Pointed Discussion

I love the art of this guildmage. She's so sweet. :)

The art work does look cool, but it doesn't depict a member of the Boros guild; her hair is way too dark and her clothing isn't nearly as radiant as the clothing of other Boros members. As for her abilities, they are good, but not entirely useful early on in the game. They're better reserved for late game when they can be used on large creatures that have already been summoned.

this card is ridiculously good.

incoming attack? i think i'll block your 45/45 trampling triple lifelinking deathtoucher with a 1/1 first striker.
ok, first strike damage happens...
now I make the 45/45 trampler a first striker until end of turn...
oh, it looks like it can't attack...

Awesome Art Cool Card Boros Is A Tight Ass Clique

Pretty sure that trick doesn't work anymore, Twigster. Damage isn't used on the stack whether it's first strike or not. You're only allowed to use spells and abilities during the Declare Attackers, Declare Blockers and after the Combat Phase. So this is still useful if you use it after they declare a blocker that could kill your attacker if they deal damage at the same time, but otherwise it can't be used to do stop an attacker's damage completely.

Actually I'm fairly certain first strike combat damage has its own step, after which you can cast instant and activate abilities. the real technicality is that a first striek damage step is only created if a creature has first strike and is attacking or blocking.

The example he gave is valid to my knowledge.

Combat Damage works in a different way: if a creature with first strike or double strike is attacking or blocking, then there is the "first strike combat damage". After it resolves there is the "regular combat damage" where creature without first strike, creatures with double strike, AND CREATURE THAT DIDN'T COMBAT DAMAGE BEFORE deal their damages...

Nice card, but it could be far better if her abilities cost only and ...
3/5

I really like the Guildmage cycle. These are kinda useful with the Lieges of Shadowmoor and Eventide as well.

Emo.

I play this card often, but I rarely get the chance to use her abilities. Her haste ability only matters on the turn you summon a creature, and I often just don't have the extra 2 mana. With a lot of white/red creatures already having first strike/doublestrike (and haste, for that matter), and plenty of better things to do with two mana then give a creature first strike, it just never seems to come up.

Even so, it's nice to have the options, and a 2/2 for 2 isn't the worse thing to see in the world. I'm at least happy that she gives Mother of Runes haste on turn 3, though I usually try to drop mother turn 1.

One nice thing is that she's rather useful in multiplayer games. Offering a player to give their creatures haste is a nice bargaining chip, and making a battle between two other players go your way with selective use of her first strike granting ability is something that makes me wish she appeared more often in my multiplayer games.

You can cast spells and activate abilities after the first strike damage step and before the normal damage step. New rules don't change that. The reason that trick doesn't work is because of a ruling on first strike. If a creature with first strike hadn't dealt (or tried to deal, and it was prevented) combat damage during the first strike step, it will deal it during the normal damage step.

Perfect for using in combination with creatures like Valakut Fireboar - 'oh... you block do you? BOOM!'.

Look! It's Lisbeth Salander!

Her shirt looks uncomfortably tight :S

@Twigster and @Forgeling

rule 702.7c says it doesn't work like that

still good abilities, though.
its a bear at worst, and I've never felt bad about playing a bear.

A touch on the expensive side, but she's great for accelerating your creatures or getting around Deathtouch and Infect.

First strike is a boss ability, but haste at sucks... At least its a choice though.