Rowan, Scion of War

$0.44

Rowan has menace and a sorcery-speed tap ability: black or red spells you cast this turn cost {X} less, where X is the life you lost this turn. Paying life with fetchlands, Ancient Tomb or cards like Hex Parasite becomes mana, and the discount covers generic costs, so big X spells get much cheaper. The deck plays self-damage, treasures and fast mana, then uses the discount turn to cast several expensive spells at once.

In the recorded games, a common line was paying a large chunk of life into Hex Parasite or other self-damage, tapping Rowan, and casting Exsanguinate or Torment of Hailfire for a huge X. Faster lists used Grim Tutor, Ancient Tomb and Ad Nauseam to set up a combo turn, and some ran Dragonstorm for storm-style finishes. Aggressive builds with Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer and haste creatures pressured early. The life cost was the main weakness. The deck often sat at a low life total, removal like Rending Volley hit Rowan, and steady evasive attackers could finish the pilot before the big turn.