Molten-Tail Masticore

This card is amazing in the current standard format. Keep the 2 mana open for regeneration and it most surely won't die in combat nor other ways.

yeah, there's a lot you're missing.

first, it's a 4/4 for just 4 mana.

second, it's discard trigger is optional.

third and most importantly, it can do 4 INSTANT COLORLESS DAMAGE TO ANY TARGET FOR JUST 4 COLORLESS MANA WITHOUT TAPPING!!! Protection from *insert color here*, so what. This creature can 1 shot most Planeswalkers and cripple those that it can't kill.

obviously certain considerations need to be made for this awesome card. mana gen is most important. also, it should run in a deck with plenty of creatures, at least 16-20.

think about all of the different graveyard recycling possiblities with this card! My personal favorite is to discard Iona, Shield of Emeria then put it into play with Marshal's Anthem. In vintage type 1.5 the possibilities are just sick.

oh, did I mention that it can regenerate for only 2 colorless mana and survive mass destruction spells like Day of Judgement?

there are several good reasons why this card cost what it does. I wish I owned a stack of them.

First of all 4 mana for a 4/4 with only a discard at the beggining of your upkeep isn't bad. Add the 4, remove a creature from your graveyard : 4 damage to any target is quite good, since sometimes works in sync with the upkeep discard a card requirement. Plus you can add all sorts of enchantments or equiment to maximize the potential of this card. Phyresis gives it infect, Basilisk Collar gives it deathtouch and lifelink. Now it reads either 4 mana + creature graveyard removal x1 = 4 -1/-1 counters on target creature or even better 4 poison counters to target player, kills a creature through deathtoach damage and gains you 4 life, or deals a player 4 damage and gains you 4 life. So yeah, by itself good to mediocre, but depending on the kind of deck your running with some nice equipment and/or enchant auras, this can be a game-winner or at the very least a tide turner.

It is pretty good since you can regenerate it for only 2 mana and it is anti mill because you deal 4 damage for each creature you exile from your graveyard. Also it is a good card to play with koth of the hammer.

So, am I missing something here or is this just bad? 4 targeted damage is ok, but there are cheaper and more efficient ways to do that than 4 mana and eating your graveyard. I guess its colorless direct damage, but it's so costly its hardly worth it.