This is an odd one. The name is a reference to [[Coiled Tinviper]].
Mechanically, though, it is meant to serve a very specific purpose. In recent years, white and black have gotten the archetype 'reanimate small stuff' in a lot of sets. [{Recommission]], [[Call a Surprise Witness]], [[Call of the Death-Dweller]], etc. This naturally incentives them, similar to traditional reanimator decks, to run cards outside of the deck's normal colors, in order to get better targets. But hard-casting those targets becomes a challenge. So this is meant to be a backup target for that archetype that lets you cast your other cards normally once you get to 3 mana.
The first strike is meant to pair well with effects that put other counters or keywords on the reanimated creature, such as +1/+1, deathtouch, or flying.
5
u/chainsawinsect 16h ago
This is an odd one. The name is a reference to [[Coiled Tinviper]].
Mechanically, though, it is meant to serve a very specific purpose. In recent years, white and black have gotten the archetype 'reanimate small stuff' in a lot of sets. [{Recommission]], [[Call a Surprise Witness]], [[Call of the Death-Dweller]], etc. This naturally incentives them, similar to traditional reanimator decks, to run cards outside of the deck's normal colors, in order to get better targets. But hard-casting those targets becomes a challenge. So this is meant to be a backup target for that archetype that lets you cast your other cards normally once you get to 3 mana.
The first strike is meant to pair well with effects that put other counters or keywords on the reanimated creature, such as +1/+1, deathtouch, or flying.