Garruk, Apex Predator!
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on June 29, 2014, 11:49 p.m. by BoromirOfGondor
The ultimate hunter has returned with a vengeance. What do you think of Garruk, M15 edition?
Link:
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/hunter-2014-06-30
PasorofMuppets says... #4
He's super powerful but I don't know how I feel about him being seven mana.
June 29, 2014 11:54 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #7
Being BG doesn't make the cost a huge problem, although it's still a lot. He does do something big the turn he comes into play. It may be me, but I'm not overly thrilled about the ultimate... the first three abilities make up for that, though.
June 30, 2014 12:01 a.m.
KnightsBattlecry001 says... #8
I love this Garruk. The only thing is that seven mana though.
June 30, 2014 12:02 a.m.
Well, I think I now know two of the colors that the control deck I'll be playing next format will be in.
This card makes the Timmy shoot fireworks, and now I have internal bleeding.
June 30, 2014 12:04 a.m.
Remember guys, he's the first 4 ability planeswalker since the Jace Who Shall Not Be named. I'm fine with them hedging towards 7 mana than a more castable 6.
June 30, 2014 12:04 a.m.
Blizzicane says... #11
OMG NOW THAT'S A MYTHIC! I don't even care if he is playable he looks amazing and he has four abilities!!! >:O
June 30, 2014 12:07 a.m.
ryuzaki32667 says... #12
Primary green deck with Sylvan Caryatid and such with New nissa and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth won't it seem so much to cast though
June 30, 2014 12:09 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #13
Fuck it, I'm totally splashing a bit for him in my Sedge Scorpion MGD.
June 30, 2014 12:10 a.m.
CastleSiege says... #17
Between Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth being re-printed and all of the ramp that green has, this version of Garruk should be fairly easy to play despite the 7CMC.
June 30, 2014 12:32 a.m.
nsimon - Apparently people on Ebay have started "selling" Garruks at $40, but I expect that just to be Prerelease hype. He'll probably stabilize around $20-$30 in my opinion (maybe even lower).
June 30, 2014 12:40 a.m.
MachineAge says... #19
GUYS. JUND MONSTERS. The ramp is there to monstrous Polukranos and play Ruric Thar so why not Garruk?
June 30, 2014 12:43 a.m.
WizardInTheWoods says... #20
Oh, nice.
- He protects himself well.
- Impacts the board.
- Heals.
Sure is pricey, though. :(
Good thing Elvish Mystic , Satyr Wayfinder , Grisly Salvage and Sylvan Caryatid are.
I'll take two, thanks!
June 30, 2014 12:47 a.m.
elementalheroflamewingman says... #21
Definitely playable in standard, considering the access to the new Nissa. However the Nissa untaps forest only, so after Overgrown Tomb rotates, it may meet some problems. However in modern, it may just be a turn too slow to be effective
June 30, 2014 12:50 a.m.
Rhinowarrior says... #22
You guys have to remember that Elspeth costs six mana and impacts the board less then Garruk does when he comes out and she was still a huge player in competitive standard. Also take into consideration that green has plenty of mana ramp and I wouldn't be surprised to see this guy in a competitive Bug Control shell. or a rampy green deck with nissa worldwaker...
June 30, 2014 12:52 a.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #23
all I have to say is wow.....just wow....I think he will find a place in standard. he is definitely strong, but maybe too much mana. I guess we will see soon enough
June 30, 2014 12:59 a.m.
ColdHeartedSith says... #24
Not playable Timmy, too expensive. Unless everyone drops their decks and starts playing superfriends I'm pretty sure turn 5 probably at the earliest is probably too late for his 3/3 to matter and his other +1 won't save you either. Look at Nicol Bolas at 8, He is a beast. Garruk should be a 5 or 6 cost, he is on the box and they were pimping him out to be the bad ass of the m15 block.
June 30, 2014 1:05 a.m.
JWiley129- thanks, and thats too bad. I was hoping he would be a huge money card
June 30, 2014 1:05 a.m.
GreatSword says... #26
As certainly cool as he is, I don't know if a 7-mana 2-color card has ever been a Standard staple.
He definitely has presence the turn you cast him though; either he'll kill another planswalker, develop your board, or destroy a troublesome fatty creature and net you a good amount of life.
June 30, 2014 1:31 a.m.
ColdHeartedSith says... #27
Thoughtseize, mind rot, waste not , rakdos's return, black cat and other hand hate cards like lifebane zombie exc are going to be putting this guy outta sight before you could ever pay for him.
June 30, 2014 1:35 a.m.
ColdHeartedSith - all your arguments are valid, except for Lifebane Zombie , he can only grab creatures.
June 30, 2014 1:58 a.m.
WizardInTheWoods says... #29
Lifebane Zombie ? Planeswalkers aren't creatures.
We get it: you don't think this card is playable. That's cool.
You WILL encounter this card, though. When you do, I recommend using Thoughtsieze to yank this 7-drop out of your opponent's hand. Ignore their Hero's Downfall
and go for the 7-drop.
June 30, 2014 2 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #30
FUCKING LOVE IT!!!
& fits perfectly into my 50Lbs Season 2 Deck I been brewing for post rotation,.
June 30, 2014 2:16 a.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #31
The "ultimate" is a joke right? I mean, I can only assume it's there fore flavour only. Aside from that. someone will make this work in Standard. It might not be top tier, but I suspect hype alone will see him played, at least for a little while. Especially since RTR leaving might slow down the format.
June 30, 2014 2:44 a.m.
