[RtR] Rakdos Charm

[vaughnbros]

Steve and I will definitely be talking about this card on the next segment of our RTR spoiler-cast.

Regarding the third ability:  it's not a common thing to deal a LOT of (non-lethal) damage to one's opponent in the first two turns in Vintage, but I would point out that Dredge has a habit of putting 8-12 creatures in play on turn 2 or 3 and I very much look forward to a Dredge player getting burned out by this Charm at some point

That's cool.  Could you guys discuss whether or not all these utility charms in this set (and presumably in Gatecrash) will make Cunning Wish a useful enough spell to warrent play in Vintage?  It seems packing 3-4 charms of differing sorts in your SB with 4 Cunning Wish mainboard would have some nice control synergy.

Peace,

-Troy

I think the major reason to run charms and cunning wish is for their utility.  I dont think id want to be casting cunning with to get a charm. Essentially you would be paying 5 mana, 3 of it colored, for a 1 or less mana effect

With a properly built sideboard you should be able to get pretty much everything the charms can do with your cunning wish just from a traditional sideboard, flusterstorm, rav trap, hurkyls, and dismember.  I could however see playing cunning wish being played with the nivmagus printing to fetch up a brain freeze or infiltrate for him as well as being able to get other utility.

[gkraigher]

I remember thinking when Jace the Mindsculpter was printed that his ultimate ability was a nice throw in on the card.  That is exactly how I am looking at this last ability on this card.  Its a throw in ability that can win the game. 

What I mean to say is, in spite of how mediocre this ability looks, its a great third option on the card.  I see it finishing games where you opponent has dark confidant. 

Against dredge this card has two seperate phases of the game it can be useful.  It can exile their graveyard early, which is ideal, but if they overextend and put too many zombies in play, you can also draw this card late for the win. 

As far as against creature based decks, I don't know how you are going to get them down to 3-5 life to use this as a finisher.  In a Blue based control deck, I just don't know how that is going to happen because that is not your line of play.  Not to say it cannot happen, its just a strange line.  You might be able to use it to remove a null rod but that's about it. 

So in summation:
Great against dredge
Fine against MUD
Great against blue (artifact and graveyard hate)
Narrow against creatures.

[coldcrow]

A borderline case would be triggering Goblin Lackey with the 3rd ability.

[RecklessEmbermage]

A borderline case would be triggering Goblin Lackey with the 3rd ability.

Wow! Great catch. I have never thought of the range of possibilities this opens up with lackey. 

Hehe... Goblin recruiter, pandemonium, lackey, ringleader, lackey, Kiki-jiki, lightning crafter, Skirk prospector... For instance, athough pandemonium is only for casual.