Each Time Spiral card was an homage to at least one previously printed card.
The card references both Stifle and Interdict, a card from Tempest which was originally an Interrupt, a now-defunct card type that functioned much like Instants could only be responded to by other Interupts, making the 'activated abilities of that permanent can't be played again this turn' clause a lot stronger (under modern rules, a player could just respond and activate the ability again if they could.) With the use of Split Second, the essence of Interdict is kept in tact.
Posted By:
Missile_Penguin
(12/2/2012 10:16:39 PM)
You'll simply want to play both if you're not running Control but a Stifle-centered deck instead.
Eight possibilities to get your Phyrexian Dreadnought into play at a ridiculous low cost, one of them resistant to any response - way to go!
Posted By:
Mode
(9/7/2009 8:18:06 PM)
For some reason this reminds me of Earthbind although they have nothing in common at all.
Posted By:
Tommy9898
(5/16/2010 5:41:01 PM)
"When it's good, it's great, otherwise, it's dead weight!" That being said, we need more cards like this. Activated and Triggered abilities get away with far too much mischief. Acts as a counter spell against cards resolving from suspend BTW.
Posted By:
Reins
(9/6/2009 6:41:59 PM)
@TDL: Off the top of my head, I'd say there are two reasons why Stifle is more expensive than this:
1. Scourge is 3 years older than Time Spiral so there are probably fewer of them in circulation.
2. There are lots of combo applications for this effect, and combo decks want to pull off their combo and thus win as quickly as possible. Stifle being one mana cheaper than Trickbind means the player can pull off the combo one turn earlier, and that can make a big difference. The one-turn-earlier part is the same reason why the Standard dual-type fetchlands are ~$12 each while Terramorphic Expanse is 50 cents despite the former's "drawback" of making you pay life.
Strictly viewed as a defensive response card, I'd agree that they're pretty similar, but Trickbind's effect isn't all THAT much better. The only thing Stifle doesn't stop that Trickbind does is extra activations of an ability that doesn't require tapping. (This is probably a big reason for... (see all)
Posted By:
Artscrafter
(10/20/2010 10:04:35 PM)
Nice Mindlsaver.
Posted By:
MrPink343
(3/2/2011 9:46:57 PM)
Love the split second abilities. But they're only limited to the time spiral edition. What a waste.
Posted By:
Hokeymon
(12/14/2009 6:27:01 AM)
This is not as good as Stifle.
This is a lot cheaper than Stifle.
This is legal in Modern.
Ergo...
Posted By:
Shadoflaam
(12/12/2011 6:47:43 PM)
Can someone please explain to me why this card costs so much less than Stifle? I consider Trickbind to be the better card, even though it costs one more.
Posted By:
TDL
(4/1/2010 4:52:27 PM)
Hoses storm, fetchlands and Eldrazi abilities (I'm looking at you Kozilek, Butcher of Truth).
Posted By:
Mitch_360
(7/29/2011 9:58:45 PM)