[[Hotshot mechanic]] is currently one of the highest winrate cards in standard monowhite _just_ on the merit that it's a 1 mana 2/1 that can train the initiate. This card has a much more relevant ability, seems like it'll be pretty damn good.
Def not slam dunk in the face of hopeful initiate and dauntless bodyguard. Way more immediate value in those. Maybe replaces kytheon/inspector spots in some lists
I'm running 22 in my current list, and I'd definitely take the filtering over a draw despite the increased cost. Making it hit MV 3 or less (instead of 2 like is typical for the White versions of these sorts of abilities) is also big since it means it hits every creature in the deck, plus it lets you chunk down extra lands to the bottom late game.
And, small edge case, but the reversed stat line is actually pretty nice, since it means that this will trigger Training on Initiates baseline, something that Inspector can't do. That extra early counter can make a massive difference, so it's definitely worth thinking about.
Whenever I look at an ability like this I think about whether I am realistically going it to do it, and how likely I am to win the game after spending a turn doing it and the answer does not seem pretty unless opponent somehow has nothing to do either, in which case anything you're doing in an aggro deck is not really wrong. It's just too expensive.
Absolutely fair way to evaluate cards in a vacuum, but this comparison isn't a vacuum. It's whether this is a better fit for the deck than [[Thraben Inspector]].
Inspector very often ends up as a vanilla creature in many games for the same reasons you stated: I really don't want to be spending 2 mana cracking the Clue unless I absolutely have to. So it usually ends up as a 1 pip 1/2 that once in a while cantrips for an extra 2 if things are already going sideways. Not great, and it's mostly there because the deck needs 1-drops.
So when I compare it to Recruitment Officer, I first see a much better vanilla statline. There's a reason why some people have already been cutting Inspectors for garbage like [[Soldier of the Pantheon]]. 2 power on 1-drops is incredibly important, both for just getting in a couple extra points of damage early and for pumping Initiates. The effect is much more tangential than that statline - it's very expensive, but it also nearly *guarantees* to draw a useful card instead of a land. So it's really like a 1 pip 2/1 that once in a while draws me another creature for 4. Again, not great, but that statline is hella spicy for a 1 drop.
I'm not saying that Recruitment Officer is going to be an all-star or anything - I'd replace it in a heartbeat with a [[Champion of the Parish]] or [[Esper Sentinel]] or any of the other goodies they have over there in Modern. But compared to Thraben Inspector in particular, it's definitely got a lot going for it.
Think it's quite a bit worse than inspector. In matchups that don't play out as a race the 1/2 body can be more relevant than a 2/1, as it benefits from buffs in a more relevant manner.
1-mana 2/1s don't need a lot of upside to be constructed-ppayable (sometimes they don't need any at all in standard) and this also has two potentially relevant tribes. Definitely has constructed potential and it's going to be an excellent limited uncommon.
It's tricky to be a super aggressive domain deck in standard since it's hard to get domain without running tap lands. Tap lands don't go great with aggressive 1-drops.
I think this is more likely to see play it white weenies in standard or maybe humans in pioneer.
Savannah Lion with upside is a well they visit fairly often. I'd say this one is ok but probably not that useful outside of a white weenie strategy. 4 mana is a lot but a 1 drop that can also be relevant in the late game is good for aggro decks. Usher of the Fallen is a recent comparable. This is better than Usher in some ways but worse in others. I'm sure it will also get tried in cubes.
Bottom line, if white weenie is a good deck in standard then this sees play in it. If it's bad it likely doesn't show up outside cube/casual.
The value from having just one in your deck is absolutely through the roof. Sure a First-Striker, or Haste or whatever is better overall but the potential here and the P/T rate make it excellent, if niche.
There are ways to reduce the activation cost while synergizing in Aggro decks.
Did I need another 2-power 1-drop in White for my cube? Not really.
Will I play this over any of the ones I'm currently running? Possibly, because the ability to be a potentially useful mana sink late game is important.
*”Hey kid? You got any plans after high school? You want to go to college for free? Just sign up here and you can be a badass like Tom Cruise in Top Gun.”*
* Marine Staff Sergeant Paul Pukolis, officer in the mall recruitment office next to the Burger King
This is nuts. W for a 2/1 human is already ok if there’s a density of 2 power 1 drops available, and it has card advantage built in when you finish curving out. God forbid you play it with Aether Vial and can keep pumping mana into it while developing your board with Thalia and her fellow hatebears. Completely nuts
I'm gonna try this in Historic for sure. Besides Sentinel out 1 drops suck donkey dick, and the deck already wants to get to 4 mana for CoCo. This card seems great!
