Hmm. I don't like the 4-mode charm masquerading as a 3-mode charm.

You mean the haste-plus-first strike? I wanted a "hyper-aggressive" option, and double strike just seemed too strong for a repeatable effect. I could be convinced otherwise with a strong enough argument though.

You know what, it's a two-card-plus-mana investment to give the double strike. Makes me less concerned. I'll give it a shot.

"Players can't gain life this turn" is sorta strange as an activated ability, a bit less straightforward than the other functions of this card in a way that's unappealing.

Replaced third ability. Feeling nervous about doublestrike again. Any help justifying or adjusting it is appreciated.

Reminds me of what I commented on this card. The costs are comparable to Fireshrieker, which was fairly strong. This also would be fairly strong. But compared to Battle Mastery, you're paying a lot of mana repeatedly to get the flexibility to put it where you want it.

I like the first two abilities at the moment. I don't really like the last one (2 damage to each player). The circumstances where you'd rather use that mode compared to the other two seem to be "I was winning the damage race, but then you got down a blocker, and that blocker is strong enough that even giving my attacker double strike wouldn't help, but not strong enough that it can start outracing me".

Hee. That's a fascinating idea. This is certainly now versatile and unique.

That third ability is interesting but now I'm wondering how it fits into red's color philosophy.

I'm hard pressed to think of places where red says that creatures lose anything.

It's one of those things that doesn't have a real home because it's never been done. The closest comparison would be red's ability to go around "protection from red" by making damage unpreventable. I think that if red believes (particularly in this set) that truth should be laid bare, then that's what this does. Hexproof and Shroud are defensive measures. Red feels that defensive measures are for those not strong enough to stand withou them. Hence, giving it a shot here.

I can get behind that.

There's actually a thread over on the Salvation boards at this very moment arguing over the merits of that third ability, with most feeling that it's an unnecessary form of one-upmanship that perpetuates an arm's race, wherein the next thing to be designed is an ability that says "this permanent can't lose abilities" or whatever.

Ideally, I think that slot is where you would put Break Open, except you don't have any Morph cards. :(

New thought for the third ability: "Target instant or sorcery can't be countered by spells or abilities."

Less "truth laid bard" and more "the truth shall not be suppressed".

Looks like Morph is going into the set, so Houlding’s earlier Break Open comment is relevant.

Maybe 'Granite Ridge Charm'. I know it seems pedantic but I'm realizing that a few more things that ensure a sense of place are a good thing. I can see this item, a piece of rock taken from the Ridge, shaped and enchanted (or honed) and sold in stores.

Morph minimized in this set (though I still plan on it being in the second set), so the Break Open option is once again tabled. The new third ability is pretty standard red fare, and makes a lot of sense in this environment.

Going with three “target creature...” abilities seemed pretty narrow to me though. I’ve brought back a “damage to all players” type of ability in the first slot. While a previous similar ability fell flat, I’d like to include something like this as a nod to multiplayer formats.

Balancing charms sucks.