Finance: Against Ral Zarek

Ral Zarek is a sorcery that deals 3 damage and gives a 2-point shield.

Warleader's Helix is an instant that deals 4 damage and gives a 4-point shield.

Elias Watsfeldt recently called Warleader's Helix the best card in Standard. Ral Zarek has now missed the cut of basically every deck in block constructed.

Ral Zarek's special abilities:
- Can untap an Izzet Staticaster.
- Can be used twice, if your opponent doesn't have creatures or burn spells for some reason.

In retrospect, it should have been clear that Ral Zarek was a worse version of Warleader's Helix. Maybe standard can rotate into something with Karoo lands and Grim Monoliths someday, and then we'll say what a powerhouse card it was that we all slept on. But against Thragtusk decks or Restoration Angel decks or Burning-Tree Emissary decks or Voice of Resurgence decks, Ral Zarek doesn't do much.

Ral Zarek and Voice of Resurgence opened at close to the same price. Luis Scott-Vargas, the set reviewer of record, gave it mild approval, though he wisely placed it behind Sin Collector and Far // Away in his constructed rankings.

If anyone reading knows, please leave a comment: When Ral Zarek got spoiled, who were the bold, convincing voices saying it wasn't good enough for constructed?

Historical prices of the two hype-rares from Dragon's Maze.