.
Maybe if he had some combination of double strike, trample, and/or some other good ability he'd be worth it. But as he is now, the only thing I think he'd be even remotely useful for is discarding him for Chandra Ablaze's first ability.
While you can give him Equipment and Auras to make him better, there's still the fact that you can make a 6/X First Striker for around the same cost as a plain Scoria Elemental; for example, a Black/White Knight with Barbed Battlegear is a 6/1 first strike with pro white/black for only 2 more mana (1 less if you don't count Battlegear's play cost).
Dewxgong
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(21 votes)
I make it a priority that whenever I see or pull this guy, to eat it. Current count is at around 9.
Sironos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is an obvious Johnny challenge, anyone up to it?
And for the hardcore Johnnies, can you keep the combo standard legal?
I cannot think of anything atm, gonna try looking for a combo for this. (I issued a challenge like this on razor boomerang, and a guy found an unlimited damage combo involving 7 cards, it was awesome!)
desolation_masticore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This brings us back to the power level of say 4th Ed?
infernox10
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He sucks, plain and simple,
However, when used in Limited...
He still sucks, I'm sorry.
I guess the only hope it has is that in Limited, you will either deal 6 damage WAY too late down the line,
Or maybe kill off a creature that blocks it.
But that simply does not make up for anything.
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Give me back Spark Elemental. We're on Mirrodin for the love of tap-dancing christ.
You can't really make a combo with a vanilla creature that's unique, I do notice one big thing. Its power is above 5, and is in a set with infect. Most things that come to mind are not standard, but I did the same thing with Razor Boomerang
This card needs haste, and double strike or some way to hit twice, as first I thought of this, but really any similar thing would work
14 poison counters, presto, but really needing Sneak Attack kinda makes it easy, I suppose you could cast this on turn 5, and do something similar to above, but it would be better to use a power 4 creature for the same thing.
Unfortunately his power is just a little low, if it was 7 you could use Muraganda Petroglyphs (the only card that really combos with vanilla creatures) and then Tainted Strike and you would have a potential 10 infect and it would be semi surprise.
Either way, you can make a combo, but there are a lot of other cards that are nearly strictly better, or at least cooler, just don't use pure vanilla cards, they just aren't fun
DysprosiumJudas
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This guy would've been a really interesting two-drop that could have even seen some constructed. A five-drop, though? Haha no thanks.
Axelle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sometimes Wizards has an excuse why some cards are or seem bad. They have no excuse for this one.
Deepfried-Owls
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I dunno, make him slightly more useful with first strike/trample or some Boots of Speed or that new phyrexia creature that provides haste to all your creatures.
> . >
ZeroSheep
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(6 votes)
Well...it's got nice art...
axiobeta
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The only word that comes to mind is 'derp'
Guest742242900
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Need trample to be 1/5. Currently, 0.5/5.
OmegaSerris
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
I think he's a titan blocker... in a non-defensive color... er, yeah. I give up. Fail card. with defender would have been better than this.
Radagast
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Because Fire Elemental was overpowered, I guess... urgh...
Note that commonality is no excuse for printing unplayable rubbish. When something is so bad that it is barely playable in Limited, it needs a redesign.
NuckChorris
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
If he had 12 power he would still probably suck.
nope.avi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think they forgot to put haste on it. thats the only excuse for this card
EpicBroccoli
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Ironically his biggest weakness is red with cards like Cunning Sparkmage
Lash_of_Dragonbreath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
*yawn* Kamahl, pit fighter is basically this guy with one Lightning Bolt attached, and I don't see anyone hating on him this much. Either you guys are being a little unfair to this little fellow or Bolt is one hell of a spell. I dunno what I'm saying. It's 3 AM and I've got to Sleep.
aje8
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
This card is absurdly overpowered. It has more power than Rotting Fensnake. The sheer damage potential of hitting for 6 every turn from turn 6 onward is simply too much pressure for most decks in the current metagame to handle. Scoria Elemental is probably the next Stoneforge Mystic. It should probably be banned in Standard, and Modern too, just to be safe. At least Stoneforge Mystic could be mostly dealt with via artifact removal, but this monster only dies to creature removal, and who plays creature removal in standard?
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like the flavor of this thing, so powerful but so easy to kill by just severing its link to the furnace. But I feel that at that cost it could have had first strike.
Destroy2777
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Dies to scissors.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If he cost 3 mana instead of 5 and had trample and haste, he might be good. Then again, he would have to be more color-intensive and a one-turn-only card.
