Each Time Spiral card was an homage to at least one previously printed card.
The card references both Triskelion and Tetravus, two of Magic's earliest popular artifact creatures which both used +1/+1 counters in interesting ways.
Posted By:
Missile_Penguin
(12/2/2012 10:10:17 PM)
This guy and Blade of the Bloodchief. Triskelion has his Mephidross Vampire, now make this guy shine with the 'Chief's blessing. A Krark-Clan Ironworks to ad infinitum this combo is fun as well.
@Arglypuff
Mephidross Vampire is for Triskelion, not Triskelavus, as it allows Triskelion to shoot off it's little counters on creatures all day long. Triskelavus only needs the Blade of the Bloodchief and the KCI. Just saccing one of your Triskelavites to the KCI for 2 mana triggers the Blade's ability, and Triskelavus maintains it's counters.
Posted By:
Gwafa_Hazid
(2/3/2010 7:48:28 PM)
Works great with a couple Steel Overseers. Those and Tezzeret and you can pump out Mogg Fanatics all day long.
Posted By:
VampireCat
(1/6/2011 9:08:22 AM)
"Triskelion + Pentavus = Triskelavus?"
Actually, no. Triskelion + Tetravus = Triskelavus. Hence the fact that it flies.
Pentavus is an earlier Tetravus variant.
Posted By:
nibelheim_valesti
(6/20/2010 8:25:11 AM)
i enjoy using this with doubling season. accelerate to get it out right after a DS and bam. 3 +1/1 counters? how bout 6? then remove them, getting 2 each. snipe to the head.
Posted By:
Sinbadthepirate
(8/1/2009 12:47:04 AM)
Goblin Welder, Mishra's Workshop.
Kills Dark Confidant and Trygon Predator.
Chumps Tarmogoyf for 3 turns while bolting the opponent.
WTF does it take to get 4 stars around here?
Posted By:
WanderleiSilva
(5/25/2012 8:39:27 PM)
Unlike Thopter Squadron or Pentavus you can't convert the tokens back to +1/+1 counters, but on the other hand, since this is a crossover between the latter mentioned card and Triskelion - regarding the artwork maybe even Tetravus - the're like flying Mogg Fanatics.
I still prefer Triskelion, though.
All of those cards have a great synergy (especially Pentavus) with the aformentioned card Doubling Season as well.
Posted By:
Mode
(8/10/2009 9:51:54 AM)
All Mephidross Vampire does is make him a Vampire, right? That way, as a Vampire, Blade of the Bloodchief gives two counters, one of which is removed to sac to Krak Klan Iron Works, and the other is sent to the face. Mephidross' second ability is irrelevant, right?
Posted By:
Arglypuff
(2/3/2010 7:31:15 AM)
Pretty terrible on its own, but in a deck that can generate +1/+1 counters, this guy is scary. I'm thinking modular.
Posted By:
SleetFox
(6/20/2010 4:11:22 PM)
I love Triskelion, and I like Tetravus. The thing that kills this card for me is the activation cost for removing the counters, in addition to the extra initial casting cost, with just 3 counters to work with. Also missing is the ability to regroup into the initial monster- Tetravus had this ability.
I think that this card could have kept the upkeep restriction of Tetravus and the pinging ability of Triskelion, but they were worried about it getting wordy, so they took the lazy way out and made it... not as good as it could have been.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(10/31/2010 12:23:33 PM)