CanadianShinobi - What do you mean a joke? He basically ends the game for your opponent making all your creatures at worst a 6/6 trampler? Also, aren't most ultimates supposed to be outrageous and splashy?
June 30, 2014 2:49 a.m.
I think he's bad. Flavourwise he is awesome, but from a competitive POV he's not that great. Let's not talk about any other Format than Standard/Limited - he is unplayable in Modern/Legacy.
What do you get out of your 7CMC? +1 you can kill off a Planeswalker. How many Planeswalkers are there that haven't done enough damage already when you're able to drop Garruk? You can kill off Elspeth, Sun's Champion , but she will leave a legacy behind (3 1/1 tokens) - (Hero's Downfall , Vraska the Unseen and Dreadbore do the same, for less mana).
You can make a 3/3 Beast which isn't super powerful for 7CMC (Garruk Relentless Flip made 2/2 Wolfs for 4CMC, Xenagos, The Reveler makes 2/2 haste Satyrs for 4CMC, Elspeth, Sun's Champion makes 3 1/1s for 6CMC).
You can kill off any creature without hexproof/indestructible and gain life equal to it's toughness. The average killspell hovers at around 3CMC. So you basically pay 4 additional mana for a little lifegain. Let's be honest, would anyone with a competitive mindest play a card that reads:5BG - Kill target creature, you gain life equal to it's toughness. Target opponent discards a card (the killspell they have to use for Garruk).? I know for sure, I would not.
The Ultimate is a flavor Bomb, but compared to Domri it's a bad joke.
All in all he does too little too late for my taste. And honestly I don't want to waste 7 Mana on a card in a Standard where Hero's Downfall is the most dominant killspell (but hey you'll get a 2for1 if you kill a creature/planeswalker - yay).
June 30, 2014 3:22 a.m.
megawurmple says... #34
I like this guy a lot, but as has been pointed out, he's going to struggle to be competitive. 7 mana is just too much for most. He might squeeze in to Monsters at the top of the curve, but other than that he's too costly.
June 30, 2014 5:20 a.m.
McSleuthburger says... #35
People are going to try and force this in standard. Maybe with the right combo he could be playable. We will just have to wait an see
June 30, 2014 5:39 a.m.
Schuesseled says... #36
It's a win con for control/ramp in standard and at the very least a happy dance for al G/B/x EDH players.
I like him
June 30, 2014 5:59 a.m.
MachineAge says... #37
Hes so playable in standard! JUND monsters? We definitely have the ramp. 7 mana is nothing. Stop your bitching about how he costs too much.
June 30, 2014 7:09 a.m.
My control decks tend to go for turn 12-20 anyway, so no problem.
Let's murder some things. Doesn't matter what, just kill it.
June 30, 2014 7:43 a.m.
Guys, in Thereos block constructed BUG control was a major player. I could see Garruk being the finisher in that deck.
June 30, 2014 7:55 a.m.
Personally I like him. I think as a finisher in a BUG control deck would work. Control decks doesn't care what their finisher's cmc is, as they will stall the game until they draw into him. I see him working a lot like Elspeth. +1 three time, then ultimate and swing in for 24.
The +1 to kill a PW is pretty cool. I don't look at him coming down second, I see this in a longer game (control, it's always longer) and you drop Garruk. If your opponent draw into their walkers, consider them dead draws. If they want to lay them down to get one activation, no problem, Garruk doesn't miss a beat by gaining loyalty to kill that walker next turn.
His -3 is much like Elspeth's minus ability. Only used in a pinch. That's not why he is there. Overall I think he is a fair walker. I would imagine they would have put him at 6cmc had he not been green. The fact that he protects himself, affects the board the turn he comes into play, has a good starting loyalty makes him playable. I'll be picking up two of this guy, and even if a Tier 1 deck isn't built around him, I will make something up to have fun at my local FNM.
@CanadianShinobi - Because Garruk is hunting, he picks one opponent to hunt down, therefore giving the power to all who hunt with him. This makes no difference in a 1v1 game, but in EDH or other multiplayer formats, you need to single out one opponent which is quite a bit different from giving your dudes +5+5 when they attack anybody.
June 30, 2014 8:03 a.m.
Enlightened_Jedi says... #41
Dude is a monster, and he will be played and he will impact standard.
Turn down for what.
June 30, 2014 9:14 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #42
Between him and Vraska the Unseen a Golgari, BUG, JUND, or even JUNK walker/control deck is going to be stupid.
I MAY even dust off my playset of Unexpected Results and see if I can make this work in BUG :)
June 30, 2014 9:40 a.m.
Dalektable says... #44
God, I think I'm in love...I only wish It was six mana...
I will not splash for black, I will not splash for black...
June 30, 2014 10:51 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #45
Yes you will. He's worth it in a green ramp shell.
June 30, 2014 10:55 a.m.
Dalektable says... #46
I don't want to go Jund Monsters post rotation, I am perfectly happy with R/G lol...although Reaper of the Wilds is pretty too, and removal...nope. Nope, not gonna do it.
June 30, 2014 10:58 a.m.
His ultimate seems like it was made for EDH. I want one!
June 30, 2014 11:38 a.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #49
I think he would be great in a G/b devotion list
June 30, 2014 12:26 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #50
@ darthfrog and JWiley129 so, when I start reading cards when I'm tired, things don't always click. I misread the ability and thought that the opponent's creatures got the bonus, not yours. '-_-
BoromirOfGondor says... #2
We made it.
June 29, 2014 11:49 p.m.