Lovely card. An opponent is more than likely going to want to tap out for X spells, meaning this guy will most definitely counter it. And if not? Their spell either got -3 weaker, or delayed 3 turns. And by that time, they might be dead.
lorendorky
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(8 votes)
This needs more abilities.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(9 votes)
No bonfires for you.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
the second ability seems to have little to do with the card, and is more of a response to sphinx's revelation type cards.
Moxxy
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I thought TimmyForever got banned considering the numerous comments he made on RTR cards that were removed.
Anyways, his last ability clearly shows he's a burn medic.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(15 votes)
Removal dies to him.
ButlerOfBolas
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Flavorwise... Couple of issues
One. Why would he have bottles on the inside of his shield? Very easy to break. Two. Why does a doctor need two ogres to attack before he can heal people? Three. Indestructability? That's your armor. Regeneration makes more sense (even though it's off- color.) Four. Why did the Simic cross-breed Liam Neeson with a football player? Five. His last ability. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? He can throw himself in the way of a spell... but only if there's a variable power imput... and... weird.
The second ability on this card is nuts. It's exactly why you want to use him.
I am not convinced Battalion is any good. Once people get punished by any battalion effects, the metagame will simply respond in kind and make sure you never get it triggered at least 50% of the time, making him just a 3/3 for 3 with an ability that may or may not be relevant depending on who you are playing.
So, while he has the potential to be a 5/5 card, I'll just give him a 4/5 because battalion sucks.
Villainous1
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(8 votes)
This guy's medigun can ubercharge everyone! :D
Purplerooster
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
It's like a centaur....except color shifted....and with battalion...and with a counter....
Cyberium
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Brutal creature protection, almost sound like an oxymoron.
chainsmoker
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
being a medic, i was expecting regeneration. also, having a size of an elephant, indestructible is acceptable. but counter? possibly, prevent damage or protection from x.
Goatllama
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This guy's obviously a secret agent for Orzhov, he taxes your X spells!
.Blaze.
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Whenever I get Battalion to trigger I'm going to say "Deploying Ubercharge."
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
And now people are hate rating this. Below 4 stars?? WTF!! In this Standard environment, we need answers to Bonfires and Sphinx's Revelations and now Aurelia's Furies. I think it's only fair.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If there's one thing that's a problem with Battalion, it's that you have to put your creatures under fire. Sure, you can attack with your Legion Loyalist, but you're probably going to lose him to a blocker.
Medic just takes all that worry and shoves it to the side. Since none of your creatures will die, you've got nearly nothing to worry about. Not only that, but if you're desperately in need of another Battalion effect to activate but you have a fragile 1/1 that you don't want to lose, well... now there's nothing to worry about!
There's really nothing to say about the restricted Mana Leak. I know this will become a Standard staple. I just hope whoever is rating all of the cards down to less than 4 stars could stop.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In other words, more monowhite counters. Hooray!
buzzgsc
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Frontline Medic + Geist of Saint Traft -> Indestructible attackers every turn swinging for 9 per turn ! Winning !
RDorothy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i put 4 of him in my boros cleric deck. with battalion, if your opponent blocks, you can finish off his creatures with a burn spell. if he doesn't, then it's at least 5 damage (3+1+1) directly. your creatures are unharmed regardless. even though the indestructibility is only for one turn, it protects your attackers from deathtouch and first strike. it also forces your opponent to play creature removal on their turn instead of yours, using up their mana pool. the counter ability just makes it sweeter. any battalion deck would find this useful. 5/5 :p
chrome_dome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the better Boros creatures.
vardaris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I used it in prerelease, plays nice, it is not boros-resricted only, it can be used in almost every deck that plays with many small creatures and the last ability is very relevant in standart as the format is deluged with X costing spells. Great counter measure against miracle cards too.
I had the good luck to pull two of these at my pre-release, one in my guild pack and the other in a booster. Played them both, having this won me most of my games. Love this card.
sonorhC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Geist of Saint Traft isn't enough to trigger Battalion, by itself. The angel never actually attacks; she just comes into play attacking.
zzxyyzx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@.blaze.
Play with Balustrade Spy, Elvish Scout, Stun Sniper and Vedalken Engineer for bonus points.
The_Trendkill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's kind of like a throwback to Gaddock Teeg. Just like him, this guy is going to see competitive play.
DoragonShinzui
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Retardedly good and atrociously designed. The article on it infuriated me. "We needed a creature to have that hosing mechanic so we made this." ***. You made this because you were high and wanted something higher than you. 3/3 for 3 is already fair. Everything you control is indestructible when attacking is stupid good. "Target player pays more for his spell" is just there to hopefully distract players from the obscenely powerful card that has to be a misprint, because there's no way you actually made something that repeatedly makes all of your creature's indestructible for 3 mana and slapped it onto a stupid efficient body.
Shame on you, Wizards. Shame. On. You.