You may laugh, but when given evasion 6 damage is no joke. Even so there's better, cheaper cards out there that can get the job done.
Still a 2/5 playable with help.
Stinga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this name and this art. The flavor is nice too. Why Wizards why? You were so close. Just add doublestrike and infect. As it is this is totally outclassed by Baneslayer and it dies to removal. (I kid, I kid)
Rootkit9208
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If this guy was made specifically for limited playability, he isn't bad, but was released in the wrong block. In Ravnica block, we have this massive and glaring lack of cheap cards to deal damage to creatures. One of the reasons Scorchwalker sees play in limited.
Bloodrush also helps, though. Even if they were identical in mana cost, I would take Scorchwalker every time.
mrchuckmorris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Strictly worse than used toilet paper.
leingodf8
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
All this hate (and its justified) but come on. That flavour. Bound by one tether, barely attached to life but while it is alive it wrecks everything. Thats gotta be worth some pity points right?
Comments (46)
...And it costs 5 mana to do that, and it's extremely vulnerable to even the smallest source of indirect damage. It's a horribly overcosted card, but they can't all be gems, can they?
I also doubt this was meant to replace ball of lightning, im pretty sure that was a one time thing. Just be happy we have Arc Runner to work with.
Nope, I still think this card sucks. 0.5/5
it's that simple
I like how in the art he is connected to the ground and presumably his power source by a thin thread of fire which mimics his low toughness quite nicely.
This guy is much more multi-color friendly. Just give him a Distortion Strike or two, and you've got 14 damage over two turns. Then throw him away. Not the best option, of course, but certainly better than you guys are making him out to be.
2/5
On limited: These guys will always go late, and for good reason. The only way this card is even playable is if you're also running Bladed Pinions or Accorder's Shield; otherwise, run a land.
Ball Lightning cost RRR instead of 4R, and had haste and trample. True, you had to sacrifice him at the end of the turn you played him, but really: it's a 6/1, he's going to die to any blocker your opponent throws in his way.
This? No abilities, and ridiculously expensive for a 6/1; there are plenty of MUCH better red beatsticks for ~5cmc.
Maybe if he had some combination of double strike, trample, and/or some other good ability he'd be worth it. But as he is now, the only thing I think he'd be even remotely useful for is discarding him for Chandra Ablaze's first ability.
While you can give him Equipment and Auras to make him better, there's still the fact that you can make a 6/X First Striker for around the same cost as a plain Scoria Elemental; for example, a Black/White Knight with Barbed Battlegear is a 6/1 first strike with pro white/black for only 2 more mana (1 less if you don't count Battlegear's play cost).
And for the hardcore Johnnies, can you keep the combo standard legal?
I cannot think of anything atm, gonna try looking for a combo for this. (I issued a challenge like this on razor boomerang, and a guy found an unlimited damage combo involving 7 cards, it was awesome!)
However, when used in Limited...
He still sucks, I'm sorry.
I guess the only hope it has is that in Limited, you will either deal 6 damage WAY too late down the line,
Or maybe kill off a creature that blocks it.
But that simply does not make up for anything.
You can't really make a combo with a vanilla creature that's unique, I do notice one big thing. Its power is above 5, and is in a set with infect. Most things that come to mind are not standard, but I did the same thing with Razor Boomerang
This card needs haste, and double strike or some way to hit twice, as first I thought of this, but really any similar thing would work
(odds are) turn 4, play Sneak Attack
turn 5 use this guy with Sneak Attack, give him infect with Tainted Strike, use Soul's Fire
14 poison counters, presto, but really needing Sneak Attack kinda makes it easy, I suppose you could cast this on turn 5, and do something similar to above, but it would be better to use a power 4 creature for the same thing.
Unfortunately his power is just a little low, if it was 7 you could use Muraganda Petroglyphs (the only card that really combos with vanilla creatures) and then Tainted Strike and you would have a potential 10 infect and it would be semi surprise.
Either way, you can make a combo, but there are a lot of other cards that are nearly strictly better, or at least cooler, just don't use pure vanilla cards, they just aren't fun
> . >
Note that commonality is no excuse for printing unplayable rubbish. When something is so bad that it is barely playable in Limited, it needs a redesign.
I dunno what I'm saying. It's 3 AM and I've got to Sleep.
Hmm. Now where have I seen that before?
You may laugh, but when given evasion 6 damage is no joke. Even so there's better, cheaper cards out there that can get the job done.
Still a 2/5 playable with help.
Bloodrush also helps, though. Even if they were identical in mana cost, I would take Scorchwalker every time.