A 2/1 for 2 mana, regenerates, has a landwalk
ability. Good blocker, might swing for 2 a
couple times. Not much to see here, except black
decks getting taken down a peg.
Constructed- 3.5
Casual- 3
Limited- 3.7
KC MetroGnome
3/2 - Mire Boa
I remember the days when River Boa was the KING
of 2-drops (and probably the one played on turn
3 more regularly than any other 2-drop). It was
not easy to kill, and if your opponent was
running islands, they couldn't block it.
Because, you know, blue in those old formats
really likes to play lots of blocking creatures.
But it was still good. Then Wild Mongrel came
out to redefine a great (too great?) 2-drop.
Mire Boa is the same thing with swampwalk. Meh.
In limited, it's great. I don't expect to see it
in constructed. Maybe in casual...
Constructed - 2
Casual - 3
Limited - 4
Arcane
Mire Boa
A nice new mirror to the old Visions River Boa
and just a strong.
Limited: A 2/1 for 1G itself would be pretty
decent. A 2/1 for 1G, with an evasion ability
AND the ability to regenerate just makes it an
amazing card for limited play. In the early
turns of the game you can swing and either
swampwalk right over them or but them in a
position where they don’t want to block because
they won’t even be able to trade their creature
thanks to its ability to save itself. In the
later turns, that same swampwalk is going to
help break a creature stalemate or is going to
get in the way of your opponents fattest
creature, frustrating them to no end. The only
downsides I have with the new Boa are its measly
1 toughness which means you’re not going to be
blocking any flankers too soon.
Constructed: Mono green aggro has been running
around Magic Online for a few months now due to
its cheap cost to build and its fast efficient
beaters. I think the Mire Boa is going to fit
perfectly in there (even if just as a sideboard
creature) as an evasive creature with a
protection ability. Nothing can quite say scary
as well as Turn 1: Elf, Turn 2: Boa, Turn 3:
Moldervine Cloak for a 5/4 swampwalker that your
opponent is going to have a hard time
destroying. Other than that I don’t really see
it finding a home just yet in any other green
decks just yet, but we may be surprised.
Casual/Multi: First off it’s a snake, which
helps it fit well with its own tribe from the
Kamigawa Block making it bigger and tacking on
more abilities and fits well into the curve to
go along with Ohran viper, Sasuke and Seshiro.
Regenerate is a great ability for multiplayer as
the wrath variants that will appear most come
without the “Can’t be Regenerated” clause that
comes with the original WoG (or Damnation). And
finally the more players you add the higher
chance that someone is playing with swamps
meaning you’ll always have free beats on someone
(careful though as you may make yourself a
target to anyone playing with those swamps). I
can also think of running it a fun landwalking
deck to go along with River Boa, Anacondas,
Zodiac Monkeys, Dream Thrushes and Phantasmal
Terrains.
All in all a strong creature that is sure to see
play, a quality first, second or third pick in
green and a threat to be careful of for anyone
running swamps.
Limited: 4/5
Constructed: 2.5/5
Casual: 3.5/5
Aethereal
Friday - Mire
Boa
A remake of River Boa, this guy's not quite as
good as his cousin because he has Swampwalk
instead of the more useful Islandwalk. He's
still a nice quick beater, though, and he still
has the cheap regeneration ability. So, he might
get played in the MGA decks in standard,
providing MGA survives through into Planar Chaos
(Damnation, I'm looking at you).
In casual, you can play 8 River Boas now. Wee.
In limited, a high pick for green. Swampwalk can
help force some points through, and regeneration
is always welcome.
