At three defense, this Battle is quite easy to transform
Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer decks where you can cast it for nine with your mana reductions, like Cloud Key and Foundry Inspector, are surely into it
Hancock isnt the only mono-black zombie commander in EDH, but it is the only zombie lord that starts in the command zone, and it takes relatively little effort for this creature to outpace the standard +1/+1 buff
Cards like Sanctum Seeker , Bloodtracker , Timothar , and Glass-Cut Heart are all either slow effects that require multiple turns to pay off, cost way too much mana for too little effect, or both
Along with classic cards making a return, there are also opportunities to take advantage of forgotten gameplay options
I think if the ability returns in upcoming sets, it could really show how good it can be