Ral Zarek value in the current standard.

So this is the planeswalker of the final part of Return to Ravnica. At first glance he looks spicy and those abilities are all we can wish from a planeswalker right? A +1 with some effect on the board, a -2 that can protect itself and an ultimate that will win you the game . Is this planeswalker good though?

My opinion is that this walker is average. And as far as the current standard is concerned ,he is mediocre. Lets look at his abilities and their use in a standard match.

+1 : This ability may look to come in handy and it will BUT in order for this ability to be relevant he have to be beating and not controlling the game. So unless there is a viable UR aggro strategy in standard all this ability will do is untap a land or a blocker that will offer nothing against incoming aristocrats or hellriders or pumped creatures via rampagers.

-2: A bolt ,thats all , and it costs four mana...

-7 : You win the game , probably , unless you are really bad at tossing coins but if you have managed to protect this walker till now you should be winning anyway...

Ral Zarek will have a high price range as all planeswalkers do at the launch of this set but after all is set he will plunge to a minimal value unless some strategy evolves that will make the most of this walker. Such a possibility seems distant and i dont expect Zarek to be seen in the top tables at least for the coming 3 months.

Preordering at the 30$ price range seems a bit bad expected value but if you cant wait to acquire a playset of the first UR walker that is outright worse than the older WR walker (ajani vengeant ) you can feel free to do so.After all take a glimpse of the only planeswalker that is similar to Zarek and make your own decisions.

All Zareks abilities seem just worse...