If the target creature is an illegal target as Deadly Embrace tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen
Since then, its appeared sporadically, with its most recent use in the Warhammer 40,000 Necron Commander deck
It suffers from not being a dragon itself, which is a real knock against it, but the overall package of abilities makes it a fine consideration
Perhaps its biggest draw is simple nostalgia
2$1.66 Charlotte Linlin 010Starter Deck 7: Big Mom Pirates$1.63 Buggy OP09 042Starter Deck 25: BLUE Buggy$1.62 Shanks ReprintStarter Deck 23: RED Shanks$1.50 Kaido OP05 118 ReprintPremium Booster -The Best-$1.47 EdwardNewgate OP02 001Starter Deck 15: RED Edward.Newgate$1.43 MarshallDTeach OP09 093 ReprintPremium Booster -The Best- Vol
This gives you a lot of flexibility in combat to get in safe damage, take out planeswalkers all while putting up a suitable defense