All the Red mages, fans and enthusiasts will again rejoice as another card component is added to their arsenal on this official card preview for the upcoming set Oath of the Gatewatch. Presenting, Reckless Bushwacker:

This card is version two of Goblin Bushwhacker from the first Zendikar set. What it needs though is for you to cast another spell before him with the Surge mechanic. Based from the current build of Mono Red or Atarka Red, you can have a lot of interactions to validate Surge. Here are a few examples:

Turn three, cast Monastery Swiftspear, validate Surge, cast Reckless Bushwacker.
Turn four, cast Dragon Fodder, validate Surge, cast Reckless Bushwacker, attack for six.
Turn four, cast Abbot, reveal Reckless Bushwacker, validate Surge, cast Reckless Bushwacker, attack for four.

There are also other cheap spells like Wild Slash and Fiery Impulse for a quick Surge validation, though you don’t necessarily want a playset of this card in the deck. Three would be a right number because at times there are situations wherein you cannot cast two spells at the same turn or you are top decking and got this card. It would basically be just a hasty 2/1 creature.

Here is what I think the deck would look like:

Atarka Red post-OGW Standard

Creatures
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Monastery Swiftspear
3 Reckless Bushwacker
3 Zurgo Bellstriker

Spells
4 Atarka’s Command
3 Become Immense
4 Dragon Fodder
2 Fiery Impulse
3 Hordeling Outburst
3 Temur Battle Rage
4 Titan’s Strength
2 Wild Slash

Lands
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Cinder Glade
1 Forest
8 Mountain
2 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills

He can also fit in other token-based decks like Mardu or Black Red. The latter would be more consistent though as two colors would not be an issue and also a lower mana curve.

Last night was the first day of the official Oath of the Gatewatch spoiler season from the mothership site so you might want to check the rest of the previewed cards as well as the Oath of the Gatewatch products like the fat pack and booster pack packaging.

That is about it for this card preview blog entry, until the next post.