Kiln Fiend wins games for you if it goes unanswered, but you have to be super careful that you don't use your spells to buff him only to lose him to removal. If that happens, your spells still go through, but you're at a disadvantage because the number of options you have are now limited. Here's an example:
Turn 2: Kiln Fiend
Turn 3: 3 lightning bolts at opponent's face + swing for 10. Opponent plays Doom Blade on your Kiln Fiend.
Your opponent still takes 9 damage, but now you're down to 3-4 cards in your hand, and you lose all board position and you're committed to aiming everything at your opponent's life total. Not horrible if he's at 11 and you're holding, for instance, a Koth of the Hammer, but not an ideal condition either.
I think Kiln Fiend is the 6th best creature for RDW in standard right now, behind (in order) Goblin Guide, Ember Hauler, Spikeshot Elder, Kargan Dragonlord, and Plated Geopede (if you have fet... (see all)
Posted By:
Sunyveil
(3/20/2011 7:39:09 AM)
Magnivore, meet your little brother. Seriously though, this card in the eldrazi set alone is incredibly powerful. Putting distortion strike on it as well makes it a game winner. That or gets you at least half way there. My girlfriend played red blue in the pre-release and this with distortion strike was the best part of the deck and made her go far in the tournament.
Posted By:
FugimSky
(4/18/2010 1:39:12 PM)
Ah, Storm decks will love this guy!
Posted By:
Pramxnim
(4/15/2010 11:54:41 PM)
Completely insane in Pauper. Drop him turn 2, turn three cast Assault Strobe + Brute Force + Brute Force, proceed to swing for 32 damage. Alternatively you can exchange one Brute Force for Distortion Strike, "only" swings for 28 but it's unblockable too.
Oh and also:
Turn 1: Mountain, Lotus Petal, Kiln Fiend
Turn 2: Mountain, Assault Strobe, Brute Force, swing for 20.
Posted By:
Adromalath
(6/19/2012 8:25:12 AM)
Wow. This is going to draw zaps like a Steppe Lynx, and probably going to see a lot of play. Definitely better than most of the Red 2-drops lately.
Also, it's strictly better than Storm Crow.
@muthfootball: **** yes it does!
Posted By:
statiefreez
(4/19/2010 4:40:26 PM)
Beautiful. Mister Fiend here and Wee Dragonauts make the best teammates, trust me on this. :) I especially love his 2 toughness and common rarity. 5/5!
Posted By:
True_Mumin
(4/26/2010 12:30:58 PM)
Does he still get the bonus if the spell is countered?
Posted By:
LTJZamboni
(4/25/2010 7:02:30 PM)
Enables a turn 3 goldfish in standard. And since you're going to be running burn anyway, he's an awesome and efficiently costed choice.
Posted By:
FogRaider
(4/30/2010 10:02:28 PM)
You guys need to think outside the box. Why just burn your opponent? Little Kiln Fiend gets the buff as long as it's an instant or sorcery cast. Let loose your red leaning inhibitions in favor of more janky awesome-ness.
=)
Posted By:
Bigg_ol_FATTKIDD
(8/4/2010 1:01:29 AM)
T2 Kiln Fiend
T3 Assault strobe, Distortion strike, Lightning bolt, swing for 22 unblockable.
I never get tired of that. :)
Posted By:
Studoku
(11/17/2010 5:53:51 AM)