The real power of this card comes when it's in your graveyard
Raphael, the Muscle #1
Its often played as a control commander because it represents both win condition and card advantage
But really, this is all about the Johnny/Spikeesque exchange of one resource (life) for another (mana)
P/T Number 438 Language Franais Legal Formats Alchemy, Brawl, Commander, Competitive Brawl, Historic, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, Standard, Timeless, Vintage Rulings (6/6/2025) Each face of a nonmodal double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on
That mulligan decision or carefully sculpted hand is now history, and who knows whats coming next