Underrated card. Almost always a 2-for-1, and a two-one-that you don't have to wait until it's appropriate to cast (like waiting for that second creature to play your Arc Trail. The instant speed is huge too; this might be the best defense in standard against Inkmoth Nexus. In limited this is always good. In standard right now, the only thing comparable is Shock, and how often have you used shock against a 1-tough utility creature anyway. I'd say this card is better in many cases. Ah, burn is so much more interesting since Lightning Bolt got out of town.
Edit: It's amazing to see how many people maintain that this card sucks, when it is seeing all sorts of play in all sorts of competitive constructed decks, AND it's a workhorse in limited too. This card is strong and well-balanced. What's not to like?
Posted By:
Vandarringa
(11/1/2011 8:19:46 PM)
I really like this card. However, in my UR tempo I will still be using Lava Dart...
Posted By:
boneclub
(12/6/2011 8:41:38 PM)
Another one to keep your eye on depending on how the meta shapes up. There are so many high value X/1 creatures that see play right now. Grim Lavamancer, Inkmoth Nexus, and Signal Pest stand out in particular. Being able to trade 2-for-1 (and offing the first one for {R}, no less) with those little pesks who despite their small size can easily swing a game is always a huge benefit, and it can be backbreaking against tempo decks.
It's not Firebolt or Staggershock levels of good, but it's much more powerful than it looks in a vacuum.
Posted By:
Lyoncet
(9/22/2011 3:28:20 PM)
This is a recurring point of damage that will more often than not take out a utility creature or serve as a halfway decent combat trick. Also, at least in the early days of the return of flashback, people frequently forget this is in your graveyard.
Will it be an automatic four-of in every Top 8 deck ever? Of course not. But it's a decent card, and people who complain about flashback costs underestimate the utility of flashback.
Posted By:
Enemy_Tricolor
(9/24/2011 8:52:28 PM)
@DarthParallax: Why aren't there people like you where I live. That's my opinion exactly. I wish there was some way to blow the artwork up to a size bigger than the what, 2"x2". There are some cards that I don't like using because their art is bad. Of course bad art won't stop me from using a good card, but I'd definitely prefer good art. Vorthos own!
Posted By:
JanusAurelius
(12/5/2011 8:47:57 PM)
The flashback cost HAS to be high because it allows for really powerful card advantage any time you want that's very difficult to deal with. It's a much more powerful effect than people give it credit for.
Posted By:
PhyrexianFryCook
(9/24/2011 7:26:35 PM)
Ghostflame
hmm, pyro-spirit burn deck?
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(9/23/2011 8:05:59 AM)
@ Zoah: All those cards you losers named? Strictly worse art.
Being a Johnny, I would love this card even more if it actually did 0 damage. literally if it read "deal 0 damage to target creature or player".
Doing actual damage, AND having a freaking zombie-ghost-dragon-haunted sword thing?!
Thank you, Wizards! ^_^ I understand this card, even if Zoah doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.
If EVERY card were the spikeyest darn thing you ever saw, then the power balance of the game would be completely wrecked, and Standard would have turn 0 kills eventually.
so some cards have to look relatively unimpressive. what do they do to fix that? they give us bad ass art on almost every single card in every single pack. Next time you bust open a pack of Magic cards, old school, new school, ANY pack from Alpha to Innistrad, (not quite every single card if you go back far enough, but pretty much every set there are some good ones at every rarity) look at the artwork o... (see all)
Posted By:
DarthParallax
(9/26/2011 10:53:58 PM)
The art looks like it should do at least 3 damage. (sigh) More awesome art on a less than awesome card.
Still, it's usable... maybe.
Posted By:
Dragonmaster3.0
(10/10/2011 6:52:51 AM)
Interesting card, it's at its best against aggro decks with lots of 1/1s. I can see myself running this over Shock in control decks.
Posted By:
Gabriel422
(9/23/2011 12:23:11 AM)