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We are starting to wrap up the Aether Revolt Set Review. Tomorrow will be a doozey with Green and everything else, but for now, let’s focus on the Red cards! I’m pretty excited to start brewing for new Standard, especially considering the recent bannings. I feel like Aether Revolt was going to shake up Standard either way since it has so many powerful cards, but Wizards of the Coast ensured it will by banning Emrakul, the Promised End, Smuggler's Copter, and Reflector Mage from Standard. So, it’s even more important now to analyze and find the gems in Aether Revolt!
My set review is strictly limited to Standard. Keep that in mind while reading. I’m not rating for draft, Sealed, or any Eternal format. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at my grading scale.
Each card will be listed by color, then alphabetically by name.
Each card will be given a rating of 1-5.
0 — Will never see play in Standard (Rating not used for Standard)
1 — Unlikely to see play (Hedron Alignment)
2 — Could see fringe play, or occasional SB card (Negate)
3 — Commonly played. Staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Tireless Tracker)
4 — Format Staple, sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Aether Hub)
5 — Format warping. Every deck plays this, or is built with this card in mind. (Gideon, Ally of Zendikar)
Now we can begin!
Aether Chaser — 2
This cycle is all cool, but I'm not sure they are quite good enough. First Strike is great in the aggro mirror matches or even against Gideon, Ally of Zendikar Tokens. 1 toughness is not great! Dying to Liliana, the Last Hope isn't where you want to be.
Chandra's Revolution — 1.5
What a strange spell. Killing a creature and then making a land not untap would be great in a land destruction ponza deck, but luckily those are long gone. If this could go to the face and kill Gideon I'd give it a much higher rating, since it can't, I don't have much hope for this card.
Destructive Tampering — 2
Powerful sideboard option that acts as two different cards. Great to bring in against artifacts decks and great to bring in against midrange decks when you need to push through for the kill. I can see this being a sideboard but that's about it.
Embraal Gear-Smasher — 2
Thermo-Alchemist went under my radar, I thought that card wouldn't see any play. I don't believe this will, especially since you need so many artifacts to get it going. This gear smasher is asking for too much.
Enraged Giant — 2
Could see this in some sort of aggressive R/B deck that plays Bomat Couriers, Scrapheap Scrounger, Heart of Kiran, and possibly other artifacts since Smuggler's Copter is no longer an option. I just think our next card is better for that option.
Freejam Regent — 2.5
If you have four artifacts laying around you can just . . . Wait for it . . . FREE JAM THIS BAD BOY! No? Okay, well this is in the same boat as Enraged Giant but this thing flies and you can pump it. I guess it really depends what you value more, haste or evasion? That will determine which one is better for your deck.
Frontline Rebel — 1
Better aggressive creatures for this cost and less and they don't have the drawback of "must attack each turn if able."
Gremlin Infestation — 2
This card is sweet, I kind of like it against Aetherworks Marvel decks but you probably just want to destroy the Marvel unless you highly value you the 2+ damage over time. 100% a sideboard card, don't expect to see Gremlins infesting your artifacts Game 1.
Hungry Flames — 3
Now this is a good card. It's basically a mini Unlicensed Disintegration, but you don't need an artifact on the battlefield to get your opponent to take damage. I'm sure it will find a home in a deck or a couple of decks. Seems great in a Fevered Visions style of deck.
Indomitable Creativity — 2
It's interesting that these cards don't get cast. Could cheat an artifact or creature into play if you just play token creatures. Maybe something like R/W tokens that plays Sram's Expertise and Gideon and when you destroy your own creature with Indomitable Creativity you hit some sort of bomb like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger or Exquisite Archangel. Card is better in Eternal formats but still neat to have it in Standard.
Invigorated Rampage — 3
This is an extremely powerful pump spells that I expect Tom Ross to be testing. It pushes through so much damage and works wonders with creatures that have First Strike, like our next card Kari Zev, Skyship Raider. This is a card that my ramp and durdly decks are going to die to a lot I imagine.
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider — 3.5
A powerful and aggressive creature, especially at 2 mana. She's very hard to block and then even if you manage to block her, your opponent might have a pump spell to kill both your creatures and make it extremely hard to block Kari Zev, yet again. First Strike, menace, and pump spells are going to make Kari Zev one happy pirate.
Kari Zev's Expertise — 3
Man, Threaten affects are great in the sideboard almost 100% of the time. This one is really pushing it to be in the main deck and I think it could be in a very aggressive Red shell. Honestly it really depends on the meta but the fact that you don't take a turn off by stealing a creature and attacking is great. I'll say it again, Expertise cycle on point.
