My take on what's going on in the art there is not that he's on fire, or that the paint is streaming off of him, it's just that the "paint" is emitting so many noxious fumes that they're visible from a fair distance.
For the record, I'm pretty sure that there is no such thing as "strictly better," since nearly all spells and abilities can be turned around on you with a well-placed Mind Control or Mindslaver.
No matter how terrible, there is a way to make "strictly worse" cards work better than their superiors.
In this case, Maniacal Rage can be played on an opponent's creature (such as a wall!) to take a blocker out of the equation.
Posted By:
NoobOfLore
(8/15/2011 6:52:44 AM)
Aura's are very playable in Limited and Casual.
I agree they set you up for Card disadvantage, but always remember there are more formats then Standard.
Posted By:
Request
(6/1/2010 9:35:59 PM)
@Xelopheris
If my opponent is using Mind Control on what is likely to be my strongest creature then I think that haste is the least of my worries.
That being said, this is a great aura for red.
Posted By:
Eved
(6/3/2010 9:48:40 AM)
Uhh... ROE had these things called Umbras... definitely an attempt at playable Auras!
Posted By:
http404error
(3/15/2011 11:04:58 PM)
@Vadoff
Do you really not know what umbras are?
Posted By:
blindthrall
(6/2/2011 10:30:36 AM)
Strictly better than Giant Strength.
Posted By:
Bouchart
(9/26/2009 5:05:09 PM)
@ZEvilMustache, I think the idea here is that Goblin war paint isn't paint at all - it's fire.
Posted By:
AngryGazebo
(2/1/2010 11:08:53 PM)
This isn't really that bad. Is he running so fast that the wet paint is streaming off him? That's fairly wicked.
Posted By:
ZEvilMustache
(9/26/2009 11:35:56 AM)
Maniacal Rage has just been replaced.
Exchanged "can't block" with haste.
Posted By:
Etregan
(10/1/2009 2:34:50 AM)
I like how WoTC is trying to make Auras actually playable in Zendikar.
Posted By:
Vinifera7
(10/6/2009 8:39:59 PM)