[Single Card Discussion] Masticore

[Arsenal]

With the shift in Legacy favoring aggro and aggro-control decks, why hasn't this card seen ANY play? Just not able to deal with Goyf (arguable)? Too slow in Legacy (it doesn't win the game when resolved, unlike other 4cc spells like Tendrils, EtW, etc)?

I remember there was a time where he dominated the game, serving as a 5 turn clock (is this not fast enough in Legacy anymore), a 4/4 eternal chump blocker, no color requirements to use, and controlled the creatures in play like no other... all for 4 mana & discard one per turn (negligable). I don't see anywhere he'd "fit" in current decks, but that's not to say that an up and coming deck couldn't utilize this once feared beast... right?

[Barook]

Two things make him worse nowadays:

1) The insane mana requirement to kill bigger stuff (already :4: for 2 toughness) which is not easy to afford
2) Krosan Grip completely laughs at its regeneration

Heck, even Razormane Masticore is better now.

[Nihil Credo]

Plus, a 4/4 for 4 is nowadays nothing to get excited about. I'm not just talking about Tarmogoyf - think Ravenous Baloth, Jotun Grunt, Loxodon Hierarch, Brio Stoutarm, Korlash, Gathan Raiders, Exalted Angel...

Yep, Razormane is better for a host of reasons. To get above its newer cousing, you'd need some serious mana production - Cabal Coffers, Priest of Titania, and so on. But at that point, why are you playing Masticore instead of Sundering Titan or anything equally bombastic?

[Arsenal]

So sad... one of the greats in Magic, dead. I need to stop trying to bring back 2001.

[Nihil Credo]

Don't feel bad. Legacy is mostly composed of classic spells and modern creatures.

[Meekrab]

Don't feel bad. Legacy is mostly composed of classic spells and modern creatures.
Which makes sense, since Wizards has been pushing the curve on creatures really hard since Urza block where they made everything else ridiculous and tons of people quit the game because even Standard games were over in 3 turns.

[Bryant Cook]

It's playable in survival variants for the use of Roffellos and untap-age with Queerion Ranger. Not to mention, survival it away to make goyf bigger. Other than that, NOPE.

[Arsenal]

Meh, having a playset for casual, fun decks still isn't bad I guess... it's just difficult to accept sometimes when some cards no longer are viable in a competitive setting due to superior cards being printed...

[Bardo]

Meh, having a playset for casual, fun decks still isn't bad I guess... it's just difficult to accept sometimes when some cards no longer are viable in a competitive setting due to superior cards being printed...

Power creep, indeed.

[AngryTroll]

Masticore, Troll, and Spiritmonger are three of my favorite creatures, and none of them see any play anymore. Masticore, in particular, I keep looking at to see if it can be played anywhere. Nope.

I used to run one alongside Flame Tongue Kavu in Survival, to kill Silver Knights, but now Shriekmaw takes care of it. It kills Mother of Runes, I suppose.

[FoolofaTook]

You never know what will bring a semi-decent card back though. Masticore is tutorable with Enlightened Tutor, one of the few artifact creatures that might be worth getting with it. Although the kind of deck that wants to do that will probably be getting Phyrexian Dreadnaught instead.

[Bryant Cook]

It kills Mother of Runes, I suppose.

Just wait until Hanni Fish has it's comeback. You wait...


I wouldn't recommend holding your breath.

[deadlock]

I play him in my mono U Tinker Deck :cool:
Hes quit powerful with tons of mana to fuel his abilitys, but even there you have to watch your handsize -> look for a Stroke.

Ahh sweet times. :smile:

[Arsenal]

Masticore, Troll, and Spiritmonger are three of my favorite creatures, and none of them see any play anymore. Masticore, in particular, I keep looking at to see if it can be played anywhere. Nope.

I used to run one alongside Flame Tongue Kavu in Survival, to kill Silver Knights, but now Shriekmaw takes care of it. It kills Mother of Runes, I suppose.

I agree... once great creatures that were playable-dominant are now obsoleted by either (a.) similar creatures that fulfill the same function (Masticore vs. Razormane Masticore), or (b.) new creatures that counteract whatever use the once-dominant creature had (see FTK vs. Goyf).

Oh well. I'll still use them in casual decks.

[MattH]

Goyf really obsoletes a lot more than just FTK. Pretty much all those 4cc 4/4s are now nearly unplayable - Masticore, Loxodon Hierarch, Ravenous Baloth, etc. etc. etc., plus all those other non-utility 2-drops (Werebear and Wild Mongrel come immediately to mind). The list goes on.

[Arsenal]

Goyf really obsoletes a lot more than just FTK. Pretty much all those 4cc 4/4s are now nearly unplayable - Masticore, Loxodon Hierarch, Ravenous Baloth, etc. etc. etc., plus all those other non-utility 2-drops (Werebear and Wild Mongrel come immediately to mind). The list goes on.

Oh I know, FTK was just the first, prominent creature that came to mind that Goyf has basically obsoleted. Thank god for Shriekmaw... which I view as FTK v2.0.

Razormane it is I suppose.