Pointed Discussion

So, does that Oracle text really make this card an awesome combo with Cowardice and the like?

Because it looks like you can just play this anytime, and target any creature you want, even if the ability won't do anything, thus making it impossible for any creatures to remain in play for any longer than you want them to.

Unless they have shroud or something, of course.

Yes, you can play the ability as many times as you like whenever you want. (88% sure)

I'm afraid not, you cannot play his ability anytime just because it costs 0. Reading the card appropriately would reveal the ability can only activate if he were to deal combat damage to an opponent.

Cowardice and Horobi's abilities will still active in response to this, but only after the Gerrilla's conditions have been met...sorry.

Szyx neglected to read the Oracle.

I think you're both wrong. Clearly the Oracle didn't intend for it to be abused in the way you guys are suggesting. From my understanding of the Oracle text, you can PLAY the ability any time you want, but you won't get to pick the target until the first condition is satisfied. Like damage prevention, it would be a delayed resolution.
There are much easier combos with those cards anyway. Like Thran Forge, just off the top of my head.

Blahblah. This card looks solid. R/W is my favorite dual, and this pleases me. Soldiers that can redirect their damage to creatures for as much as a Bolt? Count me in.
Shadow is a little off flavor, but I'm not complaining.

My first thought was that I'd hate my opponent to have one of these. Even without any combos, this is still a good card.

He's a pocket ace. There's a lot of times when I'm fighting an opponent with noncombatant creatures who I need to kill, and this assassin goes in and does quick work of them. Scourge of the Nobilis works great with this guy, since a near-unblockable creature that can kill just about anything (pump him up a little, and he can even take down Eldrazi without giving them a chance to hit back) is pretty good, but lifelink just adds icing to the cake.

Is the redirected damage still considered combat damage? It says in the oracle you may have it "deal THAT damage to target creature instead."

This is important for equipment purposes, like Banshee's Blade.

EDIT:
I have emailed WOTC since. They confirmed that the redirected damage IS in fact combat damage.

3/2 virtually Unblockable that picks off their most vulnerable creature or deals 3? I've used this card lots over the years. It's far better than it appears.

@markamor: It must be really good then, because it appears really awesome.

Apparently lots of people don't know what triggered abilities are.

This is just good on so many levels. Nearly guaranteed 3 combat damage against the opponent every turn and since it's combat damage you can activate all kinds of neat abilities with it. Or if you prefer you can send that damage towards creature and at 3 damage it's probably going to be dead.
Beaters with good stats, evasion and reasonable cmcs pretty much always rock and this guy is pretty good on all counts.
Soltari Guerrillas dies to Shock, Doomblade, and even Pyroclasm but it just about always takes at least one of your opponents removal spells to deal with.

This card has been one of my favorite multiplayer-game creatures for 14 years! You attack Player A, he's not liking the 3 damage idea, so he threatens to kill it (bolt, swords, etc.), so you say, "OK, then how about I instead kill Player B's creature over there?" and he changes his mind, lets it through, and you're both happy with Player B's creature going "bye, bye" (note: the targeted creature does NOT have to be controlled by the defender!). Sweet politics this creature is. As long as ONE opponent cannot block this, then ANY creature on the board can be damaged by this. In multiples, you can kill creatures of 6, 9, or even 12 toughness! Thanks Shadowy Guerrilla Guys!!!

Also, yes, you CAN activate this a bazillion times, but it will only resolve the last targeted creature (last-in-first-out resolution), but with a Horobi, Death's Wail, or Cowardice in play, you can destroy/bounce a whole lotta stuff in one attack phase! Go ahead, please call WOTC to confirm that this is right, cuz this guy rocks in multiplayer games! Here's their number: WOTC Helpline: 1-800-324-6496.

I somehow have a bad feeling this card will see an Oracle update some time soon.
Wizards wants their updated wordings to be as similar to the (latest) original printed card text as possible, and abusing a -mana activated ability that can target any creature probably wasn't the actual intention of this guy.

Nearly 15 years on, and this guy is *still* good. There's not exactly a lot of cards that can make that claim. And naturally I only just found out about him a few weeks ago! >_<

Certain cards just to in every R/W deck.