Land destruction is at its most powerful when it is used as disruption, not just something to be used as card advantage. Good land destruction decks want to start destroying early and often so they can gain in tempo. The other guy won't be able to play much, so that gives you a chance to set up and protect a win condition. (the best being Numot, the Devastator but that is another story)
So when you see this as a grey ogre/scathe zombie that could get you a cheap land kill when it dies, than you are using it to the worst of its potential.
It did not replace stone rain when it was left out of 10th because of that nonbasic clause, it did not guarantee an early disruption or any at all. So no, use something good like avalanche riders instead.
Posted By:
Tommy9898
(3/9/2010 7:29:24 PM)
He's really good, but nothing too spectacular. 4/5.
Posted By:
True_Mumin
(6/16/2009 10:20:03 AM)
To DragonLord132, This card is better than Stone Rain.
1.It's a creature it can help you attck / block, and it can cooperate with other Elemental/Sharman
2.If in turn 3, your opponent has 0 non-basic lands, you can still play it and sac him when a non-basic land on the Battlefield
3.In the turn you play it, your opponent will try their best to remove him, if they do, that will slow them
4.after the turn you play him, even they remove it , you can still sac him to detroy a land (if there is)
5.as it's a ability, you can activate it at anytime you can play an instant, better than stone rain (sorcery), and when you activate it, you don't need mana
6.In your deck, you can have up to 4 Stone Rain, and you have to pay {R},( for Molten Rain {R}{R}), this one can be played in a RB or pure B deck
with all the justification above, and same CMC with Stone Raine, it has his reason to be a rare
Posted By:
Gasnaked
(9/20/2009 7:52:50 PM)
Master list of stigmatized, ungentlemanly deck types-
Land destruction
Affinity
Infect
Tinker
Stasis
Edric
Let's avoid mindless decks that abuse broken mechanics.
Posted By:
patronofthesound
(8/6/2013 12:33:05 AM)
Should have been an uncommon.
Why would you have a 2/2 blocker creature for 3 when you can guarantee a land destruction for 3 with Stone Rain?
Better yet, go with Molten Rain.
Posted By:
DragonLord132
(8/30/2009 2:29:25 AM)
This is sorta random, but could I put this in an EDH deck with a mono red general?
Posted By:
channelblaze
(9/5/2010 10:49:00 AM)
Horde of Notions + Fulminator Mage = An expensive, tribal version of the Crucible of Worlds + Wasteland-lock.
Posted By:
Ninjay
(11/12/2013 2:02:13 AM)
Aluren, Enduring Renewal, and this ... 5/5
Posted By:
DrMavortium
(3/2/2014 6:32:11 PM)
I guess nobody's commented yet that this card is worth $30 to $50 all of a sudden, which means about a 788% increase in value in less than two years' time. Way to go, Modern! :)
I always thought this card was underrated and refused to trade it at $5; now it's in Top 8 builds. Vindication!
Posted By:
Salient
(5/16/2014 4:23:15 PM)