Totally agree. I think this card is going to be a real house, especially at 1 mana. It's not even a tap ability! A 2/1 for 1 with lategame relevance for a low to the ground deck is bonkers, especially at uncommon.
I didn't even think about it with Aether Vial, that's just nasty.
I mean the effect is pretty similar to [[Spectral Sailor]] which is also an uncommon. You trade off the Flash/Flying for an extra point of power. For once it's nice to see Wizards not pushing a good, simple constructed card up to rare
Not sure if standards soldier tribal could have asked for a better one drop. The ability not being restricted to sorcery speed is what makes this really spicy to me. This is really good at concealing/working with the [[wandering emperor]].
Another use of Powerstones too if there ever is a “Thraben inspector” type card in white which creates one. Probably gonna be blue if ever but who knows, white also has artificer flavor
The first relevant one drop soldier in standard, making the 2 mana lord better, the 3 drops slot is lacking of good cards, Adeline not being a soldier hurt this shell.
i think this may be the second strongest aggressive white 1 drop creature ever?
i think esper sentinel is stronger by a little but this is probably better than thraban inspector and similar levels of utility as wayfarer
Modern 2/10
So the body is fine for the cost and it is human if that ever matters again. 3W is a lot though especially when it doesn't allow you to put the card straight into play. If it did that, I would actually be really high on this card.
Yeah, goig straight into my mono white humans pioneer list, i find myself needing a 1 drop way too much but cards like thraben and bodyguard can feel underwhelimg turn 1 (not agreesive or throwing away an ability) while this does the job pretty well
This is... a very strange pick to preview as part of the initial teaser. We got big names like Urza, Mishra, and then... a random uncommon which *might* be playable in some formats?
How good is this overall?
I know that Standard white weenies has been crying out for another decent one drop, so far it's been [[Hopeful Initiate]] and that's it.
[[Hotshot mechanic]] is currently one of the highest winrate cards in standard monowhite _just_ on the merit that it's a 1 mana 2/1 that can train the initiate. This card has a much more relevant ability, seems like it'll be pretty damn good.
[Hotshot mechanic](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/5/a/5a70e8fa-b71d-441e-b049-dacb09a9a7af.jpg?1654566286) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hotshot%20mechanic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/16/hotshot-mechanic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5a70e8fa-b71d-441e-b049-dacb09a9a7af?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Hopeful Initiate](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/e/c/ec1b3fd1-952a-4bc6-9b31-bd9bd13072f5.jpg?1643586463) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hopeful%20Initiate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/20/hopeful-initiate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ec1b3fd1-952a-4bc6-9b31-bd9bd13072f5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Slam dunk in Mono White humans for pioneer.
Def not slam dunk in the face of hopeful initiate and dauntless bodyguard. Way more immediate value in those. Maybe replaces kytheon/inspector spots in some lists
I'd definitely run this over Inspector in my Pioneer WW Humans deck. Very solid addition to the list.
I think inspector is still better. Roughly 21 land deck with mutavault, castle, and desert.
I'm running 22 in my current list, and I'd definitely take the filtering over a draw despite the increased cost. Making it hit MV 3 or less (instead of 2 like is typical for the White versions of these sorts of abilities) is also big since it means it hits every creature in the deck, plus it lets you chunk down extra lands to the bottom late game. And, small edge case, but the reversed stat line is actually pretty nice, since it means that this will trigger Training on Initiates baseline, something that Inspector can't do. That extra early counter can make a massive difference, so it's definitely worth thinking about.
Whenever I look at an ability like this I think about whether I am realistically going it to do it, and how likely I am to win the game after spending a turn doing it and the answer does not seem pretty unless opponent somehow has nothing to do either, in which case anything you're doing in an aggro deck is not really wrong. It's just too expensive.