Hancocky
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I totally agree with Doragon Shinzui, why have they made this card so brocken and senseless? First, indestructible is no medical healing, it's prevention! The counter ability also doesn't fit well with this piece of crap, sorry, card. And finally, why is he a 3/3? On the one hand, it could have been a 1/3, 2/2 or whatever as well; on the other hand, the body is not even falvour-wise. 3/3 is just too good. There's not even a try to balance it.
1/5 stars. I rate cards not depending on it's power level alone but depending on the balance, art, flavour and creativity. Probably a few other people are rating with the same method, that could be the reason why the rating is under 4 as some wonder why this is so.
OrgasmandTea
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I'm sorry, but this is just evidence of lazy designing. If you don't want your stupid OP mythics to wreck everything, DON'T PRINT THEM.
MCcreator
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I hate this card, I hate it with my very soul. When I first saw "Better than bears" (eg Nest invader) I thought "That's fair, 2/2 for 2 isn't very powerful and other colours should have it as weel." But I felt that the centaur could not be bested. It was a 3/3 for 3 in green and that is as good as 2{g} would get. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! A 3/3 for 3, in white, which enables 1 sided wraths, and counters spells (in white!) and has no flavour other than the tf2 referance. I hate it. 0.5/5
Koirakonkari
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
First thing that popped to my mind was scene from Simpsons movie where the lake gets polluted and the giant skull appears yelling: ''EVIL!''.
Frenzy13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This works amazingly with Battle to the Death, and is in the right colors too. Throw in Odric or Master warcraft and you have some serious pain for an opponent.
SteveHiguita
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Regardless of personal opinions, it is a good card. Too good, perhaps, but last time I checked, 'too good' doesn't translate to 'bad'. You mightn't like to admit it, but this is a very good card. 4.5/5.
james2c19v
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The haters are acting like this thing has hexproof or something. You could kill it in response to the battalion trigger or even with sorcery-speed removal on your own turn.
Oh yeah, and as if one-sided boardwipe is unique to this card.
Smoke_Stack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just pulled a copy of this guy and so far, I'm stoked. I put him in a Five-Alarm Fire deck that focuses on tokens. Now, all my tokens don't have to commit suicide to make the enchantment work. STOKED!!
raptorman333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
just as a 3/3 for splashable 3cmc, solid. rare with the first ability alone. the second one is just gravy. or vice versa.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
DOCTOR! CHARGE ME!
Cloudchaser.Kestrel
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
I'm not going to talk about effectiveness - I think that's already been covered, but I'm as vorthos as the rest of the naysayers and I say his flavor is beautiful.
First thing you guys are missing is that he's not just a medic, he's a combat medic. He specializes in patching and stitching right there on the frontline. This means several things.
A) He's going to be much better at doing his work in combat - the battalion trigger is a perfect reflection of that.
B) He needs to be tough. He's a soldier wandering around on a battlefield. What if someone he needs to heal is currently under and ogre? He needs to deal with the ogre first. 3/3 - not unkillable, hardly the best soldier on the field but still a solid attacker.
Why indestructible? Healers have traditionally prevented damage as an easy way of representing damage that would have killed them going away. Frontline medic just takes this to an extreme I think suitable for a dedicated Boros army. He prevents all damage and destroy effects. He's good at what he does.
and why that silly secondary ability? Traditionally healers have had something like {T} prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature. Frontline medic can't do that. He's already tapped. But he's still a medic, he should still be able to help.
I'm seeing this as another aspect of his Boros training. Who do the Boros hate most? Probably Rakdos. Rakdos has access to two damage dealing spells with {x} in their cost that battlefield medic, while tapped can still give his life to counter (Bonfire of the damned, Rakdos's return - alternatively Dimir's mind grind, and Gruul's clan defiance could also be countered for healing.) It's just another way he can prevent damage to the guild he serves.
KvotheBloodless
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Obviously a powerful card. I agree this feels a little thrown together. It seems that there are more and more cards that wizards is saying "This is eating up standard, we need a counter". While it's great that they are trying to keep the metagame running well (and as a whole I am nearly always astounded at how good wizards is at integrating balance with flavor, etc.), this seems weird. Either ability would be good. 3 CMC for a 3/3 with abilities like that seems a tad overpowered.
Also, it seems to break New World Order since it's not intuitive why the card works that way. It is a rare, but it seems like a card made to answer two specific problems (1.Boros gets blocked with Battalion, which has to happen because CMC, ability, and P/T need to be balanced. 2. All the decks using X spells). This just seems to be weird because you would throw this card in as an answer, but it's not a sideboard card because it's so powerful.
Great card. 3.5 because balance and design misstep. Sorry Wizards, I'm usually on your side. This seems weird though.
GhostCounselor
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Broken? I don't entirely so. He doesn't make blockers indestructible and the attackers do not become unblockable. The indestructability goes away as soon as your turn ends. The sacrifice ability doesn't make sense, yes, but I don't consider this completely broken.
However, if you do want to break it, pair this up with two Vampire Nighthawks and just swing every turn. It works all the time.
KribatiOmega
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When is the indestructible ability triggered? What happens if I drop a Turn to Frog or Simic Charm after the attack has been declared?