Lathnu Sailback — 1
I mean what can I say? This is one big lizard that won't see Standard play. That rhymed.
Lightning Runner — 2.5
Eight energy is what you need to activate that second part. Not sure why they remind you that the first one is two energy but leave you in the dark for the important one, oh well. This card reminds me of Aurelia, the Warleader. She doesn't have flying but she's also mono colored, super interesting and powerful card if you can make it work. I can see this sliding into the R/G Energy Pummeler deck with this as an alternate win condition to Electrostatic Pummeler. She has double strike so pumping her just once can spell game over.
Pia's Revolution — 2
Maybe in some fringe artifact burn/combo deck. Could work well with Embraal Gear-Smasher forcing your opponent to take five to not let you have the artifact you sacrifice back. Also, neat with things like Filigree Familiar, Pilgrim's Eye, and Treasure Keeper. Maybe some crazy value deck with Indomitable Creativity? This set is great because it has so many build around me cards and they all make you think. Kudos to Wizards for that.
Precise Strike — 1
This pump spell doesn't do enough for Constructed play. Maybe if Heroic was a mechanic but since it's not I don't see why you'd play this over just another creature.
Quicksmith Rebel — 2
Oh, looks like that Red burn artifact deck is coming together! I still don't think it's quite enough, especially at 4 mana. I'd rather just play Chandra, Torch of Defiance or some other card that has more impact than this will.
Ravenous Intruder — 2
Send all the gremlins to New Phyrexia, have them eat the plane up so we can get rid of all the infestation. They "all will be one" inside this gremlins belly. Atog is back in Gremlin form. Without artifact lands this guy doesn't have enough to eat and kill our opponent. This one is eating a Sol Ring if you look at the art close enough, poor Sol Ring.
Reckless Racer — 2
B/R Scrapheap Scrounger / Prized Amalgam aggro anyone? Great way to fill the yard with things that you want to bring back later or maybe even reanimate later. Still not enough impact for 3 mana to see too much play. Who knows though now that Smuggler's Copter is gone. Maybe you really need another way to fill the yard!
Release the Gremlins — 2
Good Sideboard card for artifacts. Just destroy one artifact for 3 mana and getting a 2/2 out of is very good. This is literally just Manic Vandal with some upside since you can kill more artifacts. Only downside is you'll need a target, you can't just jam this as a 2/2 like you could Manic Vandal. I think that's fine, especially since this is more of a sideboard card than a main deck card.
Scrapper Champion — 1.5
Again, competes with Chandra but maybe you play this with Aether Chaser to build enough energy for Lightning Runner? Still rather play G/R Energy and Lightning Runner. This card isn't impactful for 4 mana, especially since Shock is back. Don't expect it to see competitive play.
Shock — 3
Welcome back Shock, you're no Lightning Bolt but you're a staple in every Standard format ever. This will still be the case now.
Siege Modifcation — 2
Ha! Could see this in some sort of R/W Vehicles where you're animating your vehicles like Consulate Dreadnought with Siege Modification or Aerial Modification. Fast and Furious. Vroom vroom!
Sweatworks Brawler — 2
Eh, again Improvise isn't Delve. You could make it work alongside the other Improvise cards with Sram's Expertise. I think Sram's Expertise is good enough on its own that you really don't need this one. If anyone of these see play I imagine it will be the dragon, Freejam Regent.
Wrangle — 2
This is an excellent Threaten that will see play in many sideboards in many different formats. 2 mana is much cheaper than three, expect to get your Siege Rhinos Wrangled in Modern.
Top 5 Cards for Red
This puts Red’s average to 3 for top 5 which isn’t bad at all. Shock will be a staple of the format, especially since Smuggler's Copter is now gone and it deals with the Saheeli Combo. Kari Zev will be great in aggressive and Revolt decks alike. It’s worth noting that Release the Gremlins is an excellent sideboard card in multiple formats, but you can’t play it main deck unless the meta changes drastically. Release the Gremlins will see more play than Freejam Regent but again, it’s strictly in the sideboard which is why I gave it a 2.
That’s all we have for Red, don’t forget to tune in tomorrow where we’ll be covering not only the Green but also the artifacts and multicolored cards. It’s one you won’t want to miss since it has more than double the cards of any one set review. I’ll see you all tomorrow!
As always, thanks for reading,
Ali Aintrazi
Follow me @Alieldrazi on Twitter
Take a look at the other entries in the Set Review!
