Mardu Tokens Comparing Bombs
Standard forum
Posted on Jan. 27, 2015, 11:43 a.m. by VampireArmy
I've been bouncing back and forth here and I realized something
Brutal Hordechief Is better when you have a good board position
Butcher of the Horde is better when you don't
Purphoros, God of the Forge is better when you have a lot of producers/good position
In the current meta, which seems like the best 4 drop?
cosmokai2000 says... #3
Personally, I think that Butcher of the Horde might be the better 4 drop. It is always relevant and demands an immediate answer
January 27, 2015 11:55 a.m.
But for 4 drops?
I would have to say Iroas, God of Victory. I like his ability to provide pseudo evasion to your critters while keeping them safe in combat.
Plus he's a beater.
January 27, 2015 11:56 a.m.
The Butcher. It's the only card that on it's own can effectively win the game, makings it's ability just icing on the cake.. Like you said yourself, Brutal Hordechief needs a good board to truly be effective. On it's own it's a 3/3 that drains 1 life and gains you 1 life, plus the fact that it can get hit by Lightning Strike and Bile Blight is relevant. Purphoros, has great abilities but again requires enablers. Either you need to produce a bunch of creatures after you play him or have a board state that will benefit from his pump ability when you attack. Like Brutal Hordechief, on his own he can't win the game either.
January 27, 2015 11:57 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #6
Butcher of the Horde seems a lot better at the moment.
January 27, 2015 12:01 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #7
So the Consensus being
Hordechief is winmore
God is a little bit too slow
Butcher is where you want to be
I think I got it now
January 27, 2015 12:02 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #8
You guys think the red Siege will be good in that deck?
January 27, 2015 12:04 p.m.
Kage-no-Raito says... #9
Butcher, hands down...my favorite standard card for Mardu. Personally, I like the red siege since when you sac or when opponents wipe your board state, they take damage.
January 27, 2015 12:11 p.m.
Butcher of the Horde leaves a bad taste in my mouth, Especially with the potential of being 2 for 1'ed.
Also, Don't forget about Sorin, Solemn Visitor, which if your playing tokens is a much better drop than the butcher.
January 27, 2015 12:19 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #11
I like sorin but my issue with him is he won't really do much for me when I lack a boardstate
he's like hordechief in that respect
January 27, 2015 12:26 p.m.
Dalektable says... #12
Butcher is a good reason in it's own right to play mardu, so yeah him.
January 27, 2015 12:35 p.m.
Compare the possible board states you may have with each of these...
0 other creatures...
Butcher of the Horde - it's a 5/4 Flying that does nothing that turn.
Brutal Hordechief - it's a 3/3 that does nothing that turn.
Purphoros, God of the Forge - it's and enchantment... that does nothing.
1 Creature... assume something like a Soldier Token.
Butcher of the Horde - You have to sac the token, but likely get in for 5.
Brutal Hordechief - You swing with the token and have a 2 point life swing (they lose one, you gain one)... you probably lose the token to a blocker.
Purphoros, God of the Forge - it's and enchantment... that does nothing.
2 Creatures... (Tokens).
Butcher of the Horde - You have to sac a token, but likely get in for 5. - optional, sac another to gain 5 life
Brutal Hordechief - You swing with the 2 tokens and have a 4 point life swing... you probably lose both tokens to blockers.
Purphoros, God of the Forge - it's and enchantment... that does nothing.
3 Creatures... (Tokens). - This is where I think it start to get closer...
Butcher of the Horde - You have to sac a token, but likely get in for 5. - optional, sac another to gain 5 life.
Brutal Hordechief - You swing with the 3 tokens and have a 6 point life swing... you probably lose 2 tokens to blockers... the third does another damage.
Purphoros, God of the Forge - it's and enchantment... that does nothing.
4 Creatures... (Tokens). - I give this to the Hordechief...Butcher of the Horde - You have to sac a token, but likely get in for 5. - optional, sac another to gain 5 life. (This really just stays the same)
Brutal Hordechief - You swing with the 4 tokens and have a 8 point life swing... you probably lose 2 tokens to blockers... 2 more from unblocked...
Purphoros, God of the Forge - it's and enchantment... that does nothing.
At 4+ Creatures or if you'll get a number of creatures soon, your potential with Brutal Hordechief is better... the question is then, "How well does your deck pump out creatures?", and "How quickly does your opponent remove them?".
I would say that if you are against a deck where they will not be removing your creatures as quickly, go with Brutal Hordechief. If they have a lot of removal (especially early mass removal, like Anger of the Gods), go with Butcher of the Horde. - You should probably be using one and having the other in sideboard.
January 27, 2015 12:57 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #14
I think that's a good assessment except that Purphoros Does have a side ability of mass pumping. I think that's at least a little relevant
January 27, 2015 1:01 p.m.
I'm just curious in your assessment why you never attack with the tokens and the butcher. You make a point to note that when you play Brutal Hordechief that you lose a couple of tokens but a couple probably get through in the attack. Should this be the same with the butcher? In fact that's where the "optional" part about sacing a token for lifelink should really come into play. You attack with the extra tokens and the ones that don't get through are the ones that you sacrifice to the Butcher. So really the butcher doesn't stay the same with more tokens in play, as you've put it. Also, when the life gain is relevant the Hordechief requires you to have 5 creatures on board and all of them attacking in order to gain as much life as the butcher. The butcher does have the drawback of having to deal damage though. However, if your attacking with tokens and they're being blocked like in your scenarios, more often than not you'll be sacrificing your board state in order to trigger the Hordechief. Unless you can consistently replace the tokens your losing, every combat there after is subsequently less effective making the Hordechief really only good that first combat when you drop him down on a full board.
January 27, 2015 1:18 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #16
Honestly? Run all of them. Trust me, it works.
Edge and Scale, Bring Forth the Victory Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 138 | 6 COMMENTS | 18022 VIEWSJanuary 27, 2015 10:25 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #18
Because it works.
Just read the deck description. All the cards that were considered lesser than Butcher of the Horde are in there as a 2 of. Because you don't always want them (especially not in multiples) and they are supporting to the main game plan. Butcher of the Horde is the best bomb. The rest are just supporting to the deck that the bomb forms.
Caligula says... #2
Underworld Cerberus Is a great bomb that's often overlooked now.
Stops whip, Has lots of evasion, huge body and a neat ability that could work in your favor easily when he get's roasted.
January 27, 2015 11:54 a.m.