Standard forum
Posted on Jan. 29, 2013, 11:51 a.m. by Takahashiryu
What are your opinions about the lifelink Ball Lightning ?
Thedren_The_Inquisitor says... #3
It is really fun.... It's interaction with any soulbond creatures, is possibly threatening. It is fun and anything that let's you sac it and get some value makes this card super scary
January 29, 2013 12:01 p.m.
I'm actually not a huge fan, I feel like you almost have to be able to guarantee a pairing with Silverblade Paladin in order to get good value from it. The rest of the time I'd rather be resolving Hellrider .
January 29, 2013 12:07 p.m.
Thedren_The_Inquisitor says... #5
I agree, But as a casual player Ball Lightning +Lightning Helix = ALL THE FUN TIMES
January 29, 2013 12:17 p.m.
Thedren_The_Inquisitor says... #6
This is going straight into my Brion Stoutarm Hurt You Make Me Feel Better, captain deck as a four of
January 29, 2013 12:19 p.m.
In a weenie deck I think it's a great way to push through that last bit of damage. I imagine it'll do very very well in a human weenie deck as a finisher.
January 29, 2013 12:50 p.m.
Trmiller1326 says... #8
It worked great for everyone at the Pre-release I attended. If they could play the card, they won the round. I think it will see a lot of Boros aggro play.
January 29, 2013 1:06 p.m.
candlehawk says... #9
Not exactly the best idea, but all I can think of is how funny it would be to have this guy with Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and maybe somehow doublestrike him with Silverblade Paladin too. I could definitely see this in a boros midrange or boros tempo.
January 29, 2013 1:13 p.m.
I am a huge fan in Limited/Sealed formats (see Boros Victory for results). With battalion, you are frequently swinging with everything, leaving less to block. The lifelink can really put you ahead in a close slugfest
I am also going to include Spark Trooper when I convert my W/G double strike/exalted themed standard deck: Apoptosis Revamped G/W Aggro v2.1 to R/W (or possibly R/W with a splash of G).
It won't be the only win condition, but one more bomb to include. Other examples of pairings to put a game away: Silverblade Paladin + Thundermaw Hellkite and Sublime Archangel + Thundermaw Hellkite . I want to start the maniacal laughter now...
January 29, 2013 1:29 p.m.
If I were to play it, I'd probably go 'american', and try to use things like Faerie Impostor , or Mist Raven to return Spark Trooper to my hand after combat.
Azorius Charm would also work, returning it after combat damage, to be drawn next turn.
January 29, 2013 2:01 p.m.
cartwheelnurd says... #12
Here's the question: Would an aggro deck pay 4 for 6 damage and 6 life? In an aggro mirror, the answer is yes everytime. Against RDW, this card says "win the game" Sideoboard at least, probably some main in Boros aggro.
January 29, 2013 2:45 p.m.
Thedren_The_Inquisitor says... #13
You guys do know there is a part of this game that is called "Not Standard" right? cards can be good but have nothing to do with Type 2.
This will be going into my non spike timmy Birthing Pod deck
January 29, 2013 2:48 p.m.
cartwheelnurd says... #14
How does this work with birthing pod? I would see it as counter productive. I know it might be a casual deck, but ending your pod curve with this is not great. Unless you run Voltaic Key I don;t see this being so great.
January 29, 2013 2:53 p.m.
Thedren_The_Inquisitor says... #15
you cast it, get a good bit of life and damage in then you pod to your five drop of choice
January 29, 2013 2:57 p.m.
Wizard of the Damned says... #16
The WIzard of the Damned is not a personal fan of thine tome Spark Trooper . For the cost, thou could cast riders of hell or multiple summmons (since boros is so cheap and effecient mana-wise) and he easily falls to removal such as Tragic Slip . This thought enrages the Wizard and makes him cast his mighty tomes upon unsuspecting casters for no reason
January 29, 2013 3:18 p.m.
evil_monkey says... #17
I can see it being ok, but I do agree that Hellrider is better. Boros isn't going to run this in T2 play because of it. At turn 4 you want to either be winning the game or be set up to Charm them to death the next turn after a board wipe. Spark Trooper doesn't help to improve your board state besides possibly removing a creature or gaining life, but in most cases he will be removed very quickly and easily.
