Everyone else is reviewing them, so why the hell not?


Fanatic of Xenagos - Fundamentally Good in Limited, Tough Choice in Constructued

Would you pay 3 mana for a 3/3 with trample in Theros? Of course you would! Trample works great with Bestow! Would you like a free bonus for playing the card? Sure! It's that kind of structure that makes Fanatic of Xenagos do so much good. If play this card to be an aggressive 3/3 with trample, neither side will ever disappoint you.

Constructed is a bit different. A red/green deck using Domri Rade and giant creatures like Polukranos and Arbor Giant won't have much room or use for a 3/3 with trample that "just" beats people up. However, if a new style of red/green deck emerges, one that doesn't play with the same acceleration as current Red/Green Devotion, this card will definitely be in the line up for consideration.


Flame-Wreathed Phoenix - Fundamentally Good in Limited, Unexciting in Constructured

Again, for Limited you'll be happy to have a 3/3 flier for 4 mana. The fact that this will simply be better than that is just gravy. This card is probably a great example of why measuring for the baseline is important. If a 3/3 flier won't be a big player in this game, then neither of its two forms will matter. If it's not a big player because of removal, your opponent will give a 5/5 flier, which - considering it's about to be removed - is the same as having a 3/3 flier. If your opponent can deal with a 3/3 flier indefinitely, well he'll give you a 3/3 flier. If he can't deal with a 3/3 flier repeatedly, or with a 5/5 flier at all, you'll be happy either way. Considering there's not many ways to deal with either of those in draft, you should feel pretty good.

(and don't forget, as just a 3/3, it'll have haste to boot!)

Constructed is a different animal. There are lots of effects that exile creatures rather than just letting them die. There's also lots of effects that just flat-out kill a 5/5 flier. That's not to say that this makes it necessarily bad in Constructed (the argument "dies to removal" hasn't been relevant since Blue/Black Teferi Control of Time Spiral), but that it's not a finisher the way that Stormbreath Dragon or Thundermaw Helkite are/were. It's unlikely to be able to find a spot in classic red decks that makes it the most efficient deck choice possible.


Nessian Demolok - Marginally Effective in Limited, Total Waste in Constructed

Nessian Demolok's stats are very polarizing; perhaps more so than any other Tribute creature. Would you pay 5 mana for a 3/3 with no other abilities? Almost definitely not. That means you're really banking on your opponent making the wrong choice, which is going to be a lot tougher to make happen. Even as a 6/6 for five, this creature isn't terribly exciting. In Theros, any "simply big" creature can be outclassed, and there are lots of ways to deal with a 6/6 ground-pounder. If your opponent has no non-creature permanents other than lands, then this card almost becomes "This card enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters unless an opponent sacrifices a land." - which is probably the better way at looking at this card.

In either case, you will be hard-pressed to get the creature or effect you want, and definitely won't get it when you really need it. It's nice when cast on your turn 5 while the opponent is mana-screwed, but that's the only time this card really shines.

In Constructed, it's the same story, only harder. Most decks fire on all cylinders at just 4 mana, so I can't see even a turn 5 Demolok stirring the pot too much.


Nessian Wilds Ravager - Curve-Topper in Limited, Something Funky in Constructed?

Rawr! Would you play a 6/6 for 6? Probably. If you would, then the bonuses this card brings to the table are sizeable in Limited. If your opponent has a hard time handling a 6/6, then either side of this card is going to be powerful. Even if your opponent has no creatures on their board, a 6/6 with no other abilities (which is what you'd get) will be a strong play. Unless your opponent has a single super-voltron that can absorb the fight, you'll likely be in a good place with this. I know I said any creature can be outclassed in Theros, but a 6/6 that fights is often still big enough to win, and a 12/12 probably won't be outclassed.

Still, that variance leaves just enough room to consider this a bonus-version of Vulpine Goliath - which, while strong, isn't game-ending. It's a great curve-topper, but just a curve-topper.

