A lot of monstrosity creatures are decent enough
on their own, though few are this small. Not
that a 3/3 for GW is "small", mind you-- it
pushed Selesnya into viability once and may do
so again. The Monstrosity trigger it what makes
this interesting. You only get one counter, but
you also get indestructibility AND hexproof.
Invisible Stalker (and Troll Ascetic long before
that) have demonstrated what a dominating
ability hexproof can really be. Combining it
with a second ability that further thwarts an
opponent's options for dealing with it
(regeneration, unblockable, or indestructible)
results in a severe headache creator. If
Selesnya wasn't a popular deck choice before, I
suspect it is now.
You can think of this card in a couple of
different ways. Sometimes it's "just" a
Watchwolf. Watchwolf is a very good card. Other
times, it survives until (or comes down in) the
late game, and turns into something that the
opponent just can't deal with, a la Figure of
Destiny (as though Watchwolf isn't already a
very good card!). I don't know how this creature
lost to Hercules in the original story.
Today's card of the day is Fleecemane Lion
which is a two mana White and Green 3/3 with
Monstrosity 1 for five mana that gives it a
+1/+1 counter, Indestructible, and Hexproof.
Compared to Watchwolf, which was a very popular
and efficient multicolor card, this is almost
strictly better outside of losing the minor
support the wolf type has in older formats.
In a mana acceleration Selesnya build this is
fairly easy to power up which leaves very few
options for dealing with a 4/4 Indestructible
and Hexproof threat. Even without the
Monstrosity aspect this would be played across
formats for Selesnya, Naya, and Bant decks.
Adding in the Monstrosity it is a card that
demands a fast response or it will take control
of the battlefield, particularly with aura or
equipment support.
In Limited this is serious threat that is nearly
unstoppable while Monstrosity is active that
should be a first pick in Booster and automatic
inclusion in Sealed barring extreme
circumstances or terrible Green and White pool.
Splashing is recommended if one color is strong
and this is one of the best cards in the set,
both as a two mana 3/3 and after using the
effect. The Gold aspect is a drawback, but
once it in play and powered up it will win games
and has little to fear with the lack of removal
in the format.
Fleecemane Lion is a 3/3 creature that is great
on turn 2 and just as great on turn 8. Your
opponents will be forced to deal with Fleecemane
Lion immediately, which will draw fire away
other threats. The QUESTION about this creature
is: Do you want to pay 7 mana for a 4/4 Hexproof
and Indestructible? Fleecemane Lion is a
creature that will see play in every format, but
I am really looking forward to see his place in
Standard. When “monstrous” Fleecemane Lion
can be a painful thorn for Azorius decks and Red
agro. There is nothing to dislike about this
card, but the artwork is goofy looking. Take a
close look at the luscious locks flowing from
this fearsome Lion!
