Masked Bandits
Casting Cost: {3}{B}{R}{G}
Card Type: Creature - Raccoon Rogue
Power/Toughness: 5/5
Card Text:
- Vigilance
- Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
- 2, Exile Masked Bandits from your hand: Target land gains "T: Add B, R, or G" until Masked Bandits is cast from exile. You may cast Masked Bandits for as long as it remains exiled.
Artist: Micah Epstein
Strengths:
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Stat Line: A 5/5 body for 6 mana is decent, and it comes with vigilance and menace to boot.
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Evasive: Menace makes it difficult to block, potentially allowing it to get through for damage more often.
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Mana Fixing: The ability to temporarily turn a land into a tri-color mana source can be incredibly useful in a three-color deck.
Weaknesses:
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Mana Intensive: A six-mana creature in three colors requires a dedicated Jund deck or mana-fixing strategy.
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No Immediate Board Impact: Despite its decent stat line, it doesn't have an ability that impacts the board state the turn it comes down (aside from being a good blocker due to vigilance).
Potential Deck Placement:
- Would fit well in a Jund Midrange or Aggro deck, potentially alongside other creatures that benefit from having multiple colors of mana available.
- Could be an interesting Commander card, especially in a deck that can take advantage of the mana-fixing ability.
Flavor and Art:
- Artist Micah Epstein would likely capture the sneaky and cunning nature of these raccoon rogues perfectly.
- The name and type "Raccoon Rogue" give this card a unique and endearing flavor profile that could be popular among fans.
Overall Impression:
- Masked Bandits is a solid creature that offers both offensive and defensive capabilities. While it's somewhat expensive and requires a specific mana base to cast, its abilities make it a versatile addition to a variety of Jund-based strategies. The mana-fixing ability also offers additional flexibility and ensures that this card has utility even when it's stuck in your hand.