The utility is what makes this card so good. Options are what take good cards and make them great.
You can choose to take out your enemies 4(or less) bodied creature or pump up your own 5+ bodied creature to make it hit for more ouchies, think of big baddies like rakdos, lord of riots and chaos imps. Add in the instant speed to really make this card into stellar rakdos utility.
ChozoGhost
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(8 votes)
This Auger can kill any Augur in the game!
Lotsofpoopy
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(14 votes)
This is a versatile card that pros like me will make use of for either removal or power pump.
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Solid. Good removal, especially against indestructibles and reanimators. Also very good on your own first strikers.
Eternal_Blue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
While this may be no Sangrite Backlash, a truly versatile card, this will still see play as expensive removal. In the current block, however, you may be hard-pressed to find an actual use for the +4 pump ability though, since it will almost surely kill your creature as well. Perhaps the last two sets will bring Rakdos (well, Sinker anyhow) some bigger creatures to use it on.
A0602
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
Billy Mays here with another fantastic product.
The AwesomeAuger. The most efficient and powerful garden tool you will ever use. It's great for preparing soil for all kinds of planting. Call now to get the AwesomeAuger for only 19.95
... after watching this old commercial, I almost think that the Auger should be Golgari (because an Auger is a gardening tool (green) and is being used to kill someone (black).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLDXfYDAziI
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This pumps your creatures up by 4 power if you want to be horribly reckless OR it kills their creatures with toughness 4 or less.
4 power for three mana is maybe worth it in Red/Black, if it doubles as removal. I could see this being the last spell you play in a game, one way or another.
Dabok
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I know that spot removal's been buffed these past few months/years, but I still think that 3cmc for -4 isn't "too costy". It stays good in my book.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(10 votes)
Yours is the auger that will pierce the heavens!
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I always liked Sangrite Backlash, and trading enchantment for instant is pretty handy, overall. Pity there aren't a whole lot of Rakdos critters who can actually survive it to use it. Cryptborn Horror might like it though.
ToAsTy42o
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@alphagprime im not an official "rules guy," so take this with a grain of salt: it makes sense to me that this would resolve first, killing the dude when everything checks, then combat damage happens. otherwise, most instant removal would be kind of useless....
alphagprime
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ ToAsTy42o: That's what I assumed as well. Thank you.
As has been mentioned many times this is an excellent removal spell for some formats. The sad part is that there are so few options that you can use this on in Standard to actually use as a buff. In Limited your options are even more...limited? Rakdos and Chaos Imps, both of which are stellar targets.
However, outside of Standard! Introducing Mortis Dogs!
The only other question I have though is in regards to the stack. If you attack with a creature with P/T > X/4 and the opponent doesn't block it (for whatever reason, they can't, etc.) what would happen if you put this on that creature? Would it die before doing damage or after?
Example: I attack into my opponent's open field with Slitherhead. Just before damage is assigned I drop this card on Slitherhead to pump him to a 5/-2. Does Slitherhead die immediately as, what I believe would be, a state based action or is that checked after the damage is assigned?
Averyck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Played Rakdos Cackler unleashed. Opponent Auger Sprees it, since he had no blockers. I'm playing jund, with one green mana open. Giant Growthed it in response and killed my opponent by dealing 9 damage when he had 8 life. Moral of the story? Be very wary of combat tricks with this card. it may end up getting you killed.
mdakw576
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Amazing in limited, but I ran headfirst into a giant growth with this and it ended up with a huge attack, so in that respect you do need to be a little careful with this card.
Potsofloopy
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is vestibule card that novice like me will never use for either powerful removal spell or power pump. In Mono-Black controlo deck i has made is nice.
Johnald
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Augur Spree, have you met my good friend Wild Defiance?
nirvava
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just a personal opinion, but I don't think spells whose effects exceed their earliest possible playable turn (read: Mana Leak) should be at common in standard; i.e., a card that's playable by turn three shouldn't be able to undo an equal rarity card played on turn 4. Either Wizard should control the power creep on their creatures, or maybe resist the urge to print cards like this.
northprophet
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Versatile, but risky. Picked up three at the Pre-release and went 4-2 mostly on the back of this card. Careful of the combat tricks tho, tried to Spree a Wild Beastmaster with a couple +1/+1 counters on it attacking with a 3/3 token. Opponent played a Selesnya Charm and smashed me for 21. Everything I had was unleashed, so... yeah...
steev
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Excuse me if this sounds stupid, but:
how do you get better at end of turn after having dozens of drills pierce through you
Kurraga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This thing is usually just removal in limited. Most rakdos creatures are too small to get pumped, unless you get some splashy bomb like Chaos Imps.
