@Gelzo: Clicking the link, I knew this was gonna be the first comment. :D
RJDroid
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(30 votes)
Doubters shall inevitably abhor.
Gabriel422
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Slith Firewalker trading haste for costing one less. Not bad at all for a deal.
DragonicSphinx
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
lure+wooden stake just to rub it in his pompous self-indulged egotistical bloodsucking face
FogRaider
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Michael Jackson, now in Vampire form. If he hits a player three times, he's effectively a two-power creature. Certainly not bad.
Drewsel
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
As if wizards... you made THE perfect haters gonna hate card.
I've never wanted to do a vampire deck this badly. Just so I could play this dude first turn.
Asmodi0000
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(41 votes)
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a noble man, no time to stalk.
Enemy_Tricolor
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(14 votes)
Really doesn't deserve the rating it has right now. Would've been beautiful with haste, but haste doesn't really strike me as a "haters gonna hate" kinda thing. 3/5
Arguments about the gameplay merits of the card aside, just look at the guy. If they could see him rollin', they would indeed be hatin'.
Paleopaladin
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(10 votes)
Anyone who didn't rate this at least 4.5 is forgetting something...
THIS IS A ONE-DROP!
landboysteve
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(8 votes)
Unless your opponent has a 1 drop, this becomes a 2/2 at the end of turn 2. And it only gets worse from there if you don't have an answer.
This pretty much won me a game at a sealed event I was in. (And helped me with a lot of others.)
Turn one: This. Turn two: Curse of the Pierced Heart, attack. Opponent down to 18 in his turn, this at 2/2. Turn Three: Rakish Heir, attack with this (he couldn't block as he only had a human out). He's down to 14 (after the curse), this is 4/4. Turn four: Gruesome Deformity (either that, or he still only had humans, I don't remember exactly), he's down to 9, this is at 6/6 and I have a lot of new guys for the next turn). Turn five: He's dead.
I agree that my opponent probably didn't have the best starting hand, which I pretty much had, so whatever. It's still cool.
In another match, I killed my opponent's one several times with Geistflame, though. But then again, "Dies to removal" isn't really an argument.
Zenzei
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(17 votes)
There ought to be a huge explosion on the background of the art.
SarpNasty
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I guess Wizards was tired of monoblack vampires so they are making us splash red...no arguments here, this is a great card.
Kitty_the_Kat
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Don't compare him to Goblin Guide because they're completely different styles of play.
With Goblin Guide, your only option is to attack. Meaning he's a lot more aggressive, but at the same time very reckless. Goblin Guide is predictable; however, one of the most effective cards at what he does.
With this guy on the other hand, you don't always attack with. He's a little slower, but also comes with no downside. Everything about him is pure benefit. Also, if you can give him Double Strike early, you essentially win the game.
AngelicOverseer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
BEST. RED. WEENIE. EVAR.
shadowz667
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Got a holo one of these as a prize pack at the prerelease and traded him away. Makes me sad now that I see he is such a staple :( Anyway cool card, although I prefer the furnace scamp.
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I traded mine away for a couple Goblin Guides. I'm building a Zoo deck, that's why.
SkaerKrow
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Certainly a good card, but I think people are getting a bit carried away.
DarthParallax
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This and Reckless Waif more than justify the existence of Geistflame. I'm not actually one of those 'dies to Doom Blade' n00bs- instead, it's painfully obvious that of those three red one-drops, the non-creature is strictly worst. What I'm trying to point out is, that because these two very top-notch creatures do happen to be vulnerable to that card, and that card also has Flashback, and we haven't yet seen the rest of the block's Flashback support, that I foresee Geistflame becoming very important tech against guys like this.