In Constructed this card is pretty terrible, but might something Funky come of it for casual Constructed players? You've got a very big creature with lots of counters (which is often what a Constructed opponent will give you). There's got to be a good combo with that. But remember, it'll never, ever, make a tournament-winning list.


Oracle of Bones - Hilarious Stories in Limited & Constructed, but Little Else

I wouldn't say this card's stats are terrifying in either form. Either it has 1 toughness and is easily handled, or it has 3 toughness... and is still easily handled. Not very monstrous. Even the 3 or 5 power isn't that frightening on the ground, though giving your opponent a 5/3 hasty creature when you've got nothing is pretty mortifying.

The stats just aren't there, and giving your opponent access to a free spell when you know they're on low gas isn't likely to amount to much. If they're mono-Red, you get burned. If they're Red/Black you probably eat a removal spell. If they're Red/Green it's a pump spell. If they're Red/White, still just pump. Red/Blue is probably the scariest, since they might get a free Divination, which turns this into the most awkward Mulldrifter ever. In general, it's unlikely you'll need to give them access to a free spell to effectively deal with it, and even then, that free spell often won't hurt too much if you've got any read on your opponent.

What is fun about this card is the "I can't believe I did that" moments where you grossly misread your opponent, and they get a MASSIVE free spell. When you think your opponent has a Divination, but you get Sea God's Revenged instead - that'll hurt. As will Pinnacle of Rage. Constructed gets even funnier here, but again, will never happen in a real tourney.


Ornitharch - Bomb in Limited, Too Expensive in Constructed

Would you pay 5 for a 5/5 flier? Of course you would! And that's what you get each and every time. Even if it's spread out into a 3/3 flier with two 1/1 backups. No matter what, 5 power and 5 toughness is hitting the table, and there's not a single person that would ever say no to this. Even when you get the worst of the two options, you've gotten something that you're likely to have cast anyway.

The only potential downside to this card is how it's split up stops it from being over-dominating, even though it'll still be ridiculous. Even in the worst case scenario, say against a Nessian Asp, where the 3/3 and two 1/1's won't be great, they'll still play defense EXTREMELY well, and will bolster whatever other forces you put down. When the worst case is this good, you're sitting pretty.

In Constructed, the card can't really compete with the other curve-toppers out there. Not having some other ability is probably the only thing holding it back. But there very well could be a space for this card somewhere in the future.


Pharagax Giant - Deceptively Unfit in Limited, Waste of time in Constructed

Would I pay 5 mana for a 3/3? No. That's the bottom line of this card. The only thing is, both sides of this card are strong enough, even when used in bad situations, that it makes you really want to think of this card as good. This card is at its best in red/white, where you often are about to get outclassed by bigger creatures of your opponents, but your opponent's already brought down to dangerously low life totals. In the situation where this would bring your opponent down from 10 to 5 life, it's much easier to punish them for taking either option.

But outside of that situation, this card falls really, really flat. A 3/3 for 5 just isn't that big a deal, and a 5/5 for 5 isn't ground-breaking either. Big, yes, but no where near impossible to overcome. I think it'll have a home in red/white and red/black aggro decks (maybe even red/green midrange), but it'll never be all that it can be, and a really solid card should always take its place.


Shrike Harpy - Disappointing, even if useful, Waste of time in Constructed

I've paid 4 mana for a 2/2 flier and been happy with it. Often it was with some extra padding, like on Blind Hunter, but even after that a 2/2 with flying continues to set the bar for entry level of fliers. But a 2/2 flier for 5 mana isn't a great deal. This card feels like when you use a good removal spell on something that you really don't want to use a removal spell against.

That said, this is exactly how useful it is all the time - which means it does some work, even if that work goes unappreciated. I've definitely found the right time to cast this in every single game, I just had to accept that "the right time" to cast this is about the same thing as saying "the right time" to cast a Great Hart. You just cast it and be thankful that it's never completely without worth.


