Let me start off with flavor here. I think that this card should have been legendary, because I cannot imagine 70 of these creatures floating around, at most, 2 or 3. But I love how this guy works. His ability, in my mind, works like this:
"Lord Rakdos, let me take care of the planeswalker. Do not trouble yourself." He looks calmly at the planeswalker and feels a slight twinge of excitement. After demolishing him/her in seconds, he says,"I thought you were strong, and that I would finally feel emotion. I guess I was wrong about you. You can't amuse me." He walks away, and the planeswalker sighs with relief. As Master of Cruelties walks away, he says, "I will not kill you; you are not worth killing by my hand." He continues and says only more sentence, "Kill him."
Now for usage. I do not think that he will see Standard tournament play. Why? Because, in a true Rakdos/aggro deck, your opponent should be at 7 or less life by turn 5-6. He is also 5 mana, heavy in a aggro de... (see all)
Posted By:
Ragebarbarian
(4/24/2013 6:57:29 PM)
ninjitsu ftw
Posted By:
Arachibutyrophobia
(4/24/2013 8:07:34 PM)
A single strike from his blade will cut you hundreds of times, so that the only thing left tethering you to this realm is pain.
This is one of the standout mythics for me. I like the art but I'm not in love with it. I think the coolest thing about the card is how it plays- all the other creatures stand back as this demon walks across the battlefield, killing any creature that gets in his way- leaving your opponent on the brink of death so that they can suffer. Red and Black have more than enough ways of finishing off players. It does not matter how much life your opponents have.
Posted By:
night8883
(4/25/2013 3:24:15 AM)
Use this with any burn spell.
Very interesting card, can take out 1 creature a turn or win the game.
Posted By:
TheWrathofShane
(4/25/2013 5:16:51 PM)
What's awesome about this guy is that you don't *need* to do anything particularly special to get him to attack and go unblocked; you can pretty much just play black and red to a tee - that is, pack a fair amount of removal, and kill any potential blockers before turning him sideways. And fortunately, he also is in the color of burn, so that last point of damage - well that can come from Lightning Bolt, Shock, Searing Spear, Blightning, whatever tickles your fancy.
However, all 3 abilities spell legitimate bomb for limited. Deathtouch and first strike means that he is going to make blocking him difficult, and probably gain incremental card advantage. And on defense you're going to have the control, so he's a star. Madcap Skills is on color and turns him from pretty good into devastation on offense. If you somehow get him through unblocked - give him evasion, kill your opponent's creatures, whatever - setting your opponent down to 1 from whatever position they were in is just deadly, a... (see all)
Posted By:
JaxsonBateman
(4/26/2013 3:58:06 AM)
Mortarpod :)
Oh forget it... Just Gut Shot.
Posted By:
Trolled
(5/1/2013 12:31:31 AM)
If you can make him reliable unblockable, he might be annoying in any game, in which opponents start with more than 20 life. Like Commander, or two headed giant.
Posted By:
majinara
(5/1/2013 2:21:03 AM)
Found a turn 1 win with this guy for any format that would support it:
Turn 1: Swamp, Dark Ritual, cast Entomb to put Master of Cruelties into your graveyard, cast Shallow Grave returning Master of Cruelties to play with haste. Attack with it, it's ability triggers (most likely) setting them to 1 life, pay 2 life to cast Gut Shot for the win.
Posted By:
ChidyDog
(5/6/2013 11:16:14 AM)
I was so happy to get one of these as a prize at a tournament last night and can't wait to use him!
Posted By:
That_Frozen_Dude
(5/8/2013 12:22:32 AM)
Armed // Dangerous in your hand.
Any two random 1/1 creatures plus this guy on the battlefield.
Dangerous one of the 1/1 creatures.
Attack with all three.
.
.
.
GG next.
Posted By:
Estlor
(5/9/2013 11:13:57 AM)