I got Misshapen Fiend and Mountain out of the random generator. I could have thrown the Mountain away, but it seemed like a good way to use color shifting. The more I think about this card, the more surprised I am that Wizards hasn't printed it. It's playable, but clearly shows that red is the worst flying color.

I thought green was the worst flying color.

I interpreted his statement as "red is the worst at flying out of the colours that actually ever get flying" :)

This does at least manage to be better than Bird Maiden, just about.

Wow, red really doesn't get much much common flying. This does seem about on a par. OTOH, it seems in eighth edition, blue got this, and red got something strictly worse.

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Yeah. "Of the flying colours, red is worst at it" :)

But I was thinking about flying in green. People[1] complained when green got Hornet Sting, because it really doesn't get any direct damage. And it never gets flying. Except that it DOES get birds of paradise, reprinted in set after set, and everyone is just used to that. And now it gets Skinshifter in M12, and Hornet Queen in Commander. So it does get flying. Just on one creature every five years (excluding planar chaos)...

[1] Well, mainly Mark Rosewater

Wow, does Hornet Queen break the color pie, or what? I haven't the faintest clue what's been going on with Green the past two years. There must be some proponents of that color in R&D, but it feels like they push that color in the wrong way. I've always been a strong supporter of Rosewater, when he says "There are certain things that colors should not do.", not because of balance issues (bad removal in green is still bad removal), but because it gives the game a strong sense of identity. Every time they print a green flyer, or green removal spell, it feels that much easier to make more green flyers and removal spells, which we've seen a lot of the last couple of years.

But, it's easy to take this stance when it's a color identity issue you like. It's funny how people like me will use this argument for green flyers, but then do a 180 when it comes to pet color-breaking mechanics. In my case, for example, white punishing direct damage such as in Capitulated Keldon Lands. Both arguments for change and maintaining color integrity are valid, I suppose. Each person just draws the line differently.

I forgot to say, I really love the flavour on this :)

Thanks!

Too many 2cc common red creatures. Somehow, my new french vanillas are pushing my old french vanillas out. That's fine. Like I said before, this thing becomes an auto-include in Mashup the Gathering: Revised