January 29, 2013 3:59 p.m.
infinitemana says... #18
You just said at turn 4 you want to be winning the game: 6 damage+ whatever other creatures you got (which should be a lot in an aggro deck)+ 6 life= Well on your way to winning
January 29, 2013 4:18 p.m.
Well you have to remember that Hellrider does damage every time a creature you control attacks that is completely unblockable (unlike Spark Trooper ). You play hellrider and swing with 3 other creatures, you've instantly done 3 damage that's completely unblockable and then you have hellrider itself which has flying.
I'm not sure which one I'd pick. A 6 strength creature with trample is formidable and could easily get a lot of damage through - but this is situational based on what the opponent has in hand in terms of removal and what they have for blocking power (turn 4 - could be a 5/5). Hellrider can lead you to push through that last bit very quickly. Attack with 3/4 creatures and opponent gets pinged for 3/4 unblockable damage. Doesn't matter if those creatures could subsequently be removed or blocked - hellrider has already triggered.
January 29, 2013 4:29 p.m.
UmbrotheUmbreon says... #20
Hellrider doesn't have flying ChiefBell
Spark Trooper can be amazing! If it lives you can bounce it back to your hand and hit them again next turn. If they waste removal on a creature going to die anyway then kudos. One less kill spell to worry about when you drop Hellrider s and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Aurelia, the Warleader
January 29, 2013 4:51 p.m.
evil_monkey says... #21
@infinitemana Consider though that we are talking about turn 4 with the scenario you are describing. I have 3 creatures on the field (curving out) and a Hellrider and a Spark Trooper in hand. Let's say they have 2 creatures because they traded one in an earlier combat with us. At this point do you want to play Hellrider or Spark Trooper ? Hellrider will deal 4 damage immediately upon an attack while swinging with your team and then whatever your team +Hellrider would do as well (in testing of my Boros deck 60 % of the time, it works everytime (BDW) it is usually 13-15 via Champion, Mauler, Paladin). Spark Trooper will not do 4 damage guaranteed, and possibly won't get through on the attack. Plus if you play it, it is prone to so much remvoal. Izzet Staticaster will remove it easily, and unbonded at that, Electrickery , any first striker, card:Curse of Death's Hold would make it useless, Tragic Slip , and a plethora more.
So, speaking competitively, there is no guarantee that Spark Trooper will even gain me life let alone get any damage through, and so my choice 4-drop continues to be Hellrider . Don't get me wrong, I don't think Spark Trooper is a terrible card and I can see it's potential, but in aggro Hellrider is just better.
January 29, 2013 5:01 p.m.
evil_monkey says... #22
@UmbrotheUmbreon I can maybe, maybe, see him as a 2-of or something. Definitely not over Hellrider 's spot on the curve, but like I said before, I can see him being useful sometimes.
January 29, 2013 5:03 p.m.
UmbrotheUmbreon says... #23
He can be a good late game bomb. I mean, aggro should be winning turn 4-5, but that doesn't mean it WILL win turn 4-5. That's when you prepare a late game bomb. Spark Trooper is a good late game bomb, when they've used a ton of their removal/bounce/etc already, and now are still on the ropes.
In my Clinging on to Life By the Skin o'my Teeth deck, I use Primordial Hydra as my late game bomb.
January 29, 2013 5:08 p.m.
candlehawk says... #24
I think Spark Trooper is definitly a Naya card. T1: card:Avacyn's Pilgrim (or Arbor Elf with either Temple Garden or Stomping Ground T2: WhateverT3: Spark Trooper That's not a bad way to start off a game at all. Especially if your T2 is a Loxodon Smiter
January 29, 2013 5:30 p.m.
candlehawk says... #25
Oh, now that I think of it, T2 could also be great with Silverblade Paladin
January 29, 2013 5:32 p.m.
