These cards will provide options to Bodyguard - force enemy opponents to target this character over others - and apply Ward, which prevents a card from being targeted by anything except challenges, to Simba, Scrappy Cub, thereby keeping this card out for longer
3 power makes it a much better blocker, able to chip in for meaningful damage here and there, and a real threat later game when your hand is deployed and you are attacking with the team
Bramble Familiar Bramble Familiar is a fine ramp piece that offers some self-mill and the promise of a random permanent once mana's no longer an issue
Youre likely remembering that one time when the opponent had turn 1 Show and Tell and put in Emrakul while you had Karakas, as its always easy to remember those moments
It seems like Mardu just might be legit
It gives some defensive power to a deck looking to attack