I just thought this was an interesting quirk
is
savage punch the only card that uses the "before" timing - ie, where an action appears later in the card but the card specifically tells you to do that thing first
Yes, it is. Almost everything else that uses "before" is defining a casting/activating restriction (
Master Warcraft), setting up an ante rider, or using it in reminder text only. The only other exceptions I can find are
Backup Plan and cards like
Quenchable Fire and
Drain Life. And a few Un-cards, but those don't really count.