Siren of the Fanged Coast - (untested) - Not as Good as Ornitharch, Waste of time in Constructed

Did casting that Shrike Harpy get you down? This should make you feel better. On paper, it suffers a lot of the same problems, but in practice... well, Mind Control is historically a good card. The key difference for this card is the ability to target whichever creature you want, rather than your opponent choosing like with the Shrike. That means, if they ever don't pay the tribute, you WILL get their best creature - and that's saying something considering that if they don't pay the tribute, you might just have the best creature anyways with a 4/4 flier.

I'd say this card ranks at about the same power level as Prescient Chimera - a solid card for most decks running blue, but nothing to squeel about. In truth, the card should function a lot like Ornitharch in that either way you should end up with 4 power on the board after it's resolved, but unlike Ornitharch, it won't be 5, and might not all be flying. Still, that should give you a good idea of how good it is, hence the reference to Prescient Chimera.


Snake of the Golden Grove - Deck Filler in Limited, Subject of Cruel Jokes in Constructed

It's a 4/4 snake that nets you 4 life except when your opponent is about to kill you, then it's a 7/7 that probably won't stop them from killing you.

If your deck needs a 4/4 for 5 mana, go ahead and take it. That's decent filler in a green deck, and 4/4's duke it out with the best of them. You might be able to use this card with some tricks to save the day if your opponent tries and fails to kill you the turn they let this be a 7/7. Hilariously, every single part of this card fails against its big brother, Nessian Asp.


Thunder Brute - Red Curve-Topper in Limited, Rightfully Neglected Younger Brother of Ghor-Clan Rampager in Constructed

There are many decks out there, sad blue, white, and black decks teamed up with red, that want a 5/5 creature for 6. Thunder Brute is that creature. It always has Trample, which on a 5/5 might actually be relevant, and gets to pretend to be a Lava Axe sometimes by getting haste.

Effectively speaking, it's a second, slightly better version of Pharagax Giant. They printed a second one, just in case we missed with the first one. It may work a little differently, but the choice is largely the same "Either take 5 damage now, or take X damage later", except in this case that X is a bigger number, and has trample. That DOES make it better, but still way too big a variance.



And that's it!

Abilities that give your opponent the choice in constructed is usually just a horrible plan.

~SE++

Am I the only one who thinks that Nessian Demolok can destroy a Nylea's Emissary when it's bestowed? If so, some opponents are going to be mightily disappointed when their Voltron is just a memory all of a sudden.

It can do that. But I always assume my opponents know the rules of the game and won't make that mistake.

The point is more, if it can do that, why is it bad? It's removal on legs, after all, or an above-the-curve creature. A 6/6 is nothing to scoff at, some decks can only bounce it, and that is not an optimal solution for this beast.

That's what I mean, it's Marginally Effective, but not completely. If the game goes on, it's a 3/3 for 5 that picks off a land. And if your opponent HAS bestowed a creature with Nylea's Emissary, it's usually big enough to not care about a 6/6 for 5 anyway. The card is effective when played on curve though, and that's why I'm comfortable with the rating I've given.

My guess is that it becomes a lot less situational if you have 2-3 cards that produce extra mana, since killing a 6/6 early is a lot more difficult, and treatening to destroy a land and leave behind a 3/3 is a lot more scary on turn4than it is on turn 5.

Demolok is a card. So is Pharagax giant. They are playables, nothing more or less.

Oracle of Bones taught me this weekend that Toil // Trouble exists.

It was embarrassing to say the least.

I think you are being rough on Pharagax Giant. The question is, "would you play Lava Axe?"

Siren has been a card in Limited so far I haven't been disappointed to have in my deck. 4/4 fliers are big in this format, and you pretty much always get the Air Elemental. They don't want you stealing their Voltron, after all.

Snake of the Golden Grove is serviceable, and I think it is unfair that people keep comparing everything to Asp, when that card is pretty much the flat out best green common in BotG (see what I did there?) and probably will be the best green common in Journey into Nyx as well.

Thunder Brute is a knockout card, and when I played against it I always felt like I was just losing that game no matter what I chose.