Landmine
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Odric can't be happier
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why is he a 3/3? He should be at least 1WW. Why is a human as strong as a hill giant!?!?!
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's easy to overlook that he's a splashable 3/3 for 3, making it safe and easy to swing every turn? Brutal.
Mirrordin_Pure
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Bonfire be damned!
ZaisConsultant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I HAVE NO IDEA!
DritzD27
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Really, I have to say that I love the art in this card. It is just plain awesome and it stirs a strange sense of motivation I suppose. That, I think is a hallmark of just how stirringly fantastic this card is. The excellent creature around it certainly doesn't hurt either. Flavor homerun here. 4.5/5
Kurraga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love being able to attack all day and not care about having to lose value on my attacks, the second ability is seldom useful in my deck.
RunedServitor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I tried strapping all my potions and splash vials to the back of my shield like that, once. Unfortunately, they all broke as soon as I used my shield to stop somebody bashing me. It looks cool, but isn't particularly sensible.
SirZapdos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
"Opponent's drawing cards and gaining life? Tell my wife I love her."
Shadowcaster3975
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This joke has probably been done to death already, but... IN BOROS LEGION, REMOVAL DIES TO YOU!
moonmist103
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
SirZapdos: My friend at FNM said the exact same thing. I have to say i nearly died laughing
orzhov20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is this the only non-blue counter card?
Kariuko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@orzhov20 Is this the only non-blue counter card? there's at least red elemental blast besides this
Comments (60)
Anyways, his last ability clearly shows he's a burn medic.
One. Why would he have bottles on the inside of his shield? Very easy to break.
Two. Why does a doctor need two ogres to attack before he can heal people?
Three. Indestructability? That's your armor. Regeneration makes more sense (even though it's off- color.)
Four. Why did the Simic cross-breed Liam Neeson with a football player?
Five. His last ability. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? He can throw himself in the way of a spell... but only if there's a variable power imput... and... weird.
I am not convinced Battalion is any good. Once people get punished by any battalion effects, the metagame will simply respond in kind and make sure you never get it triggered at least 50% of the time, making him just a 3/3 for 3 with an ability that may or may not be relevant depending on who you are playing.
So, while he has the potential to be a 5/5 card, I'll just give him a 4/5 because battalion sucks.
Medic just takes all that worry and shoves it to the side. Since none of your creatures will die, you've got nearly nothing to worry about. Not only that, but if you're desperately in need of another Battalion effect to activate but you have a fragile 1/1 that you don't want to lose, well... now there's nothing to worry about!
There's really nothing to say about the restricted Mana Leak. I know this will become a Standard staple. I just hope whoever is rating all of the cards down to less than 4 stars could stop.
Play with Balustrade Spy, Elvish Scout, Stun Sniper and Vedalken Engineer for bonus points.
Shame on you, Wizards. Shame. On. You.
1/5 stars. I rate cards not depending on it's power level alone but depending on the balance, art, flavour and creativity. Probably a few other people are rating with the same method, that could be the reason why the rating is under 4 as some wonder why this is so.
Oh yeah, and as if one-sided board wipe is unique to this card.
First thing you guys are missing is that he's not just a medic, he's a combat medic. He specializes in patching and stitching right there on the frontline. This means several things.
A) He's going to be much better at doing his work in combat - the battalion trigger is a perfect reflection of that.
B) He needs to be tough. He's a soldier wandering around on a battlefield. What if someone he needs to heal is currently under and ogre? He needs to deal with the ogre first. 3/3 - not unkillable, hardly the best soldier on the field but still a solid attacker.
Why indestructible? Healers have traditionally prevented damage as an easy way of representing damage that would have killed them going away. Frontline medic just takes this to an extreme I think suitable for a dedicated Boros army. He prevents all damage and destroy effects. He's good at what he does.
and why that silly secondary ability? Traditionally healers have had something like {T} prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature. Frontline medic can't do that. He's already tapped. But he's still a medic, he should still be able to help.
I'm seeing this as another aspect of his Boros training. Who do the Boros hate most? Probably Rakdos. Rakdos has access to two damage dealing spells with {x} in their cost that battlefield medic, while tapped can still give his life to counter (Bonfire of the damned, Rakdos's return - alternatively Dimir's mind grind, and Gruul's clan defiance could also be countered for healing.) It's just another way he can prevent damage to the guild he serves.
Also, it seems to break New World Order since it's not intuitive why the card works that way. It is a rare, but it seems like a card made to answer two specific problems (1.Boros gets blocked with Battalion, which has to happen because CMC, ability, and P/T need to be balanced. 2. All the decks using X spells). This just seems to be weird because you would throw this card in as an answer, but it's not a sideboard card because it's so powerful.
Great card. 3.5 because balance and design misstep.
Sorry Wizards, I'm usually on your side. This seems weird though.
However, if you do want to break it, pair this up with two Vampire Nighthawks and just swing every turn. It works all the time.
IN BOROS LEGION, REMOVAL DIES TO YOU!
there's at least red elemental blast besides this