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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Fleecemane Lion
Image from Wizards.com

 Fleecemane Lion
- Theros

Reviewed October 8, 2013

Constructed: 4.12
Casual: 4.12
Limited: 4.40
Multiplayer: 3.60

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Fleecemane Lion

A lot of monstrosity creatures are decent enough on their own, though few are this small. Not that a 3/3 for GW is "small", mind you-- it pushed Selesnya into viability once and may do so again. The Monstrosity trigger it what makes this interesting. You only get one counter, but you also get indestructibility AND hexproof. Invisible Stalker (and Troll Ascetic long before that) have demonstrated what a dominating ability hexproof can really be. Combining it with a second ability that further thwarts an opponent's options for dealing with it (regeneration, unblockable, or indestructible) results in a severe headache creator. If Selesnya wasn't a popular deck choice before, I suspect it is now.

Constructed- 4.5
Casual- 4.5
Limited- 5
Multiplayer- 4.5


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Fleecemane Lion

You can think of this card in a couple of different ways. Sometimes it's "just" a Watchwolf. Watchwolf is a very good card. Other times, it survives until (or comes down in) the late game, and turns into something that the opponent just can't deal with, a la Figure of Destiny (as though Watchwolf isn't already a very good card!). I don't know how this creature lost to Hercules in the original story.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Fleecemane Lion which is a two mana White and Green 3/3 with Monstrosity 1 for five mana that gives it a +1/+1 counter, Indestructible, and Hexproof.  Compared to Watchwolf, which was a very popular and efficient multicolor card, this is almost strictly better outside of losing the minor support the wolf type has in older formats.  In a mana acceleration Selesnya build this is fairly easy to power up which leaves very few options for dealing with a 4/4 Indestructible and Hexproof threat.  Even without the Monstrosity aspect this would be played across formats for Selesnya, Naya, and Bant decks. 
Adding in the Monstrosity it is a card that demands a fast response or it will take control of the battlefield, particularly with aura or equipment support.
 
In Limited this is serious threat that is nearly unstoppable while Monstrosity is active that should be a first pick in Booster and automatic inclusion in Sealed barring extreme circumstances or terrible Green and White pool.  Splashing is recommended if one color is strong and this is one of the best cards in the set, both as a two mana 3/3 and after using the effect.  The Gold aspect is a drawback, but once it in play and powered up it will win games and has little to fear with the lack of removal in the format.
 
Constructed: 4.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0


Skid Rambo

Fleecemane Lion is a 3/3 creature that is great on turn 2 and just as great on turn 8. Your opponents will be forced to deal with Fleecemane Lion immediately, which will draw fire away other threats. The QUESTION about this creature is: Do you want to pay 7 mana for a 4/4 Hexproof and Indestructible? Fleecemane Lion is a creature that will see play in every format, but I am really looking forward to see his place in Standard. When “monstrous”  Fleecemane Lion can be a painful thorn for Azorius decks and Red agro. There is nothing to dislike about this card, but the artwork is goofy looking. Take a close look at the luscious locks flowing from this fearsome Lion!

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5


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