Why is it a modern staple?
It is legacy good and the life gain and power and tougness are very good against aggro and in a aggro deck it is cheap enough to be a good beater and then it comes right back gaining you more life and a good blocker
It gains you "infinite" life in Melira Pod with {Melira, Sylvok Outcast} and a sac outlet I.E. {Viscera Seer}.
Oh, well then. I'll have to pick a few up...
{kitchen finks}
So ya I know it's a good card but 10 bucks???
They are simply the most efficient 3-drop out there for combo decks when it comes to buying time for what you need.
1) it comes in as 3/2 blocker that gains 2 life. When it blocks, it usually kills the creature attacking you. It then comes back as 2/1 blocker, gains you 2 more life, and threatens to kill another attacker.
2) {Melira, Sylvok Outcast} combo decks can infinite life gain loop on turn 3 with them.
3) {Birthing Pod} decks, including the very popular {Kiki-Jiki, Mirror-Breaker} combo deck, can pod it into {Restoration Angel}. The sacrifice results in 2 life gain, the resto bounce results in 2 life gain and the removal if the -1/-1 counter, and now Resto is on the field as a major combo piece. Other Pod decks have a myriad of 4-drops that kitchen finks can pod into.
On top of all that, he's a good chump blocker! Gotta block something scary? Who cares? Finks comes back and gives you benefits! In a pinch, could make your opponent hesitant to attack!
Yay I like kitchen finks!!!
Im trying to get 4 for my stupid combo deck lol theyre so nice