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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Pitiless Horde
Image from Wizards.com

Pitiless Horde
- Dragons of Tarkir

Reviewed April 1, 2015

Constructed: 3.17
Casual: 3.37
Limited: 4.00
Multiplayer: 2.88

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

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Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Pitiless Horde
 
This group here has rather low toughness compared to past horde depictions (Balduvian, of Notions, etc). I suppose that's because 2 life per turn is not actually a huge price to pay for the level of threat they offer. You still don't want to pay it for a very long time, of course, but you get what you pay for. Dash is an excellent ability to pair with a disadvantage like that - you're free to hit the opponent for no disadvantage other than the card's impermanence as long as that's more advantageous, and you can use it the "normal" way to finish off, or if you may need it to block as well, or if you have later plays or other dash cards you want to use. Actually, that sounds like a very strong combination all around.
 
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Pitiless Horde which is a three mana Black
5/3 with Dash for four and at the beginning of your upkeep you lose two life.  This is a very aggressive card that functions as a Juggernaut for Black, but the drawback if not played with Dash is noticeable if an opponent can stall it.  Supported with effects like Lifelink or repeatedly cast with Dash this is a solid if somewhat high maintenance threat that is likely to see play as a centerpiece of mono-Black aggro.
 
In Limited this is a very serious threat that is often better used with Dash to avoid the life cost, particularly with cards like Pacifism available to derail it.  A reasonable first pick in Booster and an easy inclusion in Sealed as the drawback can be avoided with Dash which leaves a higher toughness reusable Black version of Arc Runner without Trample.
 
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 3.5

Mattedesa

Deck Garage
Pitiless Horde
 
It’s the classic undercosted black creature with a drawback - but this one gives you a choice of drawbacks. Do you hard cast him on turn three and hope you can hit them faster than the upkeep cost hits you? Or, do you pay 4 mana every turn for him to avoid the 2 life, netting the additional benefit that non-instant speed spells or effects can’t touch him? It’s a tough choice.
 
If you do play him for three, watch out for Pacifism-type effects that make your creature useless while it hits you for two every turn. I was able to do that to an opponent at the pre-release and it proved very effective.
 
While the Horde is powerful, I think there are better, less fragile, less dangerous ways to go about being aggressive.
 
Constructed: 3.0
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 2.0

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