So many people are going to be completely blown out by this in limited, it's not even funny.
Keino
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(17 votes)
(At the bar...) Volcanic Dragon: "I can't believe they bumped me down to uncommon. I mean, I'm grateful for even appearing in a core set, but it just stinks, y'know!?"
Serra Angel: "Don't. Even. Get. Me. Started...*swig*"
don_miguel
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
don't get at uncommon: uncommon = more dragons, more copies, more play, more slaughter
ZEvilMustache
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This card features pretty predominantly in the Sarkhan Vol Duels2012 deck. I've found, through frustrating practice, that the correct move is to remove it ASAP. The deck never seems to hit six mana. I'm not sure what that says about the card when you have more control over your deck construction, but I suspect it won't be an auto-include in red decks. Certainly not bloodthirst decks.
MrBarrelRoll
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I always felt like M11 limited needed something like this when I was trying to draft red. More than makes up for it now, I think.
Robface
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
Seems very fitting at uncommon, i like it.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
The art is really cool.
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Good in limited, bad in constructed. On the one hand I like reprints, since I can then use the old version. On the other, the concept of "lower rarity = worse card" pretty much sucks.
2/5
Whitewing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In it will work well as one of your fatties
Wynzerman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
:) I've always dug this precursor to Rorix Bladewing, since it used to rival Thorn Elemental and co. as every new player's holographic treasure, oh how the time has flown. Very fitting at uncommon, and not to be underestimated as 4 power, flying and haste can be a game wrecker.
VampireCat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Same CMC as Inferno Titan, which hits for 3 the turn it comes down (as opposed to 4 hasty flying) and is thereafter much bigger and keeps blasting out damage.
Ferlord
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@vampirecat
Yes, Inferno Titan does do more damage for a better CMC. However, Volcanic Dragon is about $0.50 and uncommon, and Inferno Titan is $11 (give or take) and a mythic rare.
Fits right where it should be at Uncommon. Red had an Uncommon Dragon ages ago - Dragon Whelp - and a few others since then, so this makes sense and gets away from the theme that all powerful and large creatures need to be rares or Mythics (unless you're green, of course.)
As for the Dragon itself, it probably won't see play in Standard, but it's not bad.
TherealphatMatt
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Works as an Uncommon. If it was a rare or mythic, I'd expect it to be a bit cheaper. I mean, compare this thing to something like Chandra's Phoenix. Sure, this'll plow through most stuff, but by turn 6 (maybe a turn or two earlier if you're splashing green), I can't foresee it actually doing much effectively.
There are so many more interesting and powerful dragons for 6. Mordant Dragon, Flameblast Dragon, the list goes on. Still, not bad for an uncommon, and fun enough for casual play.
GengilOrbios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
badass art is badass.
JFM2796
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
I like how M12 has a big creature at uncommon for each color. Serra Angel for white, Belltower Sphinx for blue, Sengir Vampire for black, this for red, and I'm not sure abot green. Cudgel Troll or Carnage Wurm, maybe? Anyway, I would expect this to be pretty good in draft. i wouldn't know because I haven't drafted with or against it. Only thing that bothers me is it costs where the others cost . I wish they cut off and make it a 4/3 or something.
Cheza
★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Should cost 5 instead of 6, but still I wish the Dragonstorm Decks would have to use this dragon. That would have give you some chances at least, that it doesn't result in an insta-win.
netog121
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
a finisher in limited, I won some games with it when I played 2 in a draft with my friends
Arachibutyrophobia
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(4 votes)
hellkite charger is infinitely better
kiseki
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
I am glad to see that people enjoy this for what it is in its rarity slot.
BuffJittePLZ
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4.5/5 for its worth in limited, for that great art, and for WotC not re-naming it.
Shadoflaam
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Strictly worse than Hellkite Charger, but it IS an uncommon. I love it.
TheWrathofShane
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
They wanted to bring an old red rare to the table and make him an uncommon. This was a great choice, but only one problem. Hes overcosted by ! White gets Serra Angel for Black gets Sengir Vampire for and red, well he has to pay extra for a 4/4 flyer with another ability. It would have been so much more bomb to just make up a new card and reference to volcanic dragon thats cheaper.
EDIT: This is what Volcanic Dragon looks like at mythic level. Thundermaw Hellkite
C1455
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love the art on this card. Not as good as other dragons in terms of ability and mana cost but it is still a descent card.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Unlike Thundermaw Hellkite, actually fairly costed. The fact that this is still a 3.6/5 after all of the hideously powerful alternatives have floated around for quite a bit proves that such a mechanic is inherently strong. Haste on a large, evasive body isn't trivial, Wizards. Stop printing STUPIDLY powerful mythics, we're perfectly happy with our well balanced uncommons.
TastyWumpus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think the haste on this guy can be sorely underestimated. Sure he's 1cmc more than a Serra angel, but you'll only be able to attack with her on the 6th turn as well - but the volcanic dragon has the advantage of surprise on that 6th turn. A big, surprise, hasty flying guy like this can do a lot of damage.
Callahan09
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
As others have said, you're much better off with a Hellkite Charger. Considering it has the exact same mana cost as the other guy, who has +1/+1 over this guy AND a ability to untap all your cards and have a second combat phase after attacking. Just so much better, it's ridiculous.
Continue
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Very much worse than Thundermaw, but still a great card. Kind of shows you how busted Thundermaw is.
Aremath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like it that he's an uncommon now. spices up the limited format a lot. Sure, there are better cards, but if you're playing limited you only get to take what's in front of you, and those rares from other sets sure aren't. Would I play this card outside of limited? of course not. All of the other options people have pointed out are better. But it's nice to be able to play such a (relatively) powerful card in draft, and you can potentially get more than 1?
Of course this comment comes late for M12 limited, but this reprint at a lower rarity bodes well for future draft formats as well. Also nice because it can now be included in my friend's relatively powered commons & uncommons cube.
Comments (30)
Volcanic Dragon: "I can't believe they bumped me down to uncommon. I mean, I'm grateful for even appearing in a core set, but it just stinks, y'know!?"
Serra Angel: "Don't. Even. Get. Me. Started...*swig*"
On the one hand I like reprints, since I can then use the old version. On the other, the concept of "lower rarity = worse card" pretty much sucks.
2/5
Yes, Inferno Titan does do more damage for a better CMC.
However, Volcanic Dragon is about $0.50 and uncommon, and Inferno Titan is $11 (give or take) and a mythic rare.
That's just like saying Demonic Tutor is much better than Diabolic Tutor, minus, of course, the legality.
As for the Dragon itself, it probably won't see play in Standard, but it's not bad.
There are so many more interesting and powerful dragons for 6. Mordant Dragon, Flameblast Dragon, the list goes on. Still, not bad for an uncommon, and fun enough for casual play.
Anyway, I would expect this to be pretty good in draft. i wouldn't know because I haven't drafted with or against it. Only thing that bothers me is it costs
EDIT: This is what Volcanic Dragon looks like at mythic level. Thundermaw Hellkite
Of course this comment comes late for M12 limited, but this reprint at a lower rarity bodes well for future draft formats as well. Also nice because it can now be included in my friend's relatively powered commons & uncommons cube.
Also I just love haste.