Mabye should have cost 1 less with a better body and/or trample. Seeing a creature with 1 toughness at 6 cmc is just plain depressing.
Vakyoom
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(5 votes)
What a disappointing body, this guy costs like kamahl but doesn't nearly do kamahls job... I think WotC forgot to give this guy unleash, there's room for it right next to first strike and everything.
This guy is either missing an ability or costs too damn much, but it is definitely wasting an uncommon slot. 1/5
Totema
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
I didn't think this was too bad, until I noticed it costs 6. Wow, for real? Who would want to pay 6 for a non-evasive Hypnotic Specter?
Lotsofpoopy
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(5 votes)
All of these non-pros that are poo pooing this card haven't noticed something. Pros like me know that this creature regenerates for only 1 mana. That is pretty good for a first striker that discards.
Fireballmage
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
First strike is redundant with a regeneration cost that cheap. This card could have easily been printed at 4 mana.
He's bad in draft, bad in constructed, and not worth the effort in casual when Hypnotic Specter already randomly discards plenty fine. He's the Bog Hoodlums of the set, a meh card design turned into overpriced trash in development. For what purpose, I'm not sure; it wasn't to balance Limited, since the Ringleader is uncommon. Maybe they're trying to compensate for the awesomeness of the guild charms and 1 drop hybrids by printing garbage at uncommon so that people open more packs.
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I'm impressed by WotC's guts. (Because they sure needed a lot of them to give a hardcore badass like him such an insultingly steep mana cost.)
RAV0004
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
At CMC 3 It's standard Playable. At CMC 4 It's limited fodder. At CMC 5 It's worthless even in sealed.
Ferlord
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
I mean, regenerate for 1 is really cool... but it's like Archweaver in the way that First Strike is a primarily aggressive ability while regeneration is not: The two abilities don't work.
And the whole "discard a card randomly" is not really worth the cost at all.
In all truth, if this was a 5/1, it would've been highly considered in Limited. If it was a 4/1, it might make pack turn 5-8. Now, I think it's going to be one of those last-pick cards.
link3343
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I honestly think this card isn't trash. Can be regenarated, so it can defend itself from sort of removal. With the removal of incinerate and regenration is better now/ He does cost a lot, but i feel like most people are missing the point. He's rakdos/ You play Rakdos, Lord of Riots. Attack with him next turn, and then play this guy for 2. You can argue that it'd be better to play something like Utvara Hellkite, but again this can regenerate itself.
NuckChorris
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This card raises a lot of questions. Where did they pull from? And how does one measly ringleader cost more than their guildleader, a huge demon that shoots fire everywhere? Uncommon?
Purplerooster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Three nice abilities, still not worth 6 mana. 2/5
bfellow
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@link3343... the biggest issue is the 1 toughness. even with regeneration you lose to Tragic Slip, Cower in Fear, and anything that gives -1/-1 to creatures.
hottychick88
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Wizards forgot to print haste on this dude.
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Titan cycle just got usurped by one card.
OpenSeasonNoobs
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@Feralsymphony So a 4 cost 4/2 first striking regenerater with a spectre ability seems fair? Not at all lol.
If he cost 1 less, he'd be insane. If you're finding yourself lacking in bombs, he's OK in a more controlling deck. It's nearly impossible to destroy him and he rips the little dudes to shreds. With enough Auger Sprees and Ultimate Prices, he's ok.
When you splash green into the deck and scavenge some dudes onto him he takes off FAST. He might actually be the premiere Scavenge target.
This card seems a slight underrated. Regenerate for 1 is no joke. If you're against a player who has nothing in the air, this card can straight up win a game with just his blocking ability.
niallcmurray86
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I kinda like it, strictly in limited. But he isn't the WORST card I've seen WOTC throw at me.
Tiggurix
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@hottychick88: Or double strike...
Continue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Hey, with Merfolk of the Depths out, he's no longer the worst creature in the block. That's worth something, right?
