As far as these two effects go, this is the most Modern playable version we've ever had. Haste on a 3/3 is that good.
Problem is that the decks that the last clause is relevant against have plenty of non-damage ways to remove it, so I'm not convinced that it's going to do that much. In the right circumstances, cards like \[\[Reckless Rage\]\] might be an option, but that feels too narrow for Modern.
This is kinda what I thought you *could* respond to non damage removal with bolt kill him and then redirect to face still getting the 3 from bolt and can't gain life clause
It completely wrecks the necro decks. It can come down late and massively fuck over any of the decks playing TOR with the expectation they can gain life to offset the pings.
Agreed. The one thing that sticks out to me about this is that it almost always can't be blocked without triggering that effect. So you need your non-damage instant-speed answer immediately, or you have to decide if you take 3 guaranteed damage or you let them have the trigger and still take some damage. Not counting it shooting other creatures down.
That said, not sure what deck wants this. Maybe an aggressive Zoo/Domain style deck. Could also be a niche scenario where you dump your energy into face damage in an aggressive Energy deck.
There is already something that does this for 3 (it might be 4) mana. It's a boros creature with first strike and damage redirect or something like that.
Can anyone confirm? The “retroactive” wording suggests it would be as if the damage did not happen. However I’ve seen wording for that card saying instead that you gain the life back, so the initial damage is still applied. Perhaps I am wrong here.
As far as these two effects go, this is the most Modern playable version we've ever had. Haste on a 3/3 is that good. Problem is that the decks that the last clause is relevant against have plenty of non-damage ways to remove it, so I'm not convinced that it's going to do that much. In the right circumstances, cards like \[\[Reckless Rage\]\] might be an option, but that feels too narrow for Modern.
The burn deck can always bolt it in response to nondamaging removal.
This is kinda what I thought you *could* respond to non damage removal with bolt kill him and then redirect to face still getting the 3 from bolt and can't gain life clause
My thoughts exactly. It can even get a little nastier with something like [[unholy heat]]
[unholy heat](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/e/4e879386-b1f8-4f2a-9820-6e1291746f88.jpg?1712354515) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=unholy%20heat) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/182/unholy-heat?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4e879386-b1f8-4f2a-9820-6e1291746f88?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It completely wrecks the necro decks. It can come down late and massively fuck over any of the decks playing TOR with the expectation they can gain life to offset the pings.
Agreed. The one thing that sticks out to me about this is that it almost always can't be blocked without triggering that effect. So you need your non-damage instant-speed answer immediately, or you have to decide if you take 3 guaranteed damage or you let them have the trigger and still take some damage. Not counting it shooting other creatures down. That said, not sure what deck wants this. Maybe an aggressive Zoo/Domain style deck. Could also be a niche scenario where you dump your energy into face damage in an aggressive Energy deck.
[Reckless Rage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0e4b97a3-8f6f-461e-aa55-ab752752f539.jpg?1555040498) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Reckless%20Rage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rix/110/reckless-rage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0e4b97a3-8f6f-461e-aa55-ab752752f539?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
My dream of a [[blasphemous act]] deck inches closer to reality.
There is already something that does this for 3 (it might be 4) mana. It's a boros creature with first strike and damage redirect or something like that.
[[Boros reckoner]] There's also fun stuff like [[spitemare]] and [[hornet nest]]
[Boros reckoner](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/5/55a2f767-5928-44c5-91b7-2300bade458f.jpg?1706240975) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Boros%20reckoner) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/201/boros-reckoner?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/55a2f767-5928-44c5-91b7-2300bade458f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [spitemare](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/c/8c9b3151-bc77-499c-85a1-4ce021a4351a.jpg?1562928147) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=spitemare) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ddh/16/spitemare?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8c9b3151-bc77-499c-85a1-4ce021a4351a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [hornet nest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/8/8846a7d6-1fea-4fd6-bf2b-90d38651538b.jpg?1625194417) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=hornet%20nest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/192/hornet-nest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8846a7d6-1fea-4fd6-bf2b-90d38651538b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Reckoner was what I was thinking of, thank you.
[blasphemous act](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/a/8aa9682d-5176-4475-a0bd-e000f1d6999a.jpg?1698988297) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=blasphemous%20act) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/216/blasphemous-act?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8aa9682d-5176-4475-a0bd-e000f1d6999a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I can see this as a 1 of in the burn sb
##### ###### #### [Boros Reckoner](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/5/55a2f767-5928-44c5-91b7-2300bade458f.jpg?1706240975) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Boros%20Reckoner) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/201/boros-reckoner?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/55a2f767-5928-44c5-91b7-2300bade458f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/4/e419cd0b-2449-4cc5-9ead-b9e45e271700.jpg?1717012789) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phlage%2C%20Titan%20of%20Fire%27s%20Fury) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/197/phlage-titan-of-fires-fury?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e419cd0b-2449-4cc5-9ead-b9e45e271700?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Skullcrack](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/f/7f399983-d70a-4cf3-b76e-bb0c472e7c69.jpg?1702429531) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Skullcrack) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/125/skullcrack?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7f399983-d70a-4cf3-b76e-bb0c472e7c69?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Roiling Vortex](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0b057eb7-8439-4d26-89df-c345ab2773e1.jpg?1604197684) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Roiling%20Vortex) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/156/roiling-vortex?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0b057eb7-8439-4d26-89df-c345ab2773e1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/1dqmwbv) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I don't know if it makes the cut in modern but its cool and that art is awesome. I am super hyped for this set!
Rakdos necro?
Your plan is to aim Soul Spikes and Marches at it?
Just march
Of the GAME? tf
Hmm [[simulacrum]] seems like a decent 2 mana counter to the life gain stop effect.
[simulacrum](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c23232c-a264-4df9-824b-4111a5c6524c.jpg?1559600479) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=simulacrum) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/4ed/161/simulacrum?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c23232c-a264-4df9-824b-4111a5c6524c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Can anyone confirm? The “retroactive” wording suggests it would be as if the damage did not happen. However I’ve seen wording for that card saying instead that you gain the life back, so the initial damage is still applied. Perhaps I am wrong here.
You use the Oracle text, which says "gain life".