Advanced Sequencing with Viashino Cutthroat for Red Aggro

Advanced Sequencing with Viashino Cutthroat for Red Aggro

In TCG ·

Viashino Cutthroat by Edward P. Beard, Jr. — Urza's Legacy card art

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Advanced Sequencing with Viashino Cutthroat for Red Aggro

Red has always thrived on tempo—the quick strike, the momentary edge, the pressure that makes an opponent stumble. Viashino Cutthroat embodies that classic aggression: a 4-mana 5/3 with Haste that demands an immediate decision. But the real artistry lies in how you sequence its play and leverage the end step bounce. This little lizard isn’t just a beater; it’s a tempo engine that rewards judicious planning, precise timing, and a dash of reckless bravado 🧙‍♂️🔥.

On the surface, Viashino Cutthroat is a straightforward creature: pay 4 mana, smash for 5, and enjoy the added thrill of haste that lets you threaten damage the moment it hits the battlefield. Yet the card’s end-step return to its owner’s hand creates a subtle, rewarding rhythm. You get a high-impact swing on turn four, then you get to rebuild your attack clock on subsequent turns by recasting it, provided you’ve kept mana sources flowing. That is tempo design at its finest—a card that invites you to draft not just one bold play, but a sequence of bold plays that stack up over time 🧠⚔️.

Haste as a catalyst, not a gimmick

Haste is the spark that makes Viashino Cutthroat sing in red aggro. It ensures the first strike lands when the board is still raw and helps you punish open mana from your opponent. But the real nuance comes from the timing of its bounce. Returning at the beginning of the end step means you’re primed for a second, hard-hitting swing on the very next turn if your mana curve cooperates. In many games, that two-turn threat window can be enough to push past a stabilized board, especially when you couple it with burn spells, cheap accelerants, or a second beefy threat. The result is a relentless pressure plan that keeps your opponent off balance and sailing toward a decisive finish 🧨.

“You guys go on ahead. I’ll catch up with ya.” —Vark, goblin scout, last words

The flavor text captures the heart of red tempo—the willingness to rush forward, even when the road ahead is uncertain. Viashino Cutthroat embodies that spirit: quick, bold, and a little reckless, with a practical caveat that rewards careful sequencing. The card’s Urza’s Legacy roots—printed in 1999 as an uncommon in the ulg set—anchor it in a particular era of MTG history, where players learned to maximize value from every drop of mana and every swing of the sword. The eye-catching art by Edward P. Beard, Jr. reinforces the vibe of sun-scorched deserts and hungry lizards hustling toward victory. It’s a reminder that red’s magic has always thrived on momentum, not merely raw power 🧙‍♂️.

From a design perspective, Viashino Cutthroat shows how a creature’s tempo potential can be augmented by a simple text line. The ability to return to hand at the end step adds a layer of deck-building discipline: you must consider not only the immediate payoff but the cost and timing of replaying the card. In strict terms, you’re paying four mana for a 5/3 with haste, but the repeatable pressure is what elevates it beyond a one-off drop. In formats that allow older prints, this is a compelling bridge between nostalgia and modern playstyles, inviting players to explore sequencing challenges that feel elegant and old-school all at once 💎.

For players curating a red aggression shell, Viashino Cutthroat is a case study in turning a high-impact payoff into a reliable tempo engine. It challenges you to count damage more precisely, weigh risks of overextension, and anticipate how the end step can set up another aggressive turn. When you pair it with thoughtful mana management and well-timed removal or burn, the sequence can look almost ritualistic: attack, force a quick decision, bounce, recast, attack again. The joy comes from knowing you’re orchestrating a two-turn rhythm that can snowball into a game-ending onslaught 🎲🔥.

Even beyond the battlefield, the card’s history deepens the appeal. Urza’s Legacy sits as a cornerstone of the late-1990s era, a period that shaped many iconic green, red, and artifact synergies. The uncommon rarity keeps it approachable for players who want to explore a vintage vibe without diving into the heavy staples of today. If you’re a new collector or a veteran flip-through, Viashino Cutthroat offers both a nostalgic tug and a legitimate strategic path for red tempo decks—one that rewards precise sequencing as much as it rewards sheer aggression ⚔️.

Whether you’re revisiting this card for a casual riff or building a retro-themed cube, the essential takeaway is clear: the power of a card isn’t just in its raw stats or flashy text, but in how you weave it into a plan. Viashino Cutthroat asks you to count turns, plot recasts, and keep the pressure blazing in a disciplined red rhythm. And if you ever doubt the potency of a well-timed end step bounce, remember: sometimes the fastest way to win is to sprint twice in a single handshake with the table 🧙‍♂️🎨.

Non-Slip Gaming Mouse Pad Polyester Surface Anti-Fray Edges

More from our network


Viashino Cutthroat

Viashino Cutthroat

{2}{R}{R}
Creature — Lizard

Haste

At the beginning of the end step, return this creature to its owner's hand.

"You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up with ya." —Vark, goblin scout, last words

ID: bcbab69d-3259-40f4-a588-ab550858a178

Oracle ID: 6dc1305a-d6ca-4280-ba5d-5ed91f78ced0

Multiverse IDs: 12419

TCGPlayer ID: 6408

Cardmarket ID: 10651

Colors: R

Color Identity: R

Keywords: Haste

Rarity: Uncommon

Released: 1999-02-15

Artist: Edward P. Beard, Jr.

Frame: 1997

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 27178

Penny Rank: 17063

Set: Urza's Legacy (ulg)

Collector #: 94

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — not_legal
  • Timeless — not_legal
  • Gladiator — not_legal
  • Pioneer — not_legal
  • Modern — not_legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — not_legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — not_legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — not_legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — legal
  • Predh — legal

Prices

  • USD: 0.15
  • USD_FOIL: 1.50
  • EUR: 0.04
  • EUR_FOIL: 1.66
  • TIX: 0.04
Last updated: 2025-11-16