Erik's Random card 6/12/2011
The Magic 2011 design team made two cycles of cards that related to the cycle of Mythic Planeswalkers. This is the common for Black.
At first they had a 2/1 for 2 mana, a sort of souped up Ravenous Rat. Then this became a 3B 2/2 flier, still with the discard ability.
Drafting is more fun when some cards are a little better than others. This can be taken too far, when most games are decided by who draws a "bomb". However sets can also be too flat, when you look at your first pack and nothing really stands out. So we make some commons a little better, and some a little worse.
This card was made 1BB 2/1 instead of 3B 2/2 for a couple reasons. First it is a reward for playing a heavier black deck. When you draft a deck, there are 10 two color pairs you might play. We try and give each a different identity. But even better, if you think of your colors as "primary" and "secondary", then you have 20 ordered color pairs you could play. That gives you m... (see all)
Posted By:
ErikLauer
(6/12/2011 1:43:43 PM)
The only common Spectar...
Posted By:
ax_morph
(10/26/2011 5:00:43 PM)
Finally, a usable Cackling Fiend. Power creep isn't so bad sometimes.
Posted By:
nammertime
(7/8/2010 2:53:11 PM)
I agree with the favorable comparison to hypnotic specter. And once it's on the table, it's done it's dirty work and it becomes a lower removal priority. 2/1 fliers aren't anything to ignore, though.
Posted By:
ZEvilMustache
(7/8/2010 6:46:59 PM)
Less. Than. Three.
All the Ravenous Rats variants that ever existed wish they could be as awesome as Liliana's Specter. Shrieking Grotesque was good. Liliana's Specter is a Shrieking Grotesque that's mono-black, hits ALL opponents, and triggers even if you don't cast it. And a 2-power flying body for 3 mana, while not particularly impressive in constructed, is a beating in limited.
Oh and it's a common. Amazing limited card and still perfectly solid in constructed.
Posted By:
mutantman
(7/11/2010 10:11:15 PM)
Living proof that Mistifying Maze doesn't handle everything in Limited.
Posted By:
DacenOctavio
(9/17/2011 1:38:41 AM)
Great in multiplayer, and at common, why not get 4? Play a Liliana's Caress the turn before and you've hit your opponents pretty hard on turn 3.
Posted By:
raptorjesus69
(7/8/2010 9:02:45 PM)
This is a great card, hands down.
Sure, it's a little high cost for just 2/1,
It redeems itself a tad for being flying,
But itd ability says EACH opponent.
Having Liliana's Caress on turn two and this guy turn three is great in multiplayer,
And in 1v1, it's fairly decent.
Posted By:
infernox10
(7/8/2010 1:37:39 PM)
I'd much rather cast this than Ravenous Rats. Evasion and and 2 power could really help a black discard deck to drag that total down much faster, especially when it follows after Liliana's Caress on the mana curve. Hypnotic Specter might have a better (and reusable) discard effect, but how often to people let that thing hit them? This thing will nab a card right away and swing for evasive damage if left unchecked. Too bad the two black mana makes it a slightly difficult fit in a Blightning deck.
Posted By:
Temple_Garden
(7/8/2010 2:30:46 PM)
Jumpenrun: How is Ravenous Rats better? Sure, the Spectre costs 1 more black mana to cast, but it's a 2/1 with Flying that hits everyone; the Rats cost 1 less but they're a 1/1 with no evasion and only hit target player. For Flying an extra point of power, and a global effect instead of a target one (especially with the white Layline) I'd pay the extra B.
Posted By:
PhyrexianLobbiest
(7/9/2010 12:48:01 PM)