Discussion about neutral card draw and Zen'rui

[memeyanddreamy]

I want to start this post off by saying I’m not calling anything overpowered, and I’m not asking for any changes, I just would like to discuss with other players, and understand other possible points of view. Now that I have all formalities out of the way…

Is Zen’rui a counter to the neutral card draw, and is this a problem?

I’m going to split this into two parts.

Is Zen’rui a counter to neutral draw? In my opinion, yes. The only neutral card draw that cannot be Rui’ed is Ruby Rifter, which is not all that common. The rest of these cards such as Spelljamer, Mogwai, Sojurner, and L’kian (sort of) all are vulnerable. There are other high value targets such Lanturn Fox and Kelaino, and even snagging an opposing Mystic or Jaxi doesn’t feel all that bad.This tends to do two things.

1. A loss in tempo for the original player. Tempo shifts back and for during a match, so while this is relevant, its not my main point.

2. For the better units to scoop up, the not-Zen’rui user loses value, (like with Kelaino) or (in my opinion) more importantly, Card advantage.

I first started thinking about this when I had a ladder match the other day. I was testing a new Vaath concoction with three Zen’rui. It was more controlling with no two drops, so I kept a single Zen’rui in my starting hand (against Faie). My opponent was playing a Vespyr deck, so they played their cards pretty quickly. It by turn 3, they had dropped the first Sojurner. I Zen’rui’ed it and gained some ground, but then I thought, “What if I hold my second Zen’rui for the next Sojurner, to consistently deny him card draw?” I ended up winning that game because I stole his other Sojurner, and he died while topdecking.

This had me thinking, what factions are Zen’rui useful against, and when? This is what I came up with.

Note: This is only common things, not Portal Guardian, Wolfraven, etc.

Lyo: not that great, only Lion and possibly Sojurner and 2 drops.
Songhai: Fox, Chakri, Kaido, possibly Spellammer and L’kian.
Vet: Obelysiks, neutral card draw.
Magmar: Young silithar, draw, maybe Kujata.
Vanar: Snowchasers and draw.

So there is always a point in having Zen’rui, as he can control neutral card draw minus rifter. The second question…

Is this a problem?

Now, I admit I am not the strongest player, which is the main reason I’m making this thread. Do you think Zen’rui is a problem for this reason, more reasons, a different reason, or not a problem at all? I’d like to here others reasoning.

That’s all I got, I will ignore slanderous responses and things of the like, and if this was incredibly stupid, please explain why instead of making me a copypasta BibleThump

I look forward to others thoughts!

[raqyee]

Zen’rui is fine, he is after Taygete, probably the most over rated card. Whenever a minion has 2 or less attack, he is countered by Zen’rui and therefore bad. Literally every deck runs them. Just some of the shit one can hear on the daily basis. But then you decide to play a bit of ladder just to see that’s not how it works, who would have guessed?

About him countering card draw, that’s one of the silliest things I’ve heard. Just because Souj conveniently has 1 attack doesn’t mean it’s countered. It’s not even that common of a card. You also mentioned L’kian in the same context which makes even less sense. First, it’s not actually a card draw, and second, it generating card is an OG, not a continuous effect so your enemy can’t take advantage of it by Zen’ruing it. Spelljammer doesn’t count too because it works both ways regardless on which side it’s on.

[conamin]

I don’t see it as a direct counter to neutral card draw, Zen Rui is a tempo card. In my opinion you are using it to gain tempo, and by proxy card advantage. (Doing more with fewer cards)

A Vetruvian with a Blindscorch in hand brings almost any minion within Zen Rui’s grasp. which I admit requires 2 cards to pull of but I digress. (There was this time I Zen Rui’D my opponents Elder Silithar that was a fun moment. …)

I don’t see it as a problem, and I don’t see it as an auto include.