It's a lot of mana... but then it's so abusable with artifact lands.
You do have to have a deck that's already got a lot of staying power though. 15 life is one serious boost, but it's possible at that point you could be facing down enough things for that to barely buy you a turn.
Bouncing does wonders though. Whether artifact or creature based, it's a very abusable ETB effect. Conjurer's Closet is even an artifact...
Posted By:
psychichobo
(5/27/2013 11:08:31 AM)
If you've played this in an Artifact deck, you know what's up. Plus, as other users have suggested, there are many relatively inexpensive ways to bounce it for even more life gain. I want to play this with Open the Vaults.
Posted By:
privatejemsy
(4/8/2010 2:16:56 PM)
..........Are you guys serious? Roar of Reclamation, Open The Vaults, Mistmeadow Witch, Sharuum the Hegemon. If you look at this and think, "costs too much," then you don't understand why this exists.
That being said, I'm not a fan of life gain. I'd play this and a sphinx of the steel wind alongside each other over just this any day.
But really guys. there are better cards to troll... (coughRazor Boomerangcough)
Posted By:
Bigg_ol_FATTKIDD
(6/18/2010 9:59:50 PM)
Any mana engine, plus this and a Voltaic Construct, plus a Master Transmuter, and you have yourself an Infinite life combo. It's only very versatile and playable in an artifact deck.
Posted By:
Sericule
(9/20/2011 10:32:07 AM)
Easy to compare to Platinum Angel and Emperion. Both Angels are 4/4 fliers, but Platinum costs 
less in addition to being colorless while Filigree's effect is recurring. Both Emperion and Filigree are 8 CMCs, but Emperion is an 8/8 and colorless while (again) Filigree's effect is recurring and it flies.
So what does it come down to? I don't feel dirty when I play Filigree Angel. When I jump from 1 life to 25 it feels like I'm actually coming back from the brink and that I earned the privilege to do so. When I plop down either of the Platinums at 1 life, it just feels like I'm cheating death.
Posted By:
CuriousThing
(10/31/2011 5:35:59 PM)
@ Ellwynd
You don't need the Esperzoa to put Filigree Angel back into your hand for Master Transmuter to work. You can just bounce Filigree with the transmuters over and over.
@ Studoku
Sure, Inkwell Leviathan would make a better defender/attacker, but you don't have to choose between the two. You could just get Inkwell out for {U}, then get Filigree out and keep bouncing her every turn. The end effect: You have a 7/11 shrouded creature to attack/defend with, and are gaining at least 9 life every turn. Good trade for {U} every turn if you ask me!
-
This card has amazing potential with a pair of Master Transmuters and Tezzeret The Seeker on the battlefield (And a few other artifacts, maybe with low CMC's, like Etherium Sculptor, Court Homunculus or Ethercaste Knight). I can't count the amount of ti... (see all)
Posted By:
Bauble
(10/4/2009 7:44:20 PM)
Saying this card sucks never used it in a 90-100% Artifacts deck. One word: Insaaane! Forget about the CC, use Master Transmuter and watch your life total go crazy. I gained 150 life points in a single turn, using a Voltaic Key to untap the Transmuter.
@sethddickess
You hate Esper decks because you can't beat 'em, uh? :P
Posted By:
BladeManFX
(2/24/2010 11:31:02 PM)
I LOVE THIS CARD, it is the centerpiece of my Esper deck. This combined with a few Engima Sphinx, Master Transmuters and you are good to go. Who cares if its expensive, I am NOT AFRAID of risking a lot trying to play big creatures its almost always worth the payoff. And when you're playing an Esper deck and you are juggling this guy with a Transmuter you are gonna have a HUGE cushion of life.
Posted By:
niallcmurray86
(7/7/2010 1:49:54 AM)
There is no need for an Esperzoa, all u need is a Master Transmuter, as Master Transmuter can target the Filigree Angel, bouncing it to your hand and back to the field again. Having a couple Master Transmuters, a Tezzeret the Seeker, and a Filigree Angel in hand can become quite rude. This is what i managed to do in 1 turn.
Having 2 Fieldmist Borderpost, an Obelisk of Esper a Kaleidostone, a Etherium Sculptor and 2 Master Transmuters on the field.
Play Tezzeret for 5.
Master Transmute my Kaleidostone to my hand playing a Filigree Angel (that's 21 life from 7 artifacts)
Master Transmute it once more (another 21)
Tez uses his first ability, untapping my Transmuters.
MasterTransmutex2 on Filigree Angel (42)
Play Kaleidostone for 1.
in 1 turn, i played a Tez for 5, spent 4 on Transmutes, and 1 to summon a Kaleidostone. 10 mana for a planeswalk... (see all)
Posted By:
ArKive
(10/6/2009 5:25:20 PM)
Well Studoku, you have to take into account that the card is an Angel. Most Angels have a converted mana cost of either 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, and this is no exception. There are the odd cmc9 or cmc2-3 Angels, but those are fairly few and far between. Considering its ability and its creature type (not to mention the insane potential its ability has), I would say that it is a pretty solid card. For reference, just use the search at the top and plug in "angel" (be sure to only search by type).
Posted By:
crenel
(6/4/2009 4:18:35 PM)