Cool Card Design of the Day8/3/2011 - Tremor Goliath started out very simple. Magma Giant was about due for a power-level update. A six-mana rare creature these days should be able to make a bigger impact on the board...
This is a solid card, but of course I couldn't leave well enough alone. What if instead of tying an Earthquake to a giant body, we tied a giant's body to an Earthquake?
This version has a lot more tension (sometimes good, but not always) because you can crank X up high enough to be more devastating than the previous version, but it will kill your creature in the process. On the other hand, you can also skip the Earthquake altogether for an efficient (for red) 4/4 body for four mana.
I'm not in love with that version though because it feels a bit thinky for a big dumb giant that hits the battlefield with a giant thud. The first version is the simplest and probably correct. That said, I couldn't help try out one more variant, enabled by the high cost of Tremor Goliath:
We're effectively getting the X of the second version but with a static mana cost. It's odd that casting this in a mono-red deck (without Everflowing Chalice or something) always kills it, but you do also get a cheaper Earthquake. I do love that the mana cost enforces a minimum ETB effect of Pyroclasm level, like Magma Giant.
I love the "however much X mana you spent mechanic". If only I could get it to work the way I wanted on spells.
ReplyDeleteI might still make this guy a 4/6 for 4RR, so that you only need 1 other color to prevent suicide. And I think he could even be an uncommon. Pyroclasm, Thundercloud Shaman, etc.
This is a very fine card.
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