It's pretty obvious that this card exists mainly
as a counter-measure against Flashback and any
other graveyard shenanigans. In a set with the
Golgari (and the Orzhov are coming up next set)
that's worth having an answer to. Thankfully,
the Zealot's ability as a combat creature is
pretty solid as well, so if you sideboard in the
Zealot you won't have to worry about it being
useless.
On the other hand, that RR cost might be
difficult to scrounge up in a multicolor block.
Will there be a viable mono- or mostly red deck?
Will you be able to get this on the table before
the opponent finds his Snapcaster? Only time
will tell!
I think some people are calling this the best
aggressive red two-drop ever, and I do
understand why. Really, I do. My only
reservation is that not every environment has a
lot of spells being cast from graveyards in one
way or another, and so the Zealot will
occasionally be seen as having sort of a false
situationality - you look at her and see
Snapcaster Mage hosing, and sort of gloss over
the fact that a 2/2 with first strike and haste
for two mana is really good. Like insanely good.
Welcome back readers todays card of the day is
an interesting counter to Snapcaster Mage and
decks that rely on flashback. A 2/2 First Strike
and haste creature for two is quite powerful and
then the added ability is just icing on top in
standard this card should see some play in
aggressive decks and is a powerful way to
prey on flashback providing a disincentive to
use this spells if they don’t deal with the
Zealot first it also is a human which adds some
relevance. In modern I could see this seeing
some play as well being aggressively costed and
then hosing flashback strategy is decent and
could see some play. In legacy and vintage this
card doesn’t effect many deck types and is just
a decent beater making it an unexciting choice I
don’t foresee this card seeing much play in
these formats. In casual and multiplayer its
strictly a counter to predominate flashback
decks making it really narrow outside its small
beater body but if that is what your looking for
then this card fills the bill but I feel its
more of a niche card. In limited its solid early
drop but unexciting and has a double red cost,
the fact there isn’t flashback in limited truel
limits this cards usefulness outside of
constructed formats. This card is a safety hose
for flashback decks on an aggressive body
meaning it should see decent constructed play
and a little bit elsewhere due to its aggressive
nature.
Today's card of the day is Ash Zealot which is
a two mana Red 2/2 with Haste, First Strike, and
deals three damage to a player for each card
they cast from the graveyard. Even without
the effect this is a very solid card that would
likely see play in mono-Red builds, but add in
the burn and it becomes a maindeck threat that
acts like a sidedeck response to multiple
designs. The only drawback is the double
Red in the casting cost, which really forces
this into a narrow number of decks and not being
a goblin likely keeps it from being used in the
popular theme.
Overall this will definitely see play at the
tournament level, though the deck it will best
fit in may not arrive until the next expansion.
For Limited the double Red is a drawback, but
the burn effect may make this a viable late game
play as the block expands. Until then it
having Haste allows this to be an excellent
topdeck and the First Strike is always nice to
have. The mana requirement and currently
non-useful effect in the format drop this down
from being a first pick and removal or a larger
threat should probably be drafted before it in
Booster. In Sealed when running a Red
guild this isn't a bad addition as even with the
double Red the Haste and First Strike should
allow uses both offensively and defensively.
Welcome to another great card of the day review
here at Pojo.com! We are continuing our look at
Return to Ravnica today by glancing at Ash
Zealot. Ash Zealot is a rare red creature human
warrior that costs two red mana for a 2/2. Ash
Zealot has first strike and haste and says
whenever a player casts a spell from the
graveyard, Ash Zealot deals three damage to that
player.
It is no secret that I am a huge fan
of red. Cards like Ash Zealot are clearly the
reason. While Ash Zealot may seem like a
sideboard option, it shouldn’t be. At just two
mana for a 2/2 first strike and haste, I say you
run it main deck. Should the secondary ability
actually help you, that’s just a bonus. Kind of
like you should have main decked the Elite
Inquisitor from Innistrad. Sometimes you have to
look at the broad spectrum, and hope that the
potential bonuses end up being exactly that,
extra bonuses.
With how much Flashback there
was, and cards like Gravecrawler, that can
become a thorn in your side, this kind of
potential is amazing. But forget about all of
that for a second and look at what it is, a
hasty 2/2 first strike for only two mana. What
is not to like?
