This keyrune actually seems like a great recipient for all of the red and white combat tricks out there.
marmaris74
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
People say that this is the weakest keyrune. All I have to say is that in a set where Combat Trick is a freaking ability word, I'm gonna stick with any double striker I can get.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Yeah, I'll say it, this is the weakest keyrune. In most cases I'd rather have Dimir Keyrune or Rakdos Keyrune. The latter can kill Thragtusk and its token without needing to be pumped.
Leonin_Kha_Cameron
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
I have to say that I am disappointed with this card. not because it's under powered or anything like that, I'm disappointed that wizards passed up the opportunity to make this an ode to Boros Swiftblade like how they did with Selesnya Keyrune and Watchwolf. It wouldn't have been hard; one more toughness wouldn't have broken this card.
Moxxy
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
"Should have been a 1/2" -Anyone who's ever seen Boros Swiftblade
The problem is double-strikers can be good but usually because they can be equipped or enchanted. That doesn't work with this only being an artifact most of the time.
Dream_Twist
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This might get help from the new Batallion abilities. Don't underestimate double strike. It's come a long way since ridgetop raptor.
pedrodyl
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Cipher some stuff onto this for fun times
Purplerooster
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Possibly the worst keyrune, but mana fixing is mana fixing- even at three cmc.
rollinsclone
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Well this is..... underwhelming.
.Blaze.
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The Boros got many good cards this set. This was not one of them.
RedJaron
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm disappointed. Not by the card, but because I love the flavor text on the other keyrunes and this doesn't have any.
deserter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Never ever underestimate double strike.
Keiya
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This really should be a 1/2, so at least it would have been Boros Swiftblae, a well-known card from the previous Ravnica block. Right now, it's a Fencing Ace which is only one color, so there isn't even the nostalgia backing this card up. Comparatively, Selesnya Keyrune turns into Watchwolf which is a better card on its own. As is, you can't even fully utilize its double strike ability by enchanting this with Scourge of the Nobilis for longer than one turn. Pretty lame...
Mike-C
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Who here plays SKYLANDERS?? Tell me that's not a miniature one of those ancient war machines you get to ride in- in Spyro's Adventure and Chaos rolls in- in Giants, on a stick! LOOK! It's even got the punch symbol on its chest to represent what it does!! LOL.. Nice :)
CORRBentOrgy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I guess Naya can use extra three mana for this and Rancor?
Lifegainwithbite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Orionmark 1) yes you could but why would you? It would be tapped and unable to do anything. If you gave it vigilance and attacked first that would work. 2) yes it would have summoning sickness for the first turn the artifact had been played.
Orionmark
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One further question, does it retain any sort of effects that it had received as a creature when it reverts to being an artifact? For example, If you attach a artifact to it or if you enchant it, or maybe it gets a permanent +1 / +1, does it stay on it when it reverts, and come back into effect when it is activated again?
will_dice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Orionmark: Q: does it retain any sort of effects that it had received as a creature when it reverts to being an artifact?
A: Some, not all.
Auras and Equipments continuously check if they are attached to a valid object, so once the Keyrune stops being a creature, equipments unattach, and auras will go to the graveyard if they say "enchant creature" (but if the aura says "enchant artifact" or "enchant permanent" it will stay, as the enchanting is still valid).
Counters (such as +1/+1 counters) stay on the keyrune. Exiled Cipher cards are still "encoded" to it, and exiled Haunt cards are still "haunting" it (and still triggers if the non-creature keyrune goes to the graveyard).
If you somehow pair a keyrune to a creature with soulbond, they stop being paired when the keyrune stops being a creature.
Villainous1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Doesn't even have flavour text.
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Double Strike gives this some very solid uses. If you play it and then stack some +1/+1 counters on it at some stage, you're in a perfect position to board wipe and immediately stomp face. Outside of specific uses like that...yeah, it's a little weak.
