[Official] Cockatrice | Elite Cockatrice

[Daytripper]

Life has two decent midrange attackers, the frog and this. They're cheap, plain simple attackers. There's no need to make it overly complicated with an ability. I don't think they're UP at all. I'm more worried about the scorpion... a shield ruins most of the fun.

I'm not against a life critter with an ability, but I think a new card would be better.

[willng3]

Life has two decent midrange attackers, the frog and this. They're cheap, plain simple attackers. There's no need to make it overly complicated with an ability. I don't think they're UP at all. I'm more worried about the scorpion... a shield ruins most of the fun.

I'm not against a life critter with an ability, but I think a new card would be better.

I voice nearly all of this.  If any type of buff were to be granted to Cockatrice then I wouldn't mind it becoming airborne.  Otherwise no; it's fine as is.

[AquaticImpalement]

Well I think, because a Cockatrice is a thing that's supposed to turn things to stone. Kind of like madeusa. I think it should have the Guard ability.

It kind of makes sense and also wouldn't make it too OP becuase to guard it also has to not attack. You could also make it even less OP by saying that it is paused for two turned instead of one when it Guards but I think that's treading into UP territory.

But then, even the Cockatrice has it's own uses. While the Horned frog is slightly cheaper it is also slightly weaker. And in this game, one HP can be a game ender.

So while it doesn't necessarily NEED a buff, if you were to give it one I think it should be Guard.

[Annele]

Thanks to this, I googled cockatrice, and discovered it wasn't an existing bird, but a 2-legged dragon with a rooster's head. It doesn't explain why it isn't airborne though.
I don't think Cockatrice needs an ability, but it does need a buff. Just +1/+1 or even +0/+1 would be fine. As furballdn said, it would make it resistant to almost all CC, and make it slightly more balanced when compared to horned frog.

[PlayerOa]

If I am to buff Cockatrice, I would simply give it this ability:
: Peck - Deal 1 damage to target creature.

[Daytripper]

The problem is a creature with a good ability can't be too cheap, or it can't have too high of an attack. That means in the end you're really not buffing it. You're taking away something of life's trademark, the rush, to replace it with control. That may not be a bad thing, but I think it's part of the charm you can cough up 12 attackers for almost nothing.

: Peck - Deal 1 damage to target creature.

This may not be so bad, question is if there needs to be a cost increase. If so, it would miss the point. Also, would you really go with mark of  over this? It's only 1 damage and even slower than poison. Recall the unupped toadfish that can be used without the ability. You see the same thing, but worse, with pest and antlion. I'm no real fan of these marginal abilities. If the creature has it, make it worth while so people will play it. (For example in a duo or with life pillars and another mark.) If people want to rush, also give them a chance to use a mono with two plain attackers.

[jawdirk]

How about if any creature that attacks cockatrice is petrified? That would be a nice small thematic buff.

[ARTHANASIOS]

How about if any creature that attacks cockatrice is petrified? That would be a nice small thematic buff.

All these ideas are good, however Cockatrice is one of the few vanilla creatures in the whole game which has an excellent synergy with Luciferin-Hope decks. If you put an active ability on it, you will ruin this wonderful synergy... 

[UnderneathTheLens]

How about if any creature that attacks cockatrice is petrified? That would be a nice small thematic buff.

All these ideas are good, however Cockatrice is one of the few vanilla creatures in the whole game which has an excellent synergy with Luciferin-Hope decks. If you put an active ability on it, you will ruin this wonderful synergy... 

Frogs work too. And they're cheaper.

[ARTHANASIOS]

^Yes, they work too, but they die with just a Rain of Fire, while Cockatrices are more tough, so they provide Hope decks with a small resistance against CC (which is the nemesis of all Hope decks).
 By the way, I need to say that the Cockatrice/Elite Cockatrice should NOT become airborne for the following reasons:
1) It is a chicken; chickens don't fly... 
2) Wings is one of the few shields which completely counter this magnificent creature.
3) We have already a ton of airborne creatures in the game; we don't need more of those.

[AP579]

^Yes, they work too, but they die with just a Rain of Fire, while Cockatrices are more tough, so they provide Hope decks with a small resistance against CC (which is the nemesis of all Hope decks).
 By the way, I need to say that the Cockatrice/Elite Cockatrice should NOT become airborne for the following reasons:
1) It is a chicken; chickens don't fly... 
2) Wings is one of the few shields which completely counter this magnificent creature.
3) We have already a ton of airborne creatures in the game; we don't need more of those.

It's not a chicken. The art is misleading. It's a dragon with a rooster's head.

[ARTHANASIOS]

^ I know what a Cockatrice is D&D-wise, however it is considered most often as a ground creature rather than a flying creature, so it souldn't fly IMO. I called it chicken as a joke, lol.