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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Ruinous Path
Image from Wizards.com

 Ruinous Path
- Battle for Zendikar

Reviewed September 30, 2015

Constructed: 3.00
Casual: 3.00
Limited: 4.00
Multiplayer: 3.00
Commander [EDH]: 3.13

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

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


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Ruinous Path
 
This card really sounded like it should be a land the first time I read its title - although I admit that's mainly because one of my favorite cards from the Commander sets was Homeward Path. Instead, it's this year's Standard's version of Hero's Downfall, which doubles as a finisher. It's good news for anybody who found it a little awkward to lean so heavily on a card that's very narrow in the abstract, and it's probably at just the right power level to be used but not a ridiculous blowout when you do it at the beginning of someone's attack step. There are also times when it's a decent play to target your own token or early-game creature and basically upgrade it into a 4/4, or even hit your own planeswalker who's stuck under a Faith's Fetters, which is kind of hilarious.
 
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
EDH/Commander: 3/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Ruinous Path which is a three mana Black sorcery that destroys target creature or planeswalker and has Awaken 4. 
This has the same mana cost as Hero's Downfall, adds a possible secondary effect for more mana, but loses the benefit of instant speed. 
The reduced timing options and much higher casting cost to gain any added benefit will keep this from replacing Hero's Downfall and it is unlikely to appear in the same decks, outside of Commander.  In Standard this is one of the best removal options available even at sorcery speed, so it should be very popular in current Black decks even though the Awaken effect may only rarely be used.
 
In Limited this is the easiest answer to the biggest threats in the set aside from Ulamog or Plated Crusher.  Barring a double rare pack or Expedition this should not be passed in Booster, even if out of color, as it is nearly always going to be a great card in hand or topdeck.  For Sealed this may not be enough to force Black entirely as it does have two mana symbols dedicated to the color, but unless two other colors are dramatically stronger in balance or threat it adds a lot of value to the Black pool.  Awaken is much more likely to be a factor in the format and it adds some late game value to help make up for the drawbacks.
 
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0
EDH/Commander: 4.0


Armuun
Ruinous Path
 
Remember when Dreadbore was the best thing to kill planeswalkers for a time? Yeah, apparently, Hero's Downfall was just too good for standard. Even Dreadbore did a more effective job. Meh. And it's a rare. Crap.
 
Constructed: 2.5
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 2
EDH: 2.5

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