Oh! If you can stomach the colours, slapping a Cipher spell on this if you can get it through is pretty devastating. It's harder to remove at sorcery speed and double strike means cipher is applied twice.
Bfrying
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
We are having difficulty establishing something with this card, When it says tap to add one red/white mana to your mana pool. Does that mean you are only adding one mana to your mana pool for that turn or for the remainder of the game until set mana is used. and if set mana is added to your mana pool how do you keep track of how much mana is in your pool. Personally i think its easier to pull a mana from the bottom of your deck and add it to your mana pool, or possibly turning another card over to represent the floating mana. Please help me determine how to use this card, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Bfrying A land taps for mana. This card also taps for mana. There are no cards that tap for a land. Mana empties at the end of each phase: Upkeep Draw Main Phase 1 Combat Main Phase 2 End Phase (there's probably more, but it doesn't matter that much)
If you use this, it is the same thing as using a land. You only get the mana for that 1 phase, and after you spend it to cast a spell (or the phase ends), it is gone.
As for the card, I like it. It could have been a bit stronger, but doublestrike is always a dangerous keyword. Just a giant growth could turn this into a monster.
AkajiFlare
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Worse than Boros SwiftBlade AND Fencing Ace.
Mosstone
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does nobody else see that this is obviously Iron Man?
If so, the Boros has more brains than the Izzet, more money than the Orzhov, more excitement than the Rakdos, and more strength than the Azorius and Gruul.
In conclusion, don't make the Boros angry. You won't like them when they're angry.
Comments (24)
-Anyone who's ever seen Boros Swiftblade
The problem is double-strikers can be good but usually because they can be equipped or enchanted. That doesn't work with this only being an artifact most of the time.
1) yes you could but why would you? It would be tapped and unable to do anything. If you gave it vigilance and attacked first that would work.
2) yes it would have summoning sickness for the first turn the artifact had been played.
Q: does it retain any sort of effects that it had received as a creature when it reverts to being an artifact?
A: Some, not all.
Auras and Equipments continuously check if they are attached to a valid object, so once the Keyrune stops being a creature, equipments unattach, and auras will go to the graveyard if they say "enchant creature" (but if the aura says "enchant artifact" or "enchant permanent" it will stay, as the enchanting is still valid).
Counters (such as +1/+1 counters) stay on the keyrune. Exiled Cipher cards are still "encoded" to it, and exiled Haunt cards are still "haunting" it (and still triggers if the non-creature keyrune goes to the graveyard).
If you somehow pair a keyrune to a creature with soulbond, they stop being paired when the keyrune stops being a creature.
Oh! If you can stomach the colours, slapping a Cipher spell on this if you can get it through is pretty devastating. It's harder to remove at sorcery speed and double strike means cipher is applied twice.
When it says tap to add one red/white mana to your mana pool. Does that mean you are only adding one mana to your mana pool for that turn or for the remainder of the game until set mana is used.
and if set mana is added to your mana pool how do you keep track of how much mana is in your pool. Personally i think its easier to pull a mana from the bottom of your deck and add it to your mana pool, or possibly turning another card over to represent the floating mana.
Please help me determine how to use this card, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
A land taps for mana. This card also taps for mana. There are no cards that tap for a land. Mana empties at the end of each phase:
Upkeep
Draw
Main Phase 1
Combat
Main Phase 2
End Phase
(there's probably more, but it doesn't matter that much)
If you use this, it is the same thing as using a land. You only get the mana for that 1 phase, and after you spend it to cast a spell (or the phase ends), it is gone.
As for the card, I like it. It could have been a bit stronger, but doublestrike is always a dangerous keyword. Just a giant growth could turn this into a monster.
If so, the Boros has more brains than the Izzet, more money than the Orzhov, more excitement than the Rakdos, and more strength than the Azorius and Gruul.
In conclusion, don't make the Boros angry. You won't like them when they're angry.