According to the design article, it was originally a chainsaw, but for me, this is a lot more frightening, as far as horror tropes and themes are concerned. With a chainsaw, it's supposed to be destructive (tearing flesh instead of clean cutting like a scalpel), not very subtle, and you can't sneak up on someone with this. Trepanation Blade is a medical tool. Not only are old-age medical practices are barbaric and creepy as hell ("Anesthetic? What's that? Strap 'im down while I bonesaw his arm, boys!"), medical tools are held by people that you're supposed to trust, namely doctors. You don't trust people holding chainsaws.
As far as the card is concerned, I get a similar reaction to seeing it in my opponent's control.
Posted By:
Toquinha1977
(10/3/2011 8:01:41 AM)
@Hayw00d0909:
Actually, it is The Mill Drill.
Posted By:
Melanchior
(11/9/2011 12:50:59 PM)
Sword of the Hedron Crab
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(10/5/2011 2:28:47 PM)
Go Trepanation Blade! Yours is the drill that will pierce the Heavens!
Posted By:
Hylebos
(11/18/2011 9:43:44 AM)
The real gem here is attaching this to a Zombie with an Undead Alchemist on the board.
Attack > mill a creature or two and a land > put zombies into play > if the zombie connects, mill some more cards for more zombies. Once you have enough zombies. Unsummon the Alchemist.
@ Alsebra:
Note: the land that gets revealed gets put into the graveyard as well.
@ Faralay:
That's his point. Trepanation blade fills your opponents graveyard with useful stuff. ((defending player))
Posted By:
roguepariah
(9/23/2011 10:36:56 AM)
This card is an absolute miracle in limited.
Oh yeah I'm gonna do damage, and I'm going to mill your already small library. Oh and do more damage.
I've seen this win games almost single-handedly; either through damage, or by decking the opponent. It's just the best of both worlds.
Posted By:
BrightOrangePants
(10/2/2011 6:28:29 PM)
I need this card like I need a hole in the head.
Posted By:
Studoku
(6/12/2012 5:02:21 PM)
It's not bad but it's not as good as I initially thought either after some sealed deck practice. It's good in the role of "bonus damage on your evasive guys", usually from +1/+0 to +4/+0 per turn. But it's inconsistent when you really need those 2-3+ extra points of damage, so you can't always count on it.
That being said, I did have one game where it randomly gave +9/+0 and led to a victory out of nowhere. So if you're facing someone with this (in Limited/casual) it's probably best not to take that chance - block the creature if possible.
Posted By:
nemokara
(9/23/2011 7:09:49 PM)
A fun toy for geth, lord of the vault.
Posted By:
Zoltantf
(9/24/2011 12:41:19 PM)
To the tune of "Alouette:"
Trepanation!
It's the new sensation!
Trepanation!
This is how you play!
Drill into opponent's head,
mill his deck until he's dead
Drill his head!
(drill his head)
'Till he's dead!
(till he's dead)
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Trepanation!
It's the new sensation!
Trepanation!
It's the one for me!
Posted By:
The_Stray
(11/11/2011 6:36:17 PM)