[Wolfstalker]

The only way that I have seen Helix Pennacle effectively used is in combination with Rings of Brighthearth. If you put in 5 mana to Helix Pennacle and then use Rings of Brighthearth...you will double the amount of counters put on it to 10. When you use all the Fog abilities in block...the deck can be quite fast. Then again...it scoops to Faeries.

U cant target Helix pinnacle when u copy the ability b/c helix pinnacle has shroud.  Otherwise Gilder Bairn would be amazing with it.

[Jimbobway]

Rings of brighthearth does not target thats why it works.

[contra-coup]

Understand, however, that black now shares colors (ie Black-Green, Black-White).

Same is true for red.  The r/x hybrids seem stronger to me.  Double strike, trample, persist, wither, lifelink, fire breathing, flying, first strike all available to mono red in the form of very playable creatures and static and one-shot buffs.  Red has faster men with really competitive CC's.  There's also at least 6 great burn spells w/ fast cc's to abuse.  How many great black removal is there?  4 playable off the top of my head 2 of which have heavy CC's.  Mono black has junk creatures, forcing you into B/x hybrids.  Mono red men in the format see a 4/4 trample for 4 with a minor draw-back, a relevant 1/1 that neutralizes blockers, a 2-drop that gives all red creatures first strike, and a good cohort off the top of my head.  Red is easier to pick up guys to curve out perfectly in a draft.  So direct and effective. 

The good black hybrids have really heavy casting which puts you a step behind the red player.  Steve Sadin talked about this very concept in a recent article on the Wizards site.  Players can make great u/b or mono b decks in this format but have a bad match up against red.  I've personally experienced this.  In draft my mono white deck at the prerelease didn't quite get me there but my mono red was a winner - nobody seemed to be able to handle it, took first.  I made mono red in sealed for the launch party and took another 1st. I've drafted every color and have made a bunch of sealed decks in this format.  White is the closest contender with red.  The removal and lifegain can be a huge problem for a red deck that comes out too slow.  Gerard Fabiano stated at U.S. Nationals that John Finkel told him to draft red over blue when asked to explain why he took a Tattermunge maniac over a Biting Tether.  Apparently John rebuked the statement when he told the coverage staff, "I never condoned or suggested a universe where taking Tattermunge over Biting Tether is anywhere close to not being completely idiotic."  I realize this is not an argument for red > all but it proves the notion of red's superiority has crossed the minds of the pros [except Finkel...maybe].  Perhaps my recent successes with red has made me a little bias but I'm making an earnest effort to be objective.

[imachampion]

U cant target Helix pinnacle when u copy the ability b/c helix pinnacle has shroud.  Otherwise Gilder Bairn would be amazing with it.

Rings of brighthearth does not target thats why it works.

What he said.