...No, it isn't. 0.5/5. I've never found a use for this guy, even in Limited. Sure, his regen is cheap, and he has a Hypnotic Specter ability and first strike to go along with it, but... for a 3/1? Ouch.
SirWhetcastleKibbs
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I actually really like this card.
I think the main thing you have to keep in mind is what @link3343 said, this guy is made to be paincasted by Rakdos. I think that's pretty neat; as a ringleader, the only person this dude answers to is Rakdos himself, so it makes sense that he shows up punctually when the demon's around.
Otherwise, he requests this exorbitant amount of mana to cover his inconvenience, because frankly, you are aren't Rakdos.
Also, skeletons are way cooler than zombies, and way less overdone. The fact that skeletons are always grinning holds special, Rakdos significance.
shapelyman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hey, Viashino Skeleton is no longer the only Red Skeleton.
Shame the mana cost for this guy is so high, otherwise I would use him. His art is so cool.
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Cult Rakdos: Because Magic needed more New Orleans and more Hades in the same set.
Ferritefox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In RTR Rakdos, he's pretty meh. However, if you look at Dissension Rakdos, he's a perfect match with Hellbent. Mana cost is still pretty high though. Maybe 3RB.
Seems to be general agreement that this guy deserved some kind of break.
TexasDice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's a pretty dumb situation. They can't make this card neither cheap not expensive.
Kinda like land destruction. Three mana is too good and four too expensive.
BryceCarmony
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Random Card discard is cool but 6 is too much should be 4 without the regen option or 5 with tops. make the card playable.
Phelplan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think cmc less plus one extra toughness would have made him balanced.
SorianSadaskan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art of this card already told us what he is worth.
LOOK AT IT.
He is clearly trying to reason with his previous clients that he is worth the cost. You can clearly see the mob obviously come to him to complain how worthless he is, and how utterly HOPELESS it is to play HIM in draft.
It's like you bought a 'MINI-KOOPA' and hope it is worth its 10 years expectancy, only to utterly shatter a week later when it hits on a 1987 FORD within 50km/h. With that money, perhaps 50% more, you could have bought the much durable Nissan model Maximus. (pardon me for not knowing the CAR culture).
Bottom line is, he's clearly trying to calm down the incoming mob (Us. Players.) from literally taking him APART for using him, although you should kick yourself in the head for thinking he can be USED at all. Waiting to play him out is downright equivalent to getting your A$$ kicked.
This bony a$$ is no ringleader. He is DOG FOOD, and you'd be too if you shoved him into your deck.
Bbone37
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"I mean, regenerate for 1 is really cool... but it's like Archweaver in the way that First Strike is a primarily aggressive ability while regeneration is not: The two abilities don't work." - Ferlord
How is regen solely a defensive stat? Not saying this guy is good, but 1st strike and regen do work well, and on an aggressive creature. So you swing with no fear b/c they are either going to let him through, block him with some chump that gets 1st striked to death, or something bigger and you regen your dude. Regen on an aggressive guy just means you can freely swing w/o fear.
No trample/reach... THAT is a pure either/or set of abilities,yes. But 1st strike/regen is just "balls to the walls", man....
PopcornBunni
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The costing on this doesn't seem as bad if you assume the abilities are adding to the cost.
Take away first strike and it shaves off R from the cost, cheep regeneration is worth around 1 or 2, and random discard, the same. A vanilla 3/1 for 2B would be decent, not great, for the limited environment, and this guy's cost seems bolstered by the combination of his abilities. I could do without the first strike or even the random discard on him if it meant a cheaper, high-power regenerator.
As is, 2.5.
OlvynChuru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Totema
Hypnotic Specter doesn't have first strike and can't regenerate. Of course the specter is much better than this, but they are different cards.
