I do like this guy's ability to be clever by clocking the opponent from behind or controlling him from the front, but as a 0/2 I think he's just overcosted by one colorless mana.
He's an artifact creature, so you can play around with Voltaic key or clock of omens or what have you, but otherwise doesn't really help his case.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(5/16/2011 10:24:14 PM)
AHEM: Norn's Annex + Hissing Miasma + this = their big stick taps unless they lose 2 life, and theyll pretty much lose 5 in total to keep it untapped and swing. Orzhov-style love ftw... not playable my bleeding ass...
Posted By:
Tassarus
(8/29/2011 11:41:47 PM)
I would never play this card outside of a draft. If you want to make a casual orzhov deck, I suggest Pillory of the Sleepless.
I don't understand the people getting butthurt about this card's quality. If you want to tap a creature, you actually want to tap a creature. If you activate the Dominator's ability targeting your opponent's 4/4, and they simply lose 2 life, you're coming out of this situation 2 life behind them.
Posted By:
TDL
(12/10/2011 11:11:18 AM)
Get this guy with the Royal Assassin, and your opponent would be forced to lose life pretty much every turn if he's gonna save his creatures. Pretty soon, he's gonna run out of life to pay.
...Unless he's playing plenty of life gain, of course.
Posted By:
Binaro
(1/2/2012 7:25:43 AM)
I want to play a deck that runs 4 of these just for the lulz. This is not a spike card, this is a troll card.
Watch your opponents squirm.
It's good for mind games, not for hard control. Hard control works more reliably, but mind games are so much more fun.
Posted By:
NoobOfLore
(4/21/2012 5:43:08 PM)
Freed from the Real gives you a way to 
: Untap dominator to beat the stubborn out of your opponent...or just deal 2 damage per blue mana...
Posted By:
MattLynn
(4/9/2013 5:11:41 PM)
Man, not much domination in this, your opponent will just pay the life and attack with his fatty anyway. Blinding mage is preferable, since options for the opponent is the opposite of control.
Posted By:
Sironos
(6/1/2010 2:36:18 PM)
Goldmeadow Harrier is the better choice.
Posted By:
Belz_
(7/4/2010 4:51:34 AM)
Some "Dominator" he turned out to be, always asking for permission. Pfft.
Posted By:
RobinHood3000
(7/1/2009 3:57:53 AM)
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=153480
Ballynock Trapper has the same ability without the option to pay life, is a common, and, while it costs 1 more mana, only needs white. It also has a nice untap ability.
I know which one I'd play.
EDIT: Just played with one in a draft. To some extent, it works.
Posted By:
Studoku
(5/19/2009 6:57:30 PM)