Any similarity to Briarhorn is probably
completely intentional. Briarpack Alpha makes a
good combat trick in a deck that doesn't really
want to play more than one spell per turn. I'd
gladly run it in a Werewolves deck, especially
considering the fact that most Werewolf cards
benefit Wolves as well. Considering that this is
a surprise blocker as well as an instant +2/+2,
you're getting your mana's worth all right.
Don't be afraid to play it on the attack,
either. Most times your opponent makes blocking
decisions based on what he thinks you'll have to
block with next turn-- a surprise 3/3 can foil
an opponent's plans during any combat phase.
Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that
we're now doing mechanical and name-related
Easter eggs calling back to Lorwyn? It wasn't
that long ago! Innistrad may not have as many
obviously tournament-powerful cards as a world
like Mirrodin or Zendikar, but it's positively
overflowing with card advantage, and Briarpack
Alpha is a viable source of it. It's easy to
imagine turning a fairly straightforward attack
into a massacre in your favor, and there are
even a few non-obvious uses for it, like gaining
more value out of a card like Greater Good or
Drumhunter. Giant Growth may still not be the
most exciting card in a set even when it's
attached to a creature, but that does make it
rather more flexible.
Today's card of the day is Briarpack Alpha
which is a four mana Green
3/3 with Flash that gives a target creature
+2/+2 when it comes into play. While this
has some usefulness as a potential 5/5 surprise
blocker or improving an overall defense,
particularly in a werewolf/wolf deck, it isn't
overly impressive outside of the turn it enters
play.
Four mana is a bit high to keep untapped and an
opponent will expect it after the first usage in
a match, which has some minor psychological
benefit. Overall this isn't really a bad
card and may find some supporting role in
certain builds, but is just not quite impressive
enough to truly stand out.
For Limited a four mana 3/3 with one only one
specific mana symbol is quite playable, add in
the Flash and +2/+2 to get an easy second or
third pick for any deck using Green mana.
An easy splash in Sealed and excellent topdeck,
as it can be played on an opponent's turn for
maximum impact, Briarpack is definitely welcome
in any build that can cast it.
Aside from a clear field or major advantage in
attackers this should almost always be played as
a method of destroying one or two attackers from
an opponent, then having the 3/3 available for
the next turn's attack. Used in that way
it is a drastic shift to the game and possibly
the winning play with any luck.
Welcome to
the Pojo.com card of the day section! We are
closing out this week by taking a look at
Briarpack Alpha. Briarpack Alpha is an uncommon
green creature wolf that costs two generic and
two green mana for a 3/3. Brairpack Alpha has
flash and when it enters the battlefield, target
creature gains +2/+2 until end of turn.
Brairpack Alpha is a very fun uncommon for
green. Having Flash means that it is a trap
blocker, especially due to it’s ability.
Thinking the coast is clear, although you have
untapped mana, an opponent will likely send
something down range at you. That is when you
spring the trap. Drop the Briarpack Alpha, and
then if you have another creature out, pump that
creature, but if it would still be a smaller
blocker than the attacker, you could always pump
the Alpha with his own ability, making him a
5/5. Not too bad for just four mana. But
Briarpack Alpha also could be used to pump the
one creature that gets through off of an attack.
And then be a blocker for you.