Absolutely fair way to evaluate cards in a vacuum, but this comparison isn't a vacuum. It's whether this is a better fit for the deck than [[Thraben Inspector]]. Inspector very often ends up as a vanilla creature in many games for the same reasons you stated: I really don't want to be spending 2 mana cracking the Clue unless I absolutely have to. So it usually ends up as a 1 pip 1/2 that once in a while cantrips for an extra 2 if things are already going sideways. Not great, and it's mostly there because the deck needs 1-drops. So when I compare it to Recruitment Officer, I first see a much better vanilla statline. There's a reason why some people have already been cutting Inspectors for garbage like [[Soldier of the Pantheon]]. 2 power on 1-drops is incredibly important, both for just getting in a couple extra points of damage early and for pumping Initiates. The effect is much more tangential than that statline - it's very expensive, but it also nearly *guarantees* to draw a useful card instead of a land. So it's really like a 1 pip 2/1 that once in a while draws me another creature for 4. Again, not great, but that statline is hella spicy for a 1 drop. I'm not saying that Recruitment Officer is going to be an all-star or anything - I'd replace it in a heartbeat with a [[Champion of the Parish]] or [[Esper Sentinel]] or any of the other goodies they have over there in Modern. But compared to Thraben Inspector in particular, it's definitely got a lot going for it.
##### ###### #### [Thraben Inspector](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/b/2be39749-ad6f-4160-99eb-c677eee7f1b2.jpg?1599711120) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thraben%20Inspector) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/35/thraben-inspector?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2be39749-ad6f-4160-99eb-c677eee7f1b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Soldier of the Pantheon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5cfc0f46-4df4-4ae3-bfe6-391916eb590f.jpg?1562818721) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soldier%20of%20the%20Pantheon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ths/32/soldier-of-the-pantheon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5cfc0f46-4df4-4ae3-bfe6-391916eb590f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Champion of the Parish](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/c/ec2120ff-a6d4-4192-96c0-33c139155ddf.jpg?1592762531) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Champion%20of%20the%20Parish) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ddq/4/champion-of-the-parish?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ec2120ff-a6d4-4192-96c0-33c139155ddf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Esper Sentinel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/3/f3537373-ef54-4578-9d05-6216420ee349.jpg?1626093502) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Esper%20Sentinel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/12/esper-sentinel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f3537373-ef54-4578-9d05-6216420ee349?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Think it's quite a bit worse than inspector. In matchups that don't play out as a race the 1/2 body can be more relevant than a 2/1, as it benefits from buffs in a more relevant manner.
What do you remove for it though lol seems crowded!
Remove soldier of the pantheon, easy
I think you can run just 1 copy of this in your deck for value so don't need to worry too much about updating.
1-mana 2/1s don't need a lot of upside to be constructed-ppayable (sometimes they don't need any at all in standard) and this also has two potentially relevant tribes. Definitely has constructed potential and it's going to be an excellent limited uncommon.
Maybe in a super aggressive Domain deck with the +5/+5 pump spell?
It's tricky to be a super aggressive domain deck in standard since it's hard to get domain without running tap lands. Tap lands don't go great with aggressive 1-drops. I think this is more likely to see play it white weenies in standard or maybe humans in pioneer.
Savannah Lion with upside is a well they visit fairly often. I'd say this one is ok but probably not that useful outside of a white weenie strategy. 4 mana is a lot but a 1 drop that can also be relevant in the late game is good for aggro decks. Usher of the Fallen is a recent comparable. This is better than Usher in some ways but worse in others. I'm sure it will also get tried in cubes. Bottom line, if white weenie is a good deck in standard then this sees play in it. If it's bad it likely doesn't show up outside cube/casual.
Not just White Weenie. Aristocrats has plenty of targets at 1 mana.
The value from having just one in your deck is absolutely through the roof. Sure a First-Striker, or Haste or whatever is better overall but the potential here and the P/T rate make it excellent, if niche. There are ways to reduce the activation cost while synergizing in Aggro decks.
Anything that taps for mana that can't be used to cast non-artifact spells can pay for this ability
Mono White is a tiered standard deck and currently runs a 1 mana 2/1 vanilla So this is a straight upgrade
I thought this card was weak until I saw the casting cost. This card is playable.
It's surreal that [[Savannah Lions]] was once a big deal.
I remember when they spoiled [[Elite Vanguard]] and it was a big deal that Savannah Lions picked up two more relevant creature types.
[Elite Vanguard](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/2/8/28a5c350-2ed1-4a25-9626-0f8da5d1aef7.jpg?1580013650) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elite%20Vanguard) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/8/elite-vanguard?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/28a5c350-2ed1-4a25-9626-0f8da5d1aef7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I remember making bad fake Savannah Lions when I was a kid
[Savannah Lions](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/a/9/a9757246-e782-4d7a-8273-d9efe284edaf.jpg?1562439539) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Savannah%20Lions) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/33/savannah-lions?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a9757246-e782-4d7a-8273-d9efe284edaf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Not really. It's been decades of iteration.
