That said he is not all that exciting, the +1/+1 buff is no way near as good as something like a Crusade as it is harder to put to good use and easier to remove from play for three and not two mana
Collective Brutality I have talked much about this card recently
With 5 Strength, 5 Willpower, and the Evasive keyword, he gathers 4 Lore when Questing, making him desirable despite the play cost
Creature - Human Warrior Nightblade Brigade Deathtouch Mobilize 1 (Whenever this creature attacks, create a tapped and attacking 1/1 red Warrior creature token
If we first look at Standard, we can see there are plenty of spells players want to cast that cost five or more, especially Leyline Binding (which never really costs five), and the enchantment side of Virtue of Persistence
Izzet Affinity (6.1% of the Winner's Metagame) 4 Fiery Islet 4 Spirebluff Canal 4 Urza's Saga 4 Kappa Cannoneer 4 Pinnacle Emissary 4 Engineered Explosives 4 Mishra's Bauble 4 Mox Opal 4 Weapons Manufacturing 3 Sink into Stupor 3 Tormod's Crypt 3 Metallic Rebuke 3 Claws of Gix 2 Emry, Lurker of the Loch 2 Arcbound Ravager 1 Island 1 Shadowspear 1 Steam Vents 1 Pithing Needle 1 Welding Jar 1 Aether Spellbomb 1 Skateboard 1 Shivan Reef 3 Damping Sphere 2 Whipflare 2 Galvanic Blast 2 Mystical Dispute 2 Consign to Memory 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Force of Negation 1 Vexing Bauble 1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch As the name implies, Izzet Affinity thrives on artifact synergies, quickly enabling metalcraft for explosive starts
