Not too bad in Limited: there are a few pretty solid Beasts in the set, and a 2/3 for 3 isn't horrible.
Troutz
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a really good man in limited. Krosan Tusker into this is going to be pretty vicious. The fact that it adds the counter on end step and not upkeep means you're almost guaranteed to get the ability off at least once (assuming you have a Beast in play).
I want to use this guy so bad with Arcbound Ravager who just happens to be a beast for whatever reason. I guess you could use Steel Overseer, but then you don't get a nifty 2/3 attacker/blocker too.
chainsmoker
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
this is what elves(in magic) really do.. support beasts... like goblins to dragons..
gideon999
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Yay! Beast tribal is back!
Smiley2011
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So very good with so many things, as Troutz pointed out, the ability triggers on the end step, which means you ARE likely to get one counter for your troubles.
HotHit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@chainsmoker:
It's not just Elves/Beasts (or Hydras, it varies) and Goblins/Dragons. Humans (or simply soldiers and knights) pray to angels in white.
Blue and Black though... I suppose there's merfolk swimming with leviathans... But having something support something else just seems completely out of character for black.
leingodf8
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@HotHit
Well black's big guys are demons, which generally MAKE your dudes support them regardless of type (with their life mostly). Although there were ogres in Kamigawa...
Anyways, as for this guy. His upside is insane, and he's still a 2/3 for 3 which is perfectly reasonable in limited. There are only 4 beasts in m14 (2 common, 1 uncommon, 1 rare) so you might fall a bit short... But even with only 1 or 2 beasts I think he'd be worth playing.
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If we still had Thragtusk that would be pretty nasty, since killing the tusk just gives it another target to stack counters on anyway.
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I really, REALLY like this card because even though it has another card that gives it a 'shout-out' by name, this one is independently useful with a broad array of cards. =)
I like shouting-out names on cards, but it's also important to give a slight preference to 'synergy' over 'outright combo'. Combo HAS it's place, but it's place needs to be relatively small.
masterfnogg
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I can't believe no one mentioned Phantom Nishoba? It seems like a nice combo!
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fine in limited. Without beasts is just barely playable, with beasts it's great.
Outside limited though it's just not powerful enough.
bigboybeard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Question, is this a one time counter at the beginning of that one end step, or is it a counter every end step while he's in play?
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@bigboybeard This triggers at the beginning of each of your end steps. I can see why it could be confusing since if you just read it like english, it is actually quite unclear.
TowerDefender
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Sounds like an Iron Maiden song or a Keanu Reeves film.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I remember Ring of (Insert random area here) in M13 were quite the trouble when you gave it to a creature of its colour.
The thing here that is exceptionally advantageous is the "At the End Step" clause. Drawing this late-game and hoping for it to give your Kalonian Tusker a +1/+1 counter at the beginning of the upkeep may not be enough to keep yourself alive.
A very solid creature in limited and great for beginners.
Lancer873
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Possibly the biggest threat with this card in limited is that two of his best buddies, Marauding Maulhorn and Rumbling Baloth, are considered by many to be rather late picks, and should be relatively well available given their common rarity. You'll want to use this guy with Kalonian Tusker, for sure, but if you can't nab one then you can still get some mileage out of this guy.
PlanesMoyza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
All illustrations by Jesper Ejsing look the same...
Comments (21)
It's not just Elves/Beasts (or Hydras, it varies) and Goblins/Dragons. Humans (or simply soldiers and knights) pray to angels in white.
Blue and Black though... I suppose there's merfolk swimming with leviathans... But having something support something else just seems completely out of character for black.
Well black's big guys are demons, which generally MAKE your dudes support them regardless of type (with their life mostly). Although there were ogres in Kamigawa...
Anyways, as for this guy. His upside is insane, and he's still a 2/3 for 3 which is perfectly reasonable in limited. There are only 4 beasts in m14 (2 common, 1 uncommon, 1 rare) so you might fall a bit short... But even with only 1 or 2 beasts I think he'd be worth playing.
I like shouting-out names on cards, but it's also important to give a slight preference to 'synergy' over 'outright combo'. Combo HAS it's place, but it's place needs to be relatively small.
Outside limited though it's just not powerful enough.
This triggers at the beginning of each of your end steps. I can see why it could be confusing since if you just read it like english, it is actually quite unclear.
The thing here that is exceptionally advantageous is the "At the End Step" clause. Drawing this late-game and hoping for it to give your Kalonian Tusker a +1/+1 counter at the beginning of the upkeep may not be enough to keep yourself alive.
A very solid creature in limited and great for beginners.