I think it works better if you see it as two separate cards - 1R to give a creature +1/0 and first strike, and 1U to give a creature +1/+0 and flying. The first can be used as a combat trick to remove a creature, the second can be used to get damage through. They just combined them into one card for us.
Useful utility card, and the replicate makes it potentially backbreaking in the right situations. Solid 3.5/5.
Posted By:
Magnor_Criol
(5/16/2011 7:51:05 PM)
First strike gives it great combat trick potential, flying gives it finisher potential. One additional power helps both. Replicate helps you get there.
All in all, a handy little common. Drafting Izzet could be a blast.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(5/26/2011 3:15:45 PM)
@Imperialstonedragon: like Magnor_Criol said, it has flying for attacking, and first strike for defending. Ilarious that red provides a difensive ability and blue an attacking ability... For such a flexibility and surprise factor, this card can be very swingy, taking down a couple of creature in the opponent start a risky attack or delivery a mass evasion attack...
If you ever tried it in a UR creature deck, you could have tested its power...! Easily 4/5 or more...
Edit: thinking about it a second time, I changed my idea... Both flying and first strike aren't exclusive offensive or defensive abilities. With Leap of Flames I can block a flying creature with an un-flying one. Or I can pump a blocked creature of mine to kill the blocking one... This flexibility makes this card very useful!
Posted By:
leomistico
(11/6/2011 2:03:19 PM)
combining evasion and first strike contains certain contradiction
Posted By:
Imperialstonedragon
(5/8/2011 2:40:46 AM)
Good card; underrated to say the least. In a R/U deck this would be pretty nice to bust out on a larger creature. Use it on your Water Elemental and then send it right over their heads :D
3/5
Posted By:
Gaussgoat
(1/7/2010 4:52:54 PM)
A pretty cool card with Shrewd Hatchling because of Replicate
Posted By:
sygilber
(10/30/2011 9:23:50 AM)
@sygilber: Replicated copies of spells are never actually cast, so Shrewd Hatchling will only trigger twice off of any casting of this, regardless of replications. Still a good interaction, though.
Posted By:
The_Murderauder
(7/20/2013 8:48:52 AM)
Can this be viable with the new Heroic ability?
Posted By:
Guest1490290544
(9/6/2013 3:44:04 AM)