Lavaspout Howler

[SpencerForHire]

Lavaspout Howler - RRR
Creature - Beast
When Lavaspout comes into play pay X; put X counters on Lavaspout Howler.
Haste.
Remove two counters: Lavaspout Howler gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
3/2

[Jacob Orlove]

RRR is a really bad mana cost, especially when you only get a 3/2 haste. And the "pay extra" ability is worthless: on turn 5, you can tap out to do an additional point of damage to your opponent!

[SpencerForHire]

I originally had the cost at 1RR but figured paying that kind of mana for that power/toughness ratio was too imbal.  Does 1RR sound acceptable or should it be changed to 2RR?

[Nefarias]

I would prefer a 2/2 for 1RR. Also, it is in red's nature to have super sudden bursts of fleeting energy. The second ability would be cool if it were something along the lines of this:

When Lavaspout Howler comes into play, you may pay any amount of colorless mana. Until end of turn, Lavaspout Howler gets +2/+0 for each mana you spent.

That's probably worded incorrectly, but you get the idea. Giving it +2/+0 may be a little strong, but +1/+0 is way too weak. I think the +2/+0 is doable, as it makes it very Ball Lightning-ish, except it doesn't trample.

[SpencerForHire]

Current Update:

Lavaspout Howler - 1RR
Creature - Beast
When Lavaspout comes into play pay X; until end of turn Lavaspout Howler gets +X/+0 where X is double the amount of mana payed for X.
Haste.
2/2