Mana Sculpting

Dark Ascension Set Review - Red

Posted by: Wally Bullard 1 year, 3 months ago (comments)

As always, follow along here.  I hope to have card tags done soon.

Afflicted Deserter/Wolf Ransacker:

Wally: This card is fine.  I'd rather play Ancient Grudge.  Very playable though, just don't play any or many artifacts if you play this guy.  Limited 2.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Alpha Brawl

Wally: Could be an 8 mana one sided Day of Judgment.  I don't hate it.  I don't know that this card is a first pick (I'm quite sure it isn't) but it wouldn't be bad late in the pack.

Trevor:

Dan:

Blood Feud

Wally: I read this as "Destroy 2 Target Creatures".  This card is the real deal removal spell.  A first pick if you feel like forcing red for sure. Limited 3.5 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Burning Oil

Wally: I got to use this card at the Prerelease and it is sweet.  I was able to kill a good amount of creatures with it.  The flashback is just gravy.  Limited 3.0 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Curse of Bloodletting

Wally: A first pick if you are feeling over aggressive.  Makes all of your creatures way better if you hit your opponent directly. Invisible Stalker plus equipment anyone.  Limited 3.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Erdwal Ripper

Wally: I played 2 of these in my prerelease deck.  It is great to throw at your opponent when they have a creature that you want it to trade with, because if they don't block right away, it won't ever be profitable for them to.  Not too shabby.  Limited 2.5 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Faithless Looting 

Wally: I was wrong at first.  This is a real card.  Combo decklist coming soon.  I am pumped. Limted 2.0 Constructed 3.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Fires of Undeath

Wally: I had 1 of these in my pool that I played RBG.  I didn't play it. I think now that I made a mistake. This is a fine removal spell and you should play it or even splash for it. Limited 3.0 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Flayer of the Hatebound

Wally: Feels like Flametounge Kavu, and makes your other Undying guys feel the same.  First pickable for sure.  Limited: 4.0 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Fling

Wally: It is back baby.  This with undying is great removal or burn that leaves you a guy.  Again, there might just be a deck here.  Wait and see. Limited 3.0 Constructed 2.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Forge Devil

Wally: It might be the worst 1 drop you can use on the play.  But it is really good on the draw.  A solid late pick for sure.  I assume this guy will be undervalued for a while.  Limited 2.5 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Heckling Fiends

Wally: Another good late pickup in the black red deck.  Paired with deathtouch it makes for fine removal. Limted 2.5 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Hellrider

Wally: This guy is a real deal bomb. If you drop it early it can deal tons of damage.  If you drop it late, it can just end the game.  This creature should almost always be played precombat.  Limited 4.0 Constructed 1.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Hinterland Hermit/Hinterland Scourge:

Wally: Another marginal flip card.  Is probably no more than a creature to trade with their 2 or 3 drop. Limited 1.5 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Increasing Vengeance

Wally: Fork and Super Fork.  I assume it has some playablity in constructed formats beyond standard but I don't see it as great.  Limited it could be paired with blue or black to draw cards or kill guys.  In green it could put more counters on your stuff.  (Just wait, I'll get there.)

Trevor:

Dan:

Markov Blademaster

Wally: If this card had haste it would be insane. This cards gets really big really fast.  A first pick for sure and a sweet looking foil.  Limited 3.5 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Markov Warlord

Wally: A finisher.  Not a first pick. Somewhere in the 6-20 pick range.  I hope to use this to destroy many opponents. I also assume I will lose to this sometime soon. Limited 3.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Mondronen Shaman/Tovolar's Magehunter:

Wally: Bomb! Mega Bomb! If you can flip this guy it is awesome.  If your opponent tries to flip her back, they take 4.  It puts a clock on your opponent that only spot removal can handle. Limited 4.5 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Moonveil Dragon 

Wally: I don't like this card.  I could play perfect for the entire game, my opponent rips this guy plays him on turn 8 and I lose to his army of terrible dudes.  Advantage to opening a mythic.  I will play this is I open him though.  Limited 4.0 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Nearheath Stalker 

Wally: You will probably get this card pretty late in the draft unless you have some vampire kid in your pod.  Undying is the only reason this card is playable.  Limited 2.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Pyreheart Wolf

Wally: This guy won me a few games during my prerelease.  Got my opponent low enough in creatures that they couldn't block my threats.  Another good card for finishing off the enemy.  Limited: 3.0 Constructed 1.0

Trevor:

Dan:

Russet Wolves

Wally: Vanilla 3/3 for 4.  Playable but not very.  Limited 1.5 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Scorch the Fields

Wally: Much like Into the Maw of Hell this is removal first.  The land destruction is good but not the best part of the card.  Kill all Humans! Limited 2.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Shattered Perception

Wally: As I write this it is actually the first time I have read this card.  Seems not great.  I guess you could keep this and a 6 land hand though.  Limited 1.0 Constructe 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Talons of Falkenrath

Wally: Flash firebreathing for 2 extra mana.  Someone will get blown out by this, I don't think it will be me. Limited 2.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Torch Fiend

Wally: Good artifact destruction on a stick.  And a 2/1 body is not a bad thing for 2 mana in limited.  Limted 2.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan:

Wrack with Madness

Wally: There are plenty of creatrures in the set with power greater than their toughness.  This kills them.  Limited 3.0 Constructed 0.5

Trevor:

Dan: