The elves of Llanowar dont trust in alchemy
Big hits like the alt-art Umbreon VMAX sent collectors scrambling, and the competitive scene saw endless deck shakeups every few months
Even a card like Soulherder, which cannot itself react to opposing plays at instant speed, fulfills the proactive flicker for value part of the game plan every turn for zero mana
First, mono-red aggro decks were a major part of the pre-Theros metagame, and so cards like Frostburn Weird (as an early blocker that can eat many of the mono-R creatures) and Master of Waves (as a protection card that's almost impossible to get through even without the additional bodies that he brings) are solid metagame choices against that deck even without the devotion aspects
The more you can make sorting cards routine, the faster it will go
Diamond Weapon Diamond Weapon is a surprising legendary, but should often cost closer to 5 or 6 mana for a beefy 8/8 reach immune to combat damage hampered only by a lack of trample