Antagonize (SNC)

Antagonize
Casting Cost: {1}{R}
Card Type: Instant
Card Text:
Target creature gets +4/+3 until end of turn.
Flavour Text:
"The little guy had guts at least. You can see 'em right there between those cobbles."
-Glunk, freelance crusher
Artist: Gabor Szikszai

Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:

  • Provides a significant power boost for a relatively low mana cost.
  • Being an instant, it can be cast during combat to surprise opponents and potentially result in favorable trades or lethal damage.
  • Can turn a small creature into a significant threat temporarily.

• Weaknesses:

  • Doesn't offer any form of protection or evasion for the buffed creature.
  • Only temporary, lasting until the end of the turn.

Deck Utility:

• Aggro Decks: It fits well into aggressive strategies where you want to push for maximum damage quickly.

• Combat Trick: Useful as a surprise during combat to turn trades in your favor or push through the last bits of damage needed for a win.

Interactions and Combos:

• Evasion Effects: Combining "Antagonize" with cards that give creatures evasion, like trample or unblockable, can result in a lot of unexpected damage.

• Double Strike: Pairing this with a creature that has or can be given double strike can lead to massive damage, as the creature will benefit from the power boost during both combat damage steps.

Flavor and Lore:

• The flavor text provides a darkly humorous glimpse into the brutality of the setting. The tone suggests a world where might makes right, and brawls or duels can be deadly.

• The character, Glunk, seems to be a brutal figure who enjoys the chaos and carnage of combat, perhaps someone who gets hired to rough up or eliminate others.

• Given the artist's name, the artwork might depict a scene where a smaller character is challenging or confronting a larger threat, only to be violently rebuffed.

Overall Impression:

"Antagonize" is a straightforward red combat trick that offers a significant power boost for a low cost. The flavor text provides some dark humor and offers a hint at the brutal nature of the world it represents. This card would be a great inclusion in aggressive red decks that aim to finish games quickly by overwhelming opponents with sudden bursts of damage.