Pointed Discussion

Casual players love their kitties and lifegain seems to be becoming the cat skill.

I'm using these as proxies for Sorin, Lord of Innistrad's +1 tokens.

For a 1 drop nowadays it is almost good in limited. Sadly creatures are so overpowered

YES

CAT TRIBAL

Pros like me know that for a 1 drop this guy has some value. Never underestimate lifelink, non-pros.

If a creature's not even Limited-playable, it isn't very good. Still, as far as unplayable garbage goes, this sure is cute. I guess I just can't stay mad at cats.

Another cat with lifelink. How queer.

Reminds me of the mutant tiger-cat-lynx owned by Ozmandias in Watchman, Bubastis.

Playable in Limited.

Well, that thing blows. In constructed and even in limited.

Ok, to explain in more detail while it sucks in limited (I hope I don't have to explain why it sucks in constructed): first, it's just a 1/1. A 1/1 without any sorts of evasion, any ability that helps it survive, or anything else that buffs it in some way. A 1/1 with evasion can get through for some damage. This can't. As soon as a bear or similiar hits the table, this is useless on offense. It has no ability either that helps it kill something in combat, which means it can't kill anything with more than one toughness, and dies to everything. So if you play this on turn one, it can attack for one, maybe two damage, at best. It might also be that your opponent goes first, so before this can ever attack, even if played on turn one, your opponent got a bear in play. And if you play this past turn one, this is even more pathetic. 90% of the time, this chump blocks once, and gains you one life.
So, it got lifelink? Question: what's good about a creature with lifelink? Answer: That it can gain substantial amounts of life while dealing damage, thus helping you survive while killing the opponent. To make this work, a few requirements have to be met. First, the lifelinker must survive. Otherwise it can't gain substantial amounts of life. Is a 1/1 creature without any abilities but lifelink likely to survive for long? Nope. Second: it must be able to deal quite some damage, since otherwise the lifelink gains life just in pityful amounts. Is a 1 power creature able to deal lots of damage? Nope. And last but not least: it must be able to keep attacking, to deal damage, to gain life. Is a 1/1 without any sorts of evasion or anything else able to attack for long? Nope.

All this combined: THIS CARD IS HORRIBLE! It is utter garabage. I wouldn't play it in any format ever. It sucks. Players who play to win don't play this. If you just want to play a funny kitten deck that doesn't even try to win: yes why not. But if you want to win: don't play this.

I'll stick with my sword, thanks.

Play with Sanctuary Cat for great justice.

Hey its a good candidate for Rancor or an equipment. You used to have to pay for a 1/1 lifelink.

I'm starting to wonder if majinara is hunting down all lifelink cards. Kid has a vendetta or something.

The card, however, is fine for what it is; a common lifelink for one mana. Remember that; common. Like Cathedral Sanctifier its meant to be an early source of annoyance for your opponent, and help you slide into more powerful threats.

Is it going to see tournament play? Of course not, but not every card is meant to be tournament worthy; if that was the case, the entire game would be littered with "HOLY SHIT THAT'S SO BROKEN! BANHAMMER BANHAMMER!" Every match would be drowned in expensive cards that would kill the spirit of the game itself. Look at Legacy tournaments, now imagine that everywhere. It'd be sick. Lands should not cost 80 USD each.

That's why we have Murder, and not Go for the Throat; to relax the pace a little so Standard isn't a five minute death race anymore.

@majinara: If you're complaining about this being bad in Limited, you must not play Limited that much, or that well. The point isn't to chump block with this guy — that would be a waste of a 1-drop. The point is to boost it with stuff like Ethereal Armor and Pursuit of Flight. Just because you don't know how to use a card doesn't make it bad. This is one of the more underrated 1-drops in Limited in fact. Every time I've used it, it's had a much bigger impact than just blocking and bringing me up to 21. I will admit that I thought this card was pretty bad at first myself, but after using it in drafts, I see its potential. It's not a good Constructed card by any means, but it's a damn good Limited card. 3.5/5

3/5.

Strictly not Nip Gwyllion.

@majinara You talk like there's something wrong with playing kitchen-table magic. As if it's a thing second to playing competitive magic.
I've got bad news for you son...

4.5/5

This card has won me many games in casual, simply because on turn two you're attacking with a 5/3 with lifelink, first strike and trample if you add on ethereal armour and rancor. There are so many enchantments that make this card amazing. Give it hexproof, flying, double strike and all of the sudden this card is something like a 10/10 on turn 4-5.

I know this card isn't perfect, but a 1 drop with lifelink is pretty good if you buff it enough.

Really, the point of this card is to have it buffed. As a one-drop, you can get it out right away and have it enchanted and ready to attack by your second turn. If you've played before your opponent on turn one, your cat isn't likely to be removed before you can enchant it unless you're up against . Totem armor or hexproof will keep it alive as it works the opponent and gains you life. If it ends up dying, the life you've gotten with it can help keep you going until you can get a new enchanted creature established.

On it's own, its an average-powered one-drop for common rarity; not a game-changer by any means. In the right deck, tough, it can be utilized beyond it's mediocrity. Gotta think like Jonny for this one, people.

3/5

Kitchen Counter-top wars at their best...

Player 1: "Okay, land for turn. I play Forest".

Player 2: "Aight. That makes 5 lands for you. Gratz on not missing a single land drop so far!"

Player 1: "Thanks. Llanowar Elves also helped with that! Okay, time for the attack phase".

Player 2: "So... you are attacking me with your Thragtusk and Trained Caracal? But I only have one creature... okay, I'll block the Thragtusk".

Player 1: "Are you sure about that?".

Player 2: "Yeah, why?".

Player 1: "Okay, after blockers have been declared, I respond with a few instants. Tell me if you have any responses to any of them. Giant Growth, Brute Force, Ground Swell, and Assault Strobe on the Trained Caracal. It's now an 11/9 double strike!"

Player 2: "WHAT!? Okay, in response to Giant Growth, I cast Doom Blade on the trained Caracal!"

Player 1: "In response to your Doom Blade, I cast Ranger's Guile on the Trained Caracal!"

Player 2: "Noooooooo....."

Player 1: "Did I forget to mention the Trained Caracal gets +1/+0 from the Ranger's Guile?"

Puss in boots without the boots?

This, alongside hopeful eidolon and ethereal armor, will be excellent 1-drops for a cat-tribal enchantment deck with Brimaz, King of Oreskos at the forefront!