MTG players are loving Bloomburrow Rakdos Commander that can cast without mana
The Infamous Cruelclaw is a unique Weasel Commander in MTG, bringing combat tricks and a unique casting method to Rakdos decks in the Bloomburrow set.
TheBloomburrow Commandersrevealed as part of Magic: The Gathering’s official spoiler season have been a varied lot.FrogsandBatshave had a good showing, bringing a distinct identity to both of these animal factions.
Now, in a unique addition Bloomburrow’s draftable Creature factions, The Infamous Cruelclaw is a Weasel mercenary that can be recruited to any MTG deckrunning Rakdos colors. Bloomburrow’s Rakdos faction is the fire-focused Lizards, but Cruelclaw fits right into their discard-based gameplay.
The Infamous Cruelclaw is a 3/3 Creature that can be cast for 1BR. With decent stats for the early game as well as Menace, Cruelclaw will be swinging into opponents as often as possible.
Packing a combat trick like Menace is necessary to ensure that The Infamous Cruelclaw can deal combat damage to players without being blocked. When it does so, you exile cards from the top of your deck until you hit a nonland permanent.
Rather than casting this card for free–as would be the case with abilities like Cascade andDiscover– Cruelclaw nonetheless allows you to play it without paying mana, as long as you discard a card of your choice.
MTG playershave quickly grown fond of this card’s style. As one player on Reddit mentioned in regards to Cruelclaw’s name: “Feels more… dunno, swashbuckler-y? Like,he’sthe one telling you he’s infamous, or the way he’d be called in a storybook.”
New Game+ Shroom and Gloom is a deckbuilder unlike any other
MTG Aetherdrift’s Limited format earns its spot in the winner’s circle
MTG Aetherdrift Draft & Sealed archetypes explained: Color combos, strategies, more
Other players were more focused on The Infamous Cruelclaw’s potential power: “Woah, that’s an aggressive free cost effect.”
Casting without expending mana is almost always a game-changing ability, allowing you to out-resource opponents with ease. While The Infamous Cruelclaw’s stats won’t always allow it to attack as the game progresses – at least without boosts – it can be an invaluable early tool for racing ahead of other players.