I am so going to build a Werewolf Deck, and a Vampire Deck though. Ever since Sorin Markov showed up in Zendikar I've really wanted to build a deck with the most elegantly elitist Vampires I can think of. So far it looks like the bloody savages are going to be more playable, but Stromkirk Noble and Kalastria Highborn are a match made in heaven for me. I really really hope that Sorin 2.0 is as disgustingly sauve looking and as much of an ass hole as Jace 2.0. "Hello, I'm a four drop planeswalker. I cost $70 on Star City Games. I win because I'm better than you because I'm rich, and with money, you can buy power." With Jace, I hated it, because it was completely against the flavor of 'win by being actually smart', but these Vampires....that's seems to just be 'their thing'. And I think I like it. I'm fairly certain this makes me a dick. Sorry about that. :P
Vandarringa
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(7 votes)
Totally shut down by Defensive Stance. That's gotta make this guy uncomfortable.
You can tell by the way that I use my walk, I'm a woman's man; no time for talk.
Tiemuuu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I won every game at the last booster draft when I had this fella in my opening hand. Champion of the Parish is a stylish one-drop, I give him that, but my Noble is even bigger a ***. I'll keep opening boosters untill I've got three more of him... I didn't plan on building a vampire deck, or an innistrad deck at all, but this card changed it altogether
Salient
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(11 votes)
Awesome art. James Ryman must have seen that 'DiCaprio strutting' meme from Inception and thought: OMG VAMPIRE.
The execution is perfect. Cards like this are why I love Magic.
EGarrett01
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Textbox should read "Stromkirk Noble can't be c***blocked by Humans."
brunocunha
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
playtesting with my brother was just like this: dropped Stromkirk Noble on turn one, curse of stalked prey on turn two (turning Noble in a 3/3 at the fist attack) cleaning this board from a plague and a necropede with a couple of wring flesh I went on swinging with noble and won at turn 6 attacking with a rakish heir and a 7/7 noble, even with -1/-1 from the dying necropede. i'm playing this deck at the local FNM. rakish heir and curse of stalked prey make it even harder to handle. although, I think a vampire will not be really competitive in early innistrad block, it's REALLY fun to play with.
superjohn57
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
just pack your deck with four of these and your set :D cant forget rackish heir and those other vampires >:)
NuckChorris
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I've seen people turn one scoop when this comes down. Nuff said.
ToastRecon
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Hey ladies you gotta sum'a daddy's sugar?
Shadoflaam
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
The only 1-drop Vampire in Standard.
"They see me rollin..."
Perlmutter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This turn 1 and Curse of Stalked Prey turn 2 is pretty much game if they can't stop it. Was quite fun my last draft.
Whenever I drop this, I always make sure to say "Swag!"
shotoku64
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art is wrong... He should be holding a sign that says "KILL ME! You'll regret it if you don't!"
SSJTapkar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
James Ryman forgot one thing-- Vampires and Sunlight? Really? Okay, so maybe it's something about Innistrad. I love this card. It's one of three cards I would run in any vampire deck in Standard (The other two being Stromkirk Captain and Tragic Slip.) Probably my favourite one-drop in game.
Arachnos
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
Enemy_Tricolor called this guy Vampire Pimpwalker.
Priceless.
TheHoovedOne.
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy looks so dam boss!!!!!
miilkshake
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Innistrad block contains countless 1-drop humans, three 1-drop zombies, three 1-drop wolves/werewolves. And vampires? Just the one. C'mon now, Wizards, let's not play favorites.
friendtoall17
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run 4 of these guys in my standard RDW. And every time that I attack with him, I make it a point to say, "Bluh!"
....I'm sure that my opponents think that it's just as funny as I do.
rogelio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
He's like the Robert Downey Jr. of vampires. I can imagine him in Tony Stark's place during the Jericho missile test in the first Iron Man movie.
I play this and Assault Strobe in my RDW deck. So terribly boss.
The question is, if you give it double strike while it's still a 1/1, and it deals direct damage, does it deal a total of three damage or two? I know it still gets two +1/+1, but does it get a +1/+1 during the first strike damage and then another after regular?
