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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Frontline Medic
Image from Wizards.com

 Frontline Medic
- Gatecrash

Reviewed February 19, 2013

Constructed: 4.00
Casual: 3.88
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 3.38

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Frontline Medic

As a 3/3 for three, it's well-suited for aggro decks. The fact that it risks nothing in a real alpha strike makes it even better, as it lets you charge in without fear of blockers. That alone makes it worth playing.

The interesting thing, though, is the sack ability. Counter an X spell unless its controller pays 3? Not likely-- you have to already have the Medic on the field when the X spell is cast, so your opponent will know you've got it and leave 3 up accordingly so you can't counter it. Which means the value of X will be 3 lower than it otherwise would have been, which is a benefit at least. Most X spells tend to be burn or life gain/drain, but you may occasionally catch a Mind Spring with it as well. X spells are also more common in casual formats that reward indulging your Timmy side. More competitive formats will value this as an indestructible 3/3 attacker for three instead.

Constructed- 3.5
Casual- 4
Limited- 4
Multiplayer- 4 

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Frontline Medic
 
I really like this card's second ability. For some reason, it's the one that always stands out to me when I see this card; I guess it's because it goes into an area that I really think white should have access to. Not that the first ability isn't useful; it lets you attack almost any opposing creature setup without fear, and considering that at least three creatures are going in, you're most likely going to get damage through. Add in this guy's second ability protecting you from Bonfire of the Damned and Sphinx's Revelation (I thought control was underpowered right now, internet people?), and you have easily one of the strongest cards in Gatecrash.
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Frontline Medic which is a three mana 3/3 White that can be sacrificed to counter target spell with X in the mana cost unless its controller pays three and Battalion making your creatures indestructible until end of turn.  The sacrifice effect is okay for forcing an opponent to spend three less on any X spells, if they happen to use one with it in play and are unable to remove it first, which leans this more towards the sidedeck unless the local metagame is flooded with X spells.  The Battalion is good for protecting your attackers from removal responses which are going to be more prevalent as the older block rotates out and the Ravnica effects provide the majority of options.  Overall this will see some play, more in certain areas, but not being a soldier and the somewhat specific uses keep it from being a must play.
 
In Limited there are a few threatening X spells, but it should often be easier to wait out the Medic and deal with it directly than cast a weakened spell.  The potential for indestructible makes it an important target when not protected and it can be an overlooked card that is more difficult to handle than it may first appear.  Well worth playing in Sealed decks and a strong on color choice for Booster, around the third or fourth pick depending on the pack.
 
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 3.5

John
Shultis
Phoenix
Gaming
Frontline Medic Card of the Day
John Shultis
 
      Welcome back to the card of the day section here at Pojo.com! Today we are taking a look at the Frontline Medic from Gatecrash. Frontline Medic is a rare white creature human  cleric that costs two generic and one white mana for a 3/3. Frontline Medic has a Battalion ability that makes permanents you control indestructible if he attacks with two other creatures. Frontline Medic also has a second ability that also you to sacrifice the Frontline Medic to counter a spell with X in it's mana cost unless it's controller pays three generic more. 

     I am a HUGE Boros player. I loved the original Boros ability Radiance, but absolutely LOVE Battalion. It is a huge reward for aggressive players. And perhaps one of the best ways it does so is in using Frontline Medic. A 3/3 for three mana is always worth it. But combine that with the Battalion ability of making all your permanents indestructible that turn, and you really have no reason not to all out slam at your opponent! Well, most of the time. But in most situations, you will be attacking with decent sized creatures that are getting some form of boost themselves. This could force blocks, and they will not trade due to the Frontline Medic. 

    But perhaps the best thing of all is the secondary ability. I know, most people are going to be all like, 'It's not that great.' or 'It sucks!' but let me tell you, right now, a Frontline Medic somewhere has stopped a Bonfire of the Damned cold! The mere presence means that even Miracle Bonfire needs seven mana to clear out the Medic, one to cast, three for the kill, and then three to ensure it doesn't get countered. Chances are, that's not going to be the case often. Even Aurelia's Fury can be restricted, all because of this guy. 

     Definitely a favorite card of mine coming out of Gatecrash, and highly recommended for any deck that uses white, even if the main strategy isn't smash mouth attacks. Remember, this guy and any two creatures at the same time results in indestructibility for the turn, so in any white deck, your two best attackers and this guy will all be safe, kind of. 
 
Limited: 5/5
Constructed: 5/5
Casual: 5/5
Multiplayer: 3/5

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