This is far too cheap to be this powerful, unless it's missing something like "Under the control of the blocking creatures controller"

Well, you don't have to block it if you don't want to. Since "forced blocking" is the red ion effect in this set, which only appears on specific cards, this creature should never get that ability in block. So, most times, that would make this situational evasion. Hmm. You might be right, but I can't really tell. Compare to Tower Gargoyle I suppose? I'd also point out that if your opponent is sporting an Ironroot Treefolk and you don't have any tricks, this guy isn't getting you anywhere. It sure does say "Swing whenever you feel like it", though.

Naah, this looks fine to me. The mana requirements are pretty intense and fiddly; almost at the level of Ghost Council of Orzhova. R/G has previously got 4-drops like Rumbling Slum, so I think this is fine (although it's certainly good in a R/G deck).

It's got 4 power. I can maybe afford to not block it once? Maybe twice? Ok, only an RG deck can run it, but in such a deck it's Hill Giant cost for a 4/3 with added 'block me and doom'.

Assuming your opponent only blocks it when they can kill it (which is usually the correct behaviour :)), this is equivalent to something like Cudgel Troll. Better because it doesn't take mana to "regenerate", worse because it only regenerates when attacking.

But if they need to chump block, they've pretty much lost. I'm worried that if you buff this with a pump spell, or lure, or something, then it's too good.

Well, again, this doesn't answer the problem of "If Tower Gargoyle is acceptable, and can never be blocked when facing certain decks, then how is this card worse?" Lure is a definite problem, and the possibility of combat tricks is also sticky. This is also 'best with frenemies'. In multiplayer, I'm attacking the guy with the Wall of Air out, and agreeing to only attack him with my Viashino for a little while. Sounds very strong.

It is woefully poor when your opponent is winning. I know that's not really part of the argument, but it shouldn't be ignored. It's very tight. There isn't much to compare this to, either. Giant Solifuge, but the ease of Hybrid is what makes that card attractive. Huntmaster is mythic. Spellbreaker Behemoth and Rumbling Slum are both good 5/5s, but they lend no relevance to this ability. Bloodbraid Elf also doesn't tell us much, really.

I also have a problem with the Lure argument, in that we're saying that the card comboes well, but a lot of cards combo well with Lure. Compared to creatures that, out of nowhere, wipe your opponent's board, getting a bonus 4/3 seems mundane... especially if a group block killed the base creature.

I'm keeping it in the file as is with "needs to be seriously watched when testing". I know the cards good, and I know the card can be exciting. I don't want the card to be frustrating... but that can only be observed when people have to put up with it. I don't want to drop it to a 3/3, but I will.

Oh, what the hey. I changed it to a 4/2, so now its easier to parse. In general chumping him with 1/1s won't work. Anything with 2 power will stop him, unless you got a trick. Now the card is all about "does he have the trick", which seems fine to me.