Winged Second

PetriWessman wrote:

Ok, so to clarify: if the range is close, the Winged Second can strike with hands or melee weapon, and the opposing minion cannot target it normally (since it only takes damage "as a retainer", and that normally only works at long range).

If the range is long, the WS cannot normally do damage (unless it's a hand or melee weapon strike that does long range damage), and it can be targeted normally by any ranged damage / steal blood effect.

Is that correct?

In a nutshell, yes

PetriWessman wrote:

If the range is long, the WS cannot normally do damage (unless it's a hand or melee weapon strike that does long range damage), and it can be targeted normally by any ranged damage / steal blood effect.

Winged Second's card text says that the WS makes its strike "during normal strike resolution (as if at close range)". Close range strikes work when you're at close range.

jamesatzephyr wrote:

PetriWessman wrote:

If the range is long, the WS cannot normally do damage (unless it's a hand or melee weapon strike that does long range damage), and it can be targeted normally by any ranged damage / steal blood effect.

Winged Second's card text says that the WS makes its strike "during normal strike resolution (as if at close range)". Close range strikes work when you're at close range.

Ah, right, the OP quoted the card incorrectly, that's what confused me.

Ok, so at long range the WS can still strike successfully (it is considered to strike from close range, even if the actual combat range is long), and it can be targeted by ranged damage like a retainer.

Now on to the actual question: it this card ever worth including in your deck?

Not sure myself. That "always hits as if from close range" is one nice factor, it would allow you to aggra-poke Cailean (or some other dude with a zillion maneuvers to long). A bit corner-case, though.

Well, you need to use two minions in one combat. And the winged second cannot untap via Freak drive if it's during your turn. In my experience, gargoyles are just too expensive for that - especially considering the slave restriction.

PetriWessman wrote:

Now on to the actual question: it this card ever worth including in your deck?

It's not great, but you could potentially play it with a Wake and then it wouldn't be so bad, but still not great.

PetriWessman wrote:

Not sure myself. That "always hits as if from close range" is one nice factor, it would allow you to aggra-poke Cailean (or some other dude with a zillion maneuvers to long). A bit corner-case, though.

Aggro-poke is moderately hard. The Winged Second can't play Raking Talons - they're only given the option to play a strike card, which Raking Talons isn't. So you'd need a non-generic-combat-card source of aggravated damage, such as an already-possessed weapon (e.g. Sengir Dagger) or a strike card (e.g. Burning Wrath).

Ohlmann wrote:

Well, you need to use two minions in one combat. And the winged second cannot untap via Freak drive if it's during your turn. In my experience, gargoyles are just too expensive for that - especially considering the slave restriction.

Actually, it is a reaction so you could use a wake in order to make it work.