When you run across a creature like this whose
text box is a keyword mashup, it's a pretty good
bet that it was pushed for either limited or
constructed. I think there's a role for this
particular creature in both. The Izzet-colored
spell deck is pretty well-established in casual
play (and to a certain extent in tournaments,
too), and this card is an interesting
alternative or complement to Young Pyromancer -
the Pyromancer goes wide and builds up your side
of the table for a long game, while the
Stormchaser goes big and can hit explosively or
even kill in one attack, depending on the
contents of your hand. It seems like they might
have a hard time coexisting, but imagine
controlling one of each and a hand full of
Shocks and Sleights of Hand. How many answers
does your opponent really have short of Wrath of
God - and depending on what you draw off those
cantrips, will even that help?
Flying and haste are a deceptively powerful
combination, allowing you to surprise your
opponent with extra damage he wasn't planning to
have to take. The Stormchaser only hits for 1
normally, but at a mere two mana, a 1/3 flyer is
a good bargain. Prowess gives it the capability
to hit harder (or withstand burn that would've
killed it) as long as you've got cheap spells to
back it up. Typically this comes in the form of
burn or counterspells, but any cheap spell
(preferably instant) will do the job. Remember,
"noncreature spell" includes artifacts and
enchantments! Suddenly, you have a reason to
play that stuff during precombat main phase!
So, they sort of reprinted monastery swiftspear
but with flying, tacked on an extra toughness
and made it a two drop. Did they forget they
created swiftspear last block?