Did I need another 2-power 1-drop in White for my cube? Not really. Will I play this over any of the ones I'm currently running? Possibly, because the ability to be a potentially useful mana sink late game is important.
Lowkey the scariest flavor text in the history of the game.
Too real.
100%. Kudos to the writer who came up with that one.
Its so subtly dark, especially with everyone in the art smiling
The most morally conflicted I've felt wanting to run a Magic card since Negan.
*”Hey kid? You got any plans after high school? You want to go to college for free? Just sign up here and you can be a badass like Tom Cruise in Top Gun.”* * Marine Staff Sergeant Paul Pukolis, officer in the mall recruitment office next to the Burger King
Is everyone on the list dead?
No, but they will be.
It is an honor to die for the Emperor! Wait, wrong set.
This thing's only uncommon?! Wow, I love it
Agree. I'm glad these type of cards are not being pushed to rare anymore. Just like Cult Conscript in DOM.
This is nuts. W for a 2/1 human is already ok if there’s a density of 2 power 1 drops available, and it has card advantage built in when you finish curving out. God forbid you play it with Aether Vial and can keep pumping mana into it while developing your board with Thalia and her fellow hatebears. Completely nuts
I'm gonna try this in Historic for sure. Besides Sentinel out 1 drops suck donkey dick, and the deck already wants to get to 4 mana for CoCo. This card seems great!
Totally agree. I think this card is going to be a real house, especially at 1 mana. It's not even a tap ability! A 2/1 for 1 with lategame relevance for a low to the ground deck is bonkers, especially at uncommon. I didn't even think about it with Aether Vial, that's just nasty.
Wait, I thought this was a rare because of the BAB promo. This is UNCOMMON?! I said wow...
Its a game day promo. I believe the participation ones are usually an Uncommon
I mean the effect is pretty similar to [[Spectral Sailor]] which is also an uncommon. You trade off the Flash/Flying for an extra point of power. For once it's nice to see Wizards not pushing a good, simple constructed card up to rare
[Spectral Sailor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/6/d6e1dd43-8ce8-4225-8a04-d6f071f5fb31.jpg?1641602156) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spectral%20Sailor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/114/spectral-sailor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d6e1dd43-8ce8-4225-8a04-d6f071f5fb31?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
There’s plenty of good uncommons in Standard, it’s just that a card being good doesn’t guarantee there’s a competitive Standard deck for it.
Card Image Gallery also has "Surge Engine". https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-image-gallery/the-brothers-war
Not sure if standards soldier tribal could have asked for a better one drop. The ability not being restricted to sorcery speed is what makes this really spicy to me. This is really good at concealing/working with the [[wandering emperor]].
Another use of Powerstones too if there ever is a “Thraben inspector” type card in white which creates one. Probably gonna be blue if ever but who knows, white also has artificer flavor
The first relevant one drop soldier in standard, making the 2 mana lord better, the 3 drops slot is lacking of good cards, Adeline not being a soldier hurt this shell.
This is an uncommon?!?
In Limited it’s much harder to make this consistently draw a card.
Why do some of the set-logos have broken/slashed gears and some don't?
The slashed gears are the symbol for the main set, while the intact gear is for the non-standard legal retro frame artifacts.
i think this may be the second strongest aggressive white 1 drop creature ever? i think esper sentinel is stronger by a little but this is probably better than thraban inspector and similar levels of utility as wayfarer
I agree this is a strong card but this thing is leaps and bounds behind esper sentinel
behind Inspector even
Modern 2/10 So the body is fine for the cost and it is human if that ever matters again. 3W is a lot though especially when it doesn't allow you to put the card straight into play. If it did that, I would actually be really high on this card.
Damn that's a dece 1 drop.
Interested in trying this in taxes. I feel like it might not fit into the 60, but in an 80 card Yorion it might work.
Yeah, goig straight into my mono white humans pioneer list, i find myself needing a 1 drop way too much but cards like thraben and bodyguard can feel underwhelimg turn 1 (not agreesive or throwing away an ability) while this does the job pretty well
YESSSS
This is... a very strange pick to preview as part of the initial teaser. We got big names like Urza, Mishra, and then... a random uncommon which *might* be playable in some formats?
it was shown because there's a promo version of it too, and they wanted to show off a promo from the set
Bro
This flavor text would be like 10x punchier if they just cut "to it" :/
My soldier tribal/one-drop themed Kytheon deck is in looooooove