@evil_monkey Is there no room in the curve of an aggro deck for both Hellrider and Spark Trooper ? There's no guarantee that you'll have that T4 Hellrider . Why not run both (maybe 4x Hellrider , 2xSpark Trooper )?
January 29, 2013 5:37 p.m.
evil_monkey says... #27
Well, I did say that here:
evil_monkey says...
@UmbrotheUmbreon I can maybe, maybe, see him as a 2-of or something. Definitely not over Hellrider 's spot on the curve, but like I said before, I can see him being useful sometimes.January 29, 2013 5:03 p.m.
January 29, 2013 5:40 p.m.
I guess it pays to have a short term memory. Damn kids stole it!
January 29, 2013 6:42 p.m.
evil_monkey says... #29
Lol no biggie. I guess my biggest thing is I'm just saying I wouldn't play him over Hellrider . I don't want to discount the card altogether as he could be really good given the right support.
January 29, 2013 7:50 p.m.
Takahashiryu says... #30
Well, in the perfect situation described (you have creatures on the table and can improve Hellrider 's direct damage) Hellrider cleary has the advantage. But on a difficult game, a well placed Spark Trooper can swing a good damage and give you more time recover. I mean, six life is like on more turn alive!
January 30, 2013 5:42 a.m.
cartwheelnurd says... #31
Think about how much Timely Reinforcements destroys burn decks in modern. That's how much this will destroy aggro in standard. 6 life alone is good, but when you tack it onto 6 damage, with the opssibility for double strike, then you have a powerhouse card.
January 30, 2013 10:26 a.m.
evil_monkey says... #33
The difference is you get to keep the tokens with Timely Reinforcements thus improving your board state. The life gain is really good, don't get me wrong, but I still believe Hellrider dominates that spot on the curve. Now playing 2 of for late game options (if you go late with Boros) will probably be alright as the life gain will be really relevant then. Watch out for Skullcrack though. One card will annihilate half of what makes Spark Trooper good and basically waste your one turn with him, unless you are hitting for game. He's definitely got some pros along with the cons I've mentioned.
January 30, 2013 10:50 a.m.
cartwheelnurd says... #34
i mean, I fyou are boros aggro, you're slower than RDW. However, RDW is easily disruptble. THis is because they throw all their resources into getting you rom 20 to 0 life by turn 5 or 6 at the latest. When you can play an aggressive spell, that also gains you 6 life,then you can shut down RDW, by slowing them enough to get an advantage. Just like Thragtusk is the deck's worst nightmare along with card:Sphinx's Revelation, etc., so can Spark Trooper . Its playability will vary with the power of RDW and RB aggro.
January 30, 2013 1:09 p.m.
Takahashiryu says... #35
Indeed. It's the great glimmer of hope on the attrition between 2 aggro decks. I'm thinking how could it be useful against control. Gotta playtest my deck! If you give me some opinions. Here it is: Burning Justice
January 31, 2013 6:14 a.m.
Sweet-Nightmare says... #36
Everyone forgets the synergy with Aurelia, the Warleader , then add in some Pyreheart Wolf so they can't block as easily. With two combats, if they can't block that's 12 damage to the face. I just keep in mind that he's more like a burn spell than a creature.
But by all means, I hope everyone thinks he's terrible. Drives the price down. :P
January 31, 2013 3:45 p.m.
Sweet-Nightmare says... #37
Everyone forgets the synergy with Aurelia, the Warleader , then add in some Pyreheart Wolf so they can't block as easily. With two combats, if they can't block that's 12 damage to the face. I just keep in mind that he's more like a burn spell than a creature.
But by all means, I hope everyone thinks he's terrible. Drives the price down. :P
MetalMeister says... #2
Works great with Silverblade Paladin . Boros decks will surely play this.
January 29, 2013 11:54 a.m.