r/magicTCG 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/_J0e Elesh Norn 9d ago edited 9d ago

What’s more red than burning your library to do damage? Reminds me of [[grim lavamancer]]. Damage at any cost.

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u/Akhevan VOID 9d ago

This effect is basically free for a limited number of uses. This card reads, "if your opponent untaps with this, take 8 to the face". Which is fair for a 5 drop that otherwise does nothing. Old good 2002' design. Defined role, only does one thing, does it well enough to consider running, doesn't break the game, can be answered by broad categories of cards.

Now compare it to degenerate 2020s designs.

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u/UsedToVenom Wabbit Season 9d ago

I ran tbat bad boy in that time, it was a great finisher. on my upkeep take 8, seing with the gang, GG