I'll be honest: I'm not entirely crazy about
the recent tendency to mention the planeswalker
card type by name on cards. If they're so
powerful that they need specific answers that
mention them by name, why don't other things
deserve the same? We never got "counter target
spell if it would counter one of your spells,"
or "destroy target creature if it was played
on your opponent's first or second turn." I'm
not sure what message, if any, is being sent by
cards like Magmaquake; but you can't argue with
its efficiency or its straightforward
effectiveness. Given enough mana, almost
anything you want dead will be dead. And I love
instant-speed X spells - there's no more
satisfying response to an end-of-turn
Inspiration or Mysteries of the Deep.
Today's card of the day is Magmaquake which is
an X and two Red mana instant that deals X
damage to each creature without Flying and each
Planeswalker. This is similar to many
Earthquake style effects with the modifications
of having instant speed and not dealing damage
to players, but being able to clear
Planeswalkers instead. This is a useful
addition to Red's toolbag, particularly in
Multiplayer, that due to not being a sorcery may
see maindeck play even though is weakened in
aggro builds by not having a direct damage
aspect. Overall while the double Red in the cost
and fairly specific applications keep it from
being a mainstay, it still has value and will
see some play.
In Limited this is an affordable and flexible
source of removal that is an easy first pick in
Booster and automatic inclusion in Sealed
whenever Red can be played as more than a small
splash. The lack of direct damage keeps it
from being a finisher and also allows it to be
used when low on life and facing multiple
creatures, which mostly balances it out.
An excellent topdeck and has few real drawbacks.
