Right out of the gates, Reality Fracture is proving to be massively impactful for Constructed. The set is filled to the brim with exciting build-arounds, some of which have lent themselves to brand-new archetypes. Yet, in a world of flashy mythics, it’s a seemingly straightforward one-drop with Prowess that may actually be the best card in the set.
Taking Prowess to New Heights
As evident by
Monastery Swiftspear
Monastery Swiftspear
Haste
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
and
Soul-Scar Mage
Soul-Scar Mage
Prowess
If a source you control would deal noncombat damage to a creature an opponent controls, put that many -1/-1 counters on that creature instead.
, red one-drops with Prowess have lots of appeal in Constructed. Despite their weak base stats, these creatures make blocking a nightmare, and threaten to pour on lots of extra damage as the game progresses. This utility alone makes Pompous Battlemage a decent go-to creature for Standard Izzet Prowess, especially with
Stormchaser’s Talent
Stormchaser’s Talent
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.)
When this Class enters, create a 1/1 blue and red Otter creature token with prowess.
{3}{U}: Level 2
When this Class becomes level 2, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
{5}{U}: Level 3
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, create a 1/1 blue and red Otter creature token with prowess.
banned.
What really puts this card over the top, however, is its stapled Prepared spell. While simply rummaging may not seem worth one mana on the surface, having this option alleviates one of the biggest weaknesses Prowess decks have historically faced: running out of spells. Not only do you get to pitch excess lands in grindy games, but you also get to trigger all of your Prowess creatures in the process.
On top of smoothing out your draws, Improvised Act also lets you play more situational spells. In Standard, converting dead maindeck copies of
Impractical Joke
Impractical Joke
Damage can't be prevented this turn. Impractical Joke deals 3 damage to up to one target creature or planeswalker.
or
Bounce Off
Bounce Off
Return target creature or Vehicle to its owner's hand.
versus control shells can be the difference between winning and losing. Similarly, you can ditch topdecked copies of
Spell Pierce
Spell Pierce
Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {2}.
against creature decks to help find more action.
Interestingly, Pompous Battlemage’s utility only increases further in more powerful formats. In Pioneer, for instance, returning the one-drop with
Boomerang Basics
Boomerang Basics
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If you controlled that permanent, draw a card.
lets you double dip on the Prepared spell. With
Quantum Riddler
Quantum Riddler
Flying
When this creature enters, draw a card.
As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, if you would draw one or more cards, you draw that many cards plus one instead.
Warp {1}{U}
in the mix, Improvised Act may even pull you ahead on resources. Pompous Battlemage already won a Pioneer Challenge replacing Soul-Scar Mage, and these synergies definitely come in handy.
Digging deeper, many Modern Prowess aficionados have found success playing Battlemage over
Slickshot Show-Off
Slickshot Show-Off
Flying, haste
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Plot {1}{R} (You may pay {1}{R} and exile this card from your hand. Cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost. Plot only as a sorcery.)
for maximum efficiency. Pitching
Lava Dart
Lava Dart
Lava Dart deals 1 damage to any target.
Flashback—Sacrifice a Mountain. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
against creature-light decks is quite powerful there since you can always flash it back later. As two spells in one, Pompous Battlemage even trigger
Cori-Steel Cutter
Cori-Steel Cutter
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has trample and haste.
Flurry — Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, create a 1/1 white Monk creature token with prowess. You may attach this Equipment to it. (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, the token gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Equip {1}{R}
singlehandedly, which has helped players in otherwise tough positions. It’s incredible just how much this card does for the Prowess archetype alone.
Getting Extra Mileage from Discarding
While traditional Prowess decks are definitely the most popular home for Pompous Battlemage, it has popped up in other decks that get extra value from the Prepared spell. In a recent Hareruya Daily Tournament, for example, Sonoe Akira utilized the one-drop in Pioneer Izzet Phoenix. Between discarding Arclight Phoenix and also counting as a spell towards its return, Improvised Act works wonders.
This isn’t the first unique build from a Hareruya tournament to use Pompous Battlemage, either, as the one-drop appeared in a wild Goblins deck that went 3-0. There, this Goblin has the upside of adding to your creature count while triggering
Bothersome Noisemaker
Bothersome Noisemaker
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, amass Goblins 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also a Goblin. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Goblin Army creature token first.)
and enabling
Claim/Fame
Claim/Fame
Return target creature card with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
.
Even if these builds don’t ultimately break out, they showcase the wealth of possibilities for Pompous Battlemage. When combined with the card’s incredible debut in Prowess decks in Standard, Pioneer, and Modern, it appears we’ve got a multi-format all-star on our hands.
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