Nexath_of_Kalastria
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(14 votes)
the text ought to read "cannot be blocked by miserable piles of secrets"
RedAtrocitus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@JuggernautFox Yes, it will deal 3 damage and get 2 +1/+1 counters. See the rulings for Markov Blademaster.
With so many neat spells to help him get trough and get nasty quickly i always wondered why he didnt appear in standard more often.
T1: Him T2: Curse of Stalked Prey. Opponent at 19, him 3/3. T3: Assault Strobe, Artful Dodge. Opponent at 11, him 7/7. Mana open for Apostle protection. T4: Assault Strobe, flashback the dodge. Opponent at -5 (aka, enough damage so that even some life gain wont matter). This does require two Assault strobes, but even with just one he will be a serious threat early on.
Oh, and how come all the instants/sorceries starts with "a"?
RetroGamer3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is a must in Red Aggro. I got first place with him. Now if only he could not be blocked by elf's also.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He is a fantastic way to open the game in burn. But if you dont get him in your opening hand he is not that good. That and only 1 damage on the first connect is what holds him back off the top one drops. 4/5
I think "one of the best one-drops" at least needs the qualification that we're just talking standard here. It's seen a lot of play in standard lately, and rightly so, but it's much better in limited environments than it is anywhere else due to the "humans" requirement for its evasion. Outside of standard, that evasion becomes extremely unreliable, and RDW has quite a few better one-drops that have a either more consistent ways to get bigger or far scarier consequences for opponents unable to answer. I think a rating based purely on power of near 4 seems about right, though I'd think it'd be above, not below, and if we're taking into account swagger he clearly needs deserves a 5.
GlintKawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love this in my B/R aggro deck I'm running in standard now. he almost always gets through for a free one, then gets pumped slowly, but enough for the opponent to waste removal on my 1 burger before I drop a Rakdos on 'em. 4.5/5
Lifegainwithbite
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
One of the best one drops is a 3.8/5?... Why? @Anstache: Not just in standard. The first ability is just the icing on the cake. Stromkirk gets stronger every turn regardless. It's a great one drop for any red aggro deck. True, in modern Goblin Guide is better but you could run Stromkirk alongside it. It still has some relevancy in modern (although yes I was talking about standard in the best one drops thing).
Ben219
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Stromkirk noble can turn 3 win: Turn one: cast - noble Turn two: cast - furor of the bitten, assault strobe. Hit for 7 in total. Turn three: armed. 13 damage total.
Subdemic
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's second ability has, in my playgroup, become known as pimpwalking. Cards with it "pimpwalk", and if they get two counters, they have "double pimpwalking". This makes some interesting conversations for those out of the loop.
Comments (54)
I've never wanted to do a vampire deck this badly. Just so I could play this dude first turn.
I'm a noble man, no time to stalk.
Arguments about the gameplay merits of the card aside, just look at the guy. If they could see him rollin', they would indeed be hatin'.
THIS IS A ONE-DROP!
It's no Goblin Guide but it's darn good.
Turn one: This.
Turn two: Curse of the Pierced Heart, attack. Opponent down to 18 in his turn, this at 2/2.
Turn Three: Rakish Heir, attack with this (he couldn't block as he only had a human out). He's down to 14 (after the curse), this is 4/4.
Turn four: Gruesome Deformity (either that, or he still only had humans, I don't remember exactly), he's down to 9, this is at 6/6 and I have a lot of new guys for the next turn).
Turn five: He's dead.
I agree that my opponent probably didn't have the best starting hand, which I pretty much had, so whatever. It's still cool.
In another match, I killed my opponent's one several times with Geistflame, though. But then again, "Dies to removal" isn't really an argument.
With Goblin Guide, your only option is to attack. Meaning he's a lot more aggressive, but at the same time very reckless. Goblin Guide is predictable; however, one of the most effective cards at what he does.
