Wingmate Roc vs Sunscorch Regent
Standard forum
Posted on Jan. 15, 2016, 4:46 p.m. by hawk393
So I am playing an abzan lifegain/good creatures deck and keep swapping back and forth between the birds and the dragon. I enjoy playing both but find myself often wishing I had the dragon over the roc. Mostly due to how large it has the potential to get and the lifegain it does provide.
So here is the question. Why does Sunscorch Regent not see more play? For the same cmc as the roc it seems like a better card. Or am I missing something?
Right but by your turn 5, the opt usually has to have had an answer for anafenza or siege by then so its usually free drop or forcing a removal/counter spell anyway.
And with almost every creature in an abzan deck supposed to be a life or death threat anyway. I would just assume play, have it eat a removal and bring something in full force next turn. So long as i can force them to waste kill spells or get my fliers in. I feel like its a win in my book.
Thank you for the input though. It always helps me desire what I wanna do before FNM Lol
January 15, 2016 5:05 p.m.
Roc comes in at four toughness, which makes all the difference from three in Magic. You also do get the two for one deal. Two creatures opens you up to significantly more options than just a one of. And considering the number of creatures Abzan can see in play, you can gain life much more quickly off of just one good swing with say a Siege Rhino, Den Protector, and two Wingmate Roc (well one and a token). That's four life just for turning your cards sideways.
You want to use Sunscorch Regent really well, save him for the day an infinite combo shows up in Standard or you play against Grixis Tutelage. He'll go off like a bomb in those matchups.
I like your thoughts and you make valid points and the two are very competitive, but at the end of it all I feel like the bird wins out, if only for getting a token out.
January 15, 2016 5:29 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
He's been semi-useful in a Bant Dragons list that I run. He's only a one-of, and would probably be the first to cut if I picked up another Ojutai. The 3 toughness argument isn't entirely relevant as he becomes a 5/4 as soon as your opponent casts a spell, but is important when considering combat.
January 15, 2016 5:53 p.m.
wakawakawaka says... #6
test out sunscorch regent.
it might be good it might not.
really though roc is really good when it produces two bodies and not too bad when it produces only one. Sunscorch is a little worse when you're ahead and a little worse when you're behind.
Also a 3/4 is dangerous in the air and it trades well. When you drop two 3/4 fliers turn 5, you're pretty likely to win unless you're super far behind.
January 15, 2016 7:34 p.m.
Right but the same thing can be said about regent. Drop him turn 5 and if your opt casts anything, he gets bigger. And if unchecked he usually gets monstrous quickly.
January 16, 2016 12:05 a.m.
only seen sunscorch regent used by one opponent and it was pretty effective against my mardu dragons. He was playing a bolster/scales strategy. In mardu dragons I use removal early to survive until I can cast my dragons. the regent surprised me and I was out of removal. By the time I had it he had valorous stance. Was fun to play against.
January 16, 2016 11:07 p.m.
Aric_Haldan says... #9
As someone who tries beating the deck instead of just start playing it, I can tell you this: Wingmate Roc is better. why ? Because when I am playing an aggressive deck, having 2 possible blockers come out means it's pretty hard to just hit for lethal and if don't manage to do that, the other creatures swing in next turn and I'm dead. If I'm playing a control strategy, removing 2 more creatures is a lot harder than removing 1 creature.
January 17, 2016 5:18 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #10
No contest. Wingmate Roc always. Just always. Regent = bad juju
Argy says... #2
Sunscorch Regent is often removed, so you don't get the value from it.
Wingmate Roc brings a little buddy in with it, if you play it correctly. Two is better than one.
January 15, 2016 4:49 p.m.