Hunter Cluster is the start of a week of some-what underrated cards. While this card may look like a big waste of mana, it really isn’t. If you break it down, you’ll see that 1 mana goes for its 1000 power, 1 mana for its shield trigger ability, and 2 mana for getting blocker without the “this creature cant attack at all/players” drawback. This creature is the only offensive and defensive shield trigger creature. He can protect one extra shield from being broken, or save you from being attacked. He can also serve as that shield trigger creature “who can attack my opponent to win” when I have no hope, blockers, or evos. He’s basically a King Coral with shield trigger, which is more useful than people give it credit for.

 

But that’s the optimistic side of me talking. There’s a lot of negative stuff to be said about this card too. For one, it almost the worst drop possibly on turn 4, if not st’d. Its 4-cost buddy, revolver fish, has 4000 more power than it. Even if revolver fish can’t attack, it’s still a much better drop at that time. Not to mention the even greater drops like Armored Blaster Valdios, Crystal Paladin, Brain Serum, Thought Probe, and more. Furthermore, its got a horrible power to cost ratio, just like Ouks, Vizier of Restoration from last week. A blocker that can attack doesn’t really matter if the best he can do is suicide with a 1000 creature, or attack and make no use of his power.

 

Overall, he’s somewhat underrated, but he still sucks. You should probably use him in draft if you pick him up, as he’ll probably one of the few shield protectors you’ll have, and he’ll give you an shield trigger and blocker, but when it comes to constructed, don’t use him. There are way too many better 4 drops than him.

 

Constructed: 2/5 (He’s got potential, but needs a lot of support here. Might be better if you just ignore him altogether)

Limited: 4/5 (He’s got all the characteristics that are rare in Limited, and offers one of the few ways for shield protection.)