Pointed Discussion

Not bad. Red doesn't have a lot of ways to provide mana, aside from effects that help everyone, such as Manaflare.

Mana ramp for red isn't really relying on artifacts at all. Mainly on spells like Pyretic Ritual, but this and Amulet of Vigor and Cloud Key pays for itself. And then it profits some more with Ruby Medallion, and I'm sure there's more to this. Not that good though. It does provide more consistent mana for red, which is doesn't really have, so it should get a 3.5/5 just because it does for red what the other colors have more access to.

Ramp spell is a ramp spell is a ramp spell. I loves me some red ramp. I've even resorted to casting Brood Birthing without any spawns already in play just to get the ramp.

"Ramp spell is a ramp spell is a ramp spell. I loves me some red ramp. I've even resorted to casting Brood Birthing without any spawns already in play just to get the ramp."

Not really. The difference between a one-shot and a repeatable effect makes a world of difference in short versus protracted games. If you anticipate winning in a quick fashion (Storm decks, All-In Red) then you want your rituals. If you're playing a more controlling deck, you want something that sticks around turn after turn. The most obvious example is in mulitplayer and EDH formats, where a card like Everflowing Chalice is a staple, and Dark Ritual is terrible.

Actually...it's essentially a red rampant growth. Decent.

So... is that a guy's hand buried in the ground holding onto the gem? I've always wondered exactly what's going on in the art.

I prefer this to Mox Ruby because......

Any Chrono Trigger fans out there? Looks like a big hunk of Dreamstone to me!