Ante is an optional way to play the game that seems inspired by playing for marbles or playing gambling card games like poker, where you put a random card from your library into the ante zone before the start of the game
Thats a strong and compelling ability for a card with also powerful stats
(As you may know, or if you have read my previous blog posts, an effect making something an artifact creature has an implicit " in addition to its other types " without the effect having to specifically state it
You have ten 1-mana creatures backed up by eight counterspells and six burn spells with fourteen draw spells to find what you need at the right time
Krrik, Son of Yawgmoth Phyrexian mana is an absurdly strong mechanic whose ripples have been felt across all Magic formats since its introduction in New Phyrexia over a decade ago
Once again, Magebane Lizard is a game-ending threat for this archetype, so red Pioneer decks like Red Aggro and even the combat trick-heavy Gruul Aggro are sideboarding it in