Ash Zealot

[MaximumCDawg]

Red gets another hate bear!



That's pretty saucy against decks using Yawgwill or Tiago.  Strangely, I feel like this is actually pretty weaksauce against Dredge because they don't have to resolve many spells from their graveyard at all to win.  Heck, Ichorid isn't "cast" from the yard, so really it only hits Cabal Therapy and Dread Return.  With only five of them in the deck, I don't see that killing them off.  That fact alone makes me suspicious of this card's future in Vintage.  Still, it's exciting to have such a powerful 2-drop attached to a relevant ability like this.

Pic Added.
-MM

[TheWhiteDragon]

it's a red "white knight" with haste instead of protection.  It's other ability is probably good for 3 damage at best in course of a game.  I don't see this as great.

[Saya]

if her cost were 1R she could slash tier decks easily.In reality it is RR.How many decks in vintage can cast her by turn 2?

[xouman]

Love the idea, but it's not playable. 2/2 first strike and haste is not common on red for 2 mana, even if it's RR. But indeed its ability is not relevant in vintage, apart from hitting will and thiago. Besides, paying 3 lives is bad but not terrible, and lots of snapcaster decks play bolt, so they can pay R and 3 lives to kill it. Against MUD and oath is crap, and so-so against the rest of the field.

[Guli]

I think it will be better than you guys think. But why do I think this? I have some reasons:

- I have been looking for another relevant first striker human NEXT to Thalia. This will create more board control.
- Haste is an ability that helps a lot versus Jace. When you are running a deck with Revoker and Thalia, you prefer to nail the artifact mana with Revoker. Cavern is already a huge problem for Jace decks, they can no longer bounce untap counter, so they need to use Jace as an expensive brainstorm. At least in these lines, Jace can not just bring card advantage easily, because a lot of creature are threatening it.

The cost is irrelevant since I have been runnning Cavern, City, Glimmervoid (or Zigurat) for a long time now. Wasteland does not fear me, because it is not wise to wasteland into Noble, Dark Confidant, Thalia or Mayor. I am aggressively protecting my mana base.

I like this card. I will try it, but I don't feel like it adresses the current issues of the metagame. We need a Human that simply HOSES the graveyard without any doubt and it needs hexproof so they can't just bolt or darkblast it. Why? I ll tell you why:

- Crucible of Worlds is the main problem right now when fighting Workshop
- Snapcaster Mage reusing the removal is a huge downer
- Dredge needs to be stopped too

If they are going to print a human that does good grave hate, I would like an upgraded Jailer.

[psyburat]

It certainly has a place in R/x Wins Again decks, as well as seeming to be a candidate for Guli's Human tribal deck, but the cost commitment to power level ratio leaves it on the sidelines for anything more than Tier 2 archetypes.

[Guli]

It certainly has a place in R/x Wins Again decks, as well as seeming to be a candidate for Guli's Human tribal deck, but the cost commitment to power level ratio leaves it on the sidelines for anything more than Tier 2 archetypes.

The designation of those tier 1, tier 2, tier x ... categories does not interest me for a bit. Some people might need it for whatever reason, I respect and understand that.

From your post I can assume that you are basically saying this will never go in a blue deck, a workshop deck or a dredge deck? Well that is in my book stating the obvious. If it belongs, it probably belongs in a Cavern human deck. I guess I am one of the few that can evaluate this card as best as possible since I am working on that archetype for quite some time now.

Like I said, the first strike and haste are relevant. And I don't just say that for the funz of it. Those two abilities will save and win games on occasion. And the 3 dmg, will obviously be relevant against combo or control. I just feel sad about the fact that Dryad and Zealot don't really cumulate effect wise...

[TinkerRobot]

- Haste is an ability that helps a lot versus Jace.

Agreed, I think this is a reasonable sideboard card for decks that cannot generate 4 mana for Slash Panther versus any blue deck with Jace, Snaps, and Yawgwill. I don't think I'd ever play this maindeck though, since it's such a dog against shops (which are about half of my meta) and it doesn't do anything broken.

[xouman]

IMHO Dryad > Zealot. Fewer cost and harder effect.

An upgraded Jailer? Hexproof? Dealing also with artifacts abilities? anhiliator 6? Jailer is quite poweful right now, maybe the bigger hoser for dredge.

[Guli]

IMHO Dryad > Zealot. Fewer cost and harder effect.

An upgraded Jailer? Hexproof? Dealing also with artifacts abilities? anhiliator 6? Jailer is quite poweful right now, maybe the bigger hoser for dredge.

Dealing with lands next to sorcery and instants would be nice yea... Some beats use Quarter to prevent Workshop decks in their mana build up. Also that Rachet and Burried Ruins plan involves Crucible. Dryad would have been 5 star if it would hit lands as well. Because it doesn't hit the shop match, it causes doubts.

First strike is relevant versus Workshop! Especially if you get Thalia out with Zealot. Or two zealots. Or a Mayor with Thalia and / or Zealot.

[psyburat]

It certainly has a place in R/x Wins Again decks, as well as seeming to be a candidate for Guli's Human tribal deck, but the cost commitment to power level ratio leaves it on the sidelines for anything more than Tier 2 archetypes.

The designation of those tier 1, tier 2, tier x ... categories does not interest me for a bit. Some people might need it for whatever reason, I respect and understand that.

From your post I can assume that you are basically saying this will never go in a blue deck, a workshop deck or a dredge deck? Well that is in my book stating the obvious. If it belongs, it probably belongs in a Cavern human deck. I guess I am one of the few that can evaluate this card as best as possible since I am working on that archetype for quite some time now.

It doesn't fit well in RUG Delver, UR Landstill, UBR Control, or any other similar elements.  Your expertise at hitting triples in the fifth inning doesn't change this likelihood.

[Guli]

I am trying Ash in a slightly altered human shell.


4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Dark Confidant
4 Mayor of Avabruck
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Ash Zealot
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
4 City of Brass
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
4 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Stony Silence
4 Kataki, War's Wage
3 Tarnished Citadel
4 Stun Sniper
2 Gemstone Mine

SB: 4 Ancient Grudge
SB: 1 Surgical Extraction
SB: 3 Ghost Quarter
SB: 4 War Priest of Thune
SB: 3 Yixlid Jailer

the list has holes, but it shows how Ash could fit in somewhere.

[JACO]

Double red casting cost (in addition to the mediocrity of the effective hate) means this will see almost zero competitive Vintage play.

[brokenbacon]

Your expertise at hitting triples in the fifth inning doesn't change this likelihood.

I can just hear Solymossy now... "nice draws champion"

[LSD25]

almost good enough for goblin anti dredge sideboard...
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almost