Comments (34)
This guy is either missing an ability or costs too damn much, but it is definitely wasting an uncommon slot. 1/5
He's bad in draft, bad in constructed, and not worth the effort in casual when Hypnotic Specter already randomly discards plenty fine. He's the Bog Hoodlums of the set, a meh card design turned into overpriced trash in development. For what purpose, I'm not sure; it wasn't to balance Limited, since the Ringleader is uncommon. Maybe they're trying to compensate for the awesomeness of the guild charms and 1 drop hybrids by printing garbage at uncommon so that people open more packs.
(Because they sure needed a lot of them to give a hardcore badass like him such an insultingly steep mana cost.)
At CMC 4 It's limited fodder.
At CMC 5 It's worthless even in sealed.
And the whole "discard a card randomly" is not really worth the cost at all.
In all truth, if this was a 5/1, it would've been highly considered in Limited. If it was a 4/1, it might make pack turn 5-8. Now, I think it's going to be one of those last-pick cards.
2/5
If he cost 1 less, he'd be insane. If you're finding yourself lacking in bombs, he's OK in a more controlling deck. It's nearly impossible to destroy him and he rips the little dudes to shreds. With enough Auger Sprees and Ultimate Prices, he's ok.
When you splash green into the deck and scavenge some dudes onto him he takes off FAST. He might actually be the premiere Scavenge target.
This card seems a slight underrated. Regenerate for 1 is no joke. If you're against a player who has nothing in the air, this card can straight up win a game with just his blocking ability.
...No, it isn't. 0.5/5. I've never found a use for this guy, even in Limited. Sure, his regen is cheap, and he has a Hypnotic Specter ability and first strike to go along with it, but...
I think the main thing you have to keep in mind is what @link3343 said, this guy is made to be paincasted by Rakdos. I think that's pretty neat; as a ringleader, the only person this dude answers to is Rakdos himself, so it makes sense that he shows up punctually when the demon's around.
Otherwise, he requests this exorbitant amount of mana to cover his inconvenience, because frankly, you are aren't Rakdos.
Also, skeletons are way cooler than zombies, and way less overdone. The fact that skeletons are always grinning holds special, Rakdos significance.
Shame the mana cost for this guy is so high, otherwise I would use him. His art is so cool.
Seems to be general agreement that this guy deserved some kind of break.
Kinda like land destruction. Three mana is too good and four too expensive.
LOOK AT IT.
He is clearly trying to reason with his previous clients that he is worth the cost. You can clearly see the mob obviously come to him to complain how worthless he is, and how utterly HOPELESS it is to play HIM in draft.
It's like you bought a 'MINI-KOOPA' and hope it is worth its 10 years expectancy, only to utterly shatter a week later when it hits on a 1987 FORD within 50km/h. With that money, perhaps 50% more, you could have bought the much durable Nissan model Maximus. (pardon me for not knowing the CAR culture).
Bottom line is, he's clearly trying to calm down the incoming mob (Us. Players.) from literally taking him APART for using him, although you should kick yourself in the head for thinking he can be USED at all. Waiting to play him out is downright equivalent to getting your A$$ kicked.
This bony a$$ is no ringleader. He is DOG FOOD, and you'd be too if you shoved him into your deck.
How is regen solely a defensive stat? Not saying this guy is good, but 1st strike and regen do work well, and on an aggressive creature. So you swing with no fear b/c they are either going to let him through, block him with some chump that gets 1st striked to death, or something bigger and you regen your dude. Regen on an aggressive guy just means you can freely swing w/o fear.
No trample/reach... THAT is a pure either/or set of abilities,yes. But 1st strike/regen is just "balls to the walls", man....
Take away first strike and it shaves off R from the cost, cheep regeneration is worth around 1 or 2, and random discard, the same. A vanilla 3/1 for 2B would be decent, not great, for the limited environment, and this guy's cost seems bolstered by the combination of his abilities. I could do without the first strike or even the random discard on him if it meant a cheaper, high-power regenerator.
As is, 2.5.
Hypnotic Specter doesn't have first strike and can't regenerate. Of course the specter is much better than this, but they are different cards.
This should have costed