With this guy on the other hand, you don't always attack with. He's a little slower, but also comes with no downside. Everything about him is pure benefit. Also, if you can give him Double Strike early, you essentially win the game.
Makes me sad now that I see he is such a staple :(
Anyway cool card, although I prefer the furnace scamp.
I am so going to build a Werewolf Deck, and a Vampire Deck though. Ever since Sorin Markov showed up in Zendikar I've really wanted to build a deck with the most elegantly elitist Vampires I can think of. So far it looks like the bloody savages are going to be more playable, but Stromkirk Noble and Kalastria Highborn are a match made in heaven for me. I really really hope that Sorin 2.0 is as disgustingly sauve looking and as much of an ass hole as Jace 2.0. "Hello, I'm a four drop planeswalker. I cost $70 on Star City Games. I win because I'm better than you because I'm rich, and with money, you can buy power." With Jace, I hated it, because it was completely against the flavor of 'win by being actually smart', but these Vampires....that's seems to just be 'their thing'. And I think I like it. I'm fairly certain this makes me a dick. Sorry about that. :P
The execution is perfect. Cards like this are why I love Magic.
dropped Stromkirk Noble on turn one, curse of stalked prey on turn two (turning Noble in a 3/3 at the fist attack)
cleaning this board from a plague and a necropede with a couple of wring flesh I went on swinging with noble and won at turn 6 attacking with a rakish heir and a 7/7 noble, even with -1/-1 from the dying necropede.
i'm playing this deck at the local FNM. rakish heir and curse of stalked prey make it even harder to handle.
although, I think a vampire will not be really competitive in early innistrad block, it's REALLY fun to play with.
"They see me rollin..."
He should be holding a sign that says "KILL ME! You'll regret it if you don't!"
Okay, so maybe it's something about Innistrad. I love this card. It's one of three cards I would run in any vampire deck in Standard (The other two being Stromkirk Captain and Tragic Slip.) Probably my favourite one-drop in game.
Priceless.
....I'm sure that my opponents think that it's just as funny as I do.
"For your consideration... the Jericho."
The question is, if you give it double strike while it's still a 1/1, and it deals direct damage, does it deal a total of three damage or two? I know it still gets two +1/+1, but does it get a +1/+1 during the first strike damage and then another after regular?
With so many neat spells to help him get trough and get nasty quickly i always wondered why he didnt appear in standard more often.
T1: Him
T2: Curse of Stalked Prey. Opponent at 19, him 3/3.
T3: Assault Strobe, Artful Dodge. Opponent at 11, him 7/7. Mana open for Apostle protection.
T4: Assault Strobe, flashback the dodge. Opponent at -5 (aka, enough damage so that even some life gain wont matter).
This does require two Assault strobes, but even with just one he will be a serious threat early on.
Oh, and how come all the instants/sorceries starts with "a"?
Now if only he could not be blocked by elf's also.
I think "one of the best one-drops" at least needs the qualification that we're just talking standard here. It's seen a lot of play in standard lately, and rightly so, but it's much better in limited environments than it is anywhere else due to the "humans" requirement for its evasion. Outside of standard, that evasion becomes extremely unreliable, and RDW has quite a few better one-drops that have a either more consistent ways to get bigger or far scarier consequences for opponents unable to answer. I think a rating based purely on power of near 4 seems about right, though I'd think it'd be above, not below, and if we're taking into account swagger he clearly needs deserves a 5.
@Anstache: Not just in standard. The first ability is just the icing on the cake. Stromkirk gets stronger every turn regardless. It's a great one drop for any red aggro deck. True, in modern Goblin Guide is better but you could run Stromkirk alongside it. It still has some relevancy in modern (although yes I was talking about standard in the best one drops thing).
Turn one: cast - noble
Turn two: cast - furor of the bitten, assault strobe. Hit for 7 in total.
Turn three: armed. 13 damage total.