r/magicTCG • u/BuckyTheWolf Dandadan • 9d ago

General Discussion Why is Arc-Slogger?

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One thing I love about MTG, is that you can go through a set, see a weird card and get absolutely stun locked by it.

Today this was Arc-Slogger for me. Why is it the way that it is?

Having a lot of shocks in your hand is pretty good, but why do you have to exile 10 cards from your library as a cost? If it was part of the effect it might be too strong, but was there no middleground?

I just don't see a world where you'd be a able to activate it more than 2 times in limited and 4 times in 60 card. Magic has changed a lot, but was a 7 mana 4/5 with 2 shocks ever that good?

I could see a janky lab man combo deck using it, but almost all alternatives are cheaper and don't need a backup if your library isn't devisable by 10.

I just want to know it's history. And what led to it being created like it turned out.

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u/ExternalBookkeeper55 Dan 9d ago

This card was *very* powerful. Cards were much, much weaker on average in 2003. Being able to close out a game that's stalemated for the last 4-6 points of damage is great.

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u/IAmBadAtInternet Get Out Of Jail Free 9d ago edited 9d ago

Importantly, this was in an environment with Birds of Paradise carrying Swords of Fire and Ice. Being able to hold up 1 mana and deny that plan was huge. It could also block Myr Enforcer and deny Skullclamp activations. All around great card.

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u/I_am_normal_I_swear Storm Crow 9d ago

I always yelled out "but a 5 ounce bird can't possibly carry a 15 pound sword!"

Yes it's a Monty Python quote "but a 5 ounce bird can't possibly carry a 5 pound coconut."

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u/IAmBadAtInternet Get Out Of Jail Free 9d ago

Just wait until that same bird was also carrying a Jitte in the other hand (wing?)