I think this card's flavor text is ironic,
considering that there's no such thing as mana
burn in the current rules. As it happens, this
would still be pretty good even if there was -
uncounterable damage every turn is game-breaking
against some opponents, much less when it also
helps you cast your spells. It's like a modal
creature, or a creature with entwine. In other
words, very strong.
Today's card of the day is Zhur-Taa Druid which
is a two mana Red and Green 1/1 that taps to add
a Green mana and whenever you tap it for mana it
deals one damage to each opponent. This is
a solid card for a mana acceleration build that
adds a little extra damage without sacrificing
much in terms of mana generation and has no real
drawback with mana burn being a thing of the
past. The opportunity for instant win
combos is high and overall it is an efficient
threat, particularly in a Multiplayer or
Commander setting. A purely Green deck can
even manage this with the variety of hybrid and
multicolor options available, which is not a
typical weapon in the color's normally creature
based offensive. Overall this is a card
that will likely see play across formats and
become a staple of Commander decks with Red and
Green mana.
In Limited this is an excellent common that
accelerates and maintains pressure without the
risks inherent in attacking. Multiple copies are
both possible and devastating which can propel
an otherwise weak pool into a serious threat.
An easy second or third pick after a Red, Green,
or Gruul rare and automatic inclusion of all
copies in Sealed.