I played this FIRST, making it a 10/1. I then played the Charm, only to be Cancelled.
Moral of the story: play small effects/spells first.
psychichobo
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@alphagprime: Mortis Dogs?... you sick, sick puppy.
Like that card needed to be more unpopular in my playgroup...
yesnomu
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Your opponents will sure be *bored* when they have no creatures in play! *badum pssh*
*crickets*
Adallace
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I think this is better than it may seem at first glance. It will take out indestructible creatures and is flexible too, as it can make a tanky creature on your side into a deadly strike.
Arachnos
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ChozoGhost: even Jin-Gitaxias... poor guy.
demidracolich
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Ferlord: wouldn't it be 8/1 since its a 4/5 normally?
With out something like trample or regenerate this is just to risky and situational for standard. Not to say it can't be used in a dedicated deck or other formats. The flavor is nice though, and you gain more power by letting some crazy drill have it's way with you and your opponent lol.
CORRBentOrgy
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Honestly, Grixis Control loves this card, but she card and I can only be friends because of that colourless mana that's always hanging around. If it weren't for him, we'd be inseparable. Grasp of Darkness might not have the combat trick, but she's less high maintenance.
yyukichigai
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Man, the B/R combo is not usually known for its flexibility, but Rakdos cards seem to have some of the most flexible uses ever. First Wrecking Ball and now this. Kill anything with 4-or-less toughness for 3 mana? Yes please. Buff my already obscenely powerful critter even more? Very much yes please.
@ Steve: the same way an elephant can wear boots: MAGIC!
GearLeader
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Saved my but more then i care to think about. 5/5
RamenAwesome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A delicious instant when paired with exalted. Your creatures will be big enough when attacking to get the damage boost, while your opponents creatures won't be so lucky.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The biggest issue with this is that it's almost never usable as a pump. When it is however you can swing with a 9/1 most of the time, such as with Bloodgift Demon, for example.
I think if running tricolor, this would be grand in something weird like Treefolk Tribal. Your 2-drop can now swing for mass damage out of nowhere, which is nice.
Comments (38)
You can choose to take out your enemies 4(or less) bodied creature or pump up your own 5+ bodied creature to make it hit for more ouchies, think of big baddies like rakdos, lord of riots and chaos imps. Add in the instant speed to really make this card into stellar rakdos utility.
The AwesomeAuger. The most efficient and powerful garden tool you will ever use. It's great for preparing soil for all kinds of planting. Call now to get the AwesomeAuger for only 19.95
... after watching this old commercial, I almost think that the Auger should be Golgari (because an Auger is a gardening tool (green) and is being used to kill someone (black).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLDXfYDAziI
4 power for three mana is maybe worth it in Red/Black, if it doubles as removal. I could see this being the last spell you play in a game, one way or another.
As has been mentioned many times this is an excellent removal spell for some formats. The sad part is that there are so few options that you can use this on in Standard to actually use as a buff. In Limited your options are even more...limited? Rakdos and Chaos Imps, both of which are stellar targets.
However, outside of Standard! Introducing Mortis Dogs!
The only other question I have though is in regards to the stack. If you attack with a creature with P/T > X/4 and the opponent doesn't block it (for whatever reason, they can't, etc.) what would happen if you put this on that creature? Would it die before doing damage or after?
Example: I attack into my opponent's open field with Slitherhead. Just before damage is assigned I drop this card on Slitherhead to pump him to a 5/-2. Does Slitherhead die immediately as, what I believe would be, a state based action or is that checked after the damage is assigned?
how do you get better at end of turn after having dozens of drills pierce through you
I had this and Golgari Charm in my hand, and my opponent was attacking me with an Archon of the Triumvirate. I was at 5 life.
I played this FIRST, making it a 10/1. I then played the Charm, only to be Cancelled.
Moral of the story: play small effects/spells first.
Like that card needed to be more unpopular in my playgroup...
*crickets*
Yeah you can't Ball Lightning-Blood Lust-Fling, but I'll take the flexibility of use over that.
I think if running tricolor, this would be grand in something weird like Treefolk Tribal. Your 2-drop can now swing for mass damage out of nowhere, which is nice.