It's often a 2-mana threat that draws you some cards in the right deck, a very desirable effect indeed
When you've got nothing, you might as well trade it for something else
It's the Elf type, which means it'll be the first one in that deck
The popularity never really faded it just went dormant for a while before exploding again around 2020, fueled by nostalgia, YouTubers opening vintage packs on camera, and a pandemic's worth of people rediscovering childhood hobbies
Several other cards that take full advantage of Salvation Engines abilities, including Stridehangar Automaton, Sai, Master Thopterist, and Urza, Prince of Kroog
Skillful at depictions that have three-dimensionality, he is also active as an illustrator for other trading card games