This umbra is so very playable with aura gnarlid, giving repeated card draw. I see a lot of canopy cover comments, but it honestly doesn't need it, better off using vines of vastwood sometimes. In either case, a card draw engine in green is.. well odd actually, but not unwelcomed. Play with sigil of the empty throne, use your aura gnarlid and snake umbra to help fast draw your enchantments, and play away. Also in the same set as awakening zone.. so.. yeah. Self explainatory.
Posted By:
Donovan_Fabian
(4/21/2010 2:47:16 AM)
@ Pramxnim: Drawing cards through dealing (combat) damage is part of green's color pie since a long time. Although the blue Ophidian might have been the first Snake of this sort, green Snakes in particular are often seen to possess an effect like this.
Pity these Umbras aren't Tribal as well...
Posted By:
Mode
(4/19/2010 9:43:46 AM)
I dunno about you guys, but I like this card with pingers. Vent Sentinel in this set comes to mind.
Posted By:
RobinHood3000
(5/14/2010 7:55:57 AM)
This is a fantastic card, and probably my favorite umbra after Hyena Umbra. Not only can it protect an expensive creature from Terminate and other threats, it also is very easy for it to replace itself (and then some) if you put it on the right creature. Pingers are obvious, but there's also unblockable creatures (I play it in a casual deck with Hada Spy Patrol and Aura Gnarlid) and creatures that are painful to block (deathtouch creatures and Escaped Null, for instance).
Posted By:
SleetFox
(5/16/2010 4:22:36 PM)
This + Zendikon + Plains = Snakes on a Plain!
Posted By:
Andon_A
(11/29/2010 7:45:12 PM)
Goes great with unblockable creatures of course but i want to try something like Spikeshot Elder. You'd want some more stat boosters of course but with just the umbra alone it starts to look worth it.
Posted By:
TPmanW
(4/12/2011 9:07:18 PM)
Not bad on Invisible Stalker.
Probably pretty fun on Squallmonger. Though I am not certain how many cards you would be drawing.
Posted By:
kiseki
(3/5/2012 2:56:57 PM)
This Umbra gives even more card advantage than usual, but it's the weakest in terms of boost/cmc. I like it pretty well. It's best used on something with evasion.
Update: The prerelease convinced me how good this is. It's like Ophidian, except it lets you deal combat damage and it saves a creature once. Especially when I put on Hada Spy Patrol, it was amazing.
Posted By:
dudecow
(4/17/2010 7:46:35 PM)
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind makes an infinite loop.
Posted By:
Blazer_Dawg
(10/13/2010 8:44:02 PM)
This + Aura Gnarlid + Canopy Cover = a super-stealthy 5/5 who draws you cards reliably.
Posted By:
Stray_Dog
(4/19/2010 10:07:13 AM)