This card is a LOT better than people realize.
1. ANY effect that searches out a card from your library is good, even if you don't get the card immediately, or if the kinds cards you can search is limited (See Gifts Ungiven, Tezzeret, and Trinket Mage)
2. You get a search effect in red- a color which almost NEVER has search effects.
3. The search effect is attached to a 4/4 with flying.
More importantly, to me at least, this card is just fun and flavorful. You put your opponent in a position in which they either deal with getting hit by a 4/4 flyer, or give you the artifact of your choice. Plus, the art is awesome, and the dragon is obviously inspired by The Hobbit.
Some good artifacts for the dragon to target are Mimic Vat, Basilisk Collar (for interactions with Cunning Sparkmage) and Wurmcoil Engine. Or, for awesome flavor, search out Steel Hellkite.
Posted By:
Eric1618
(10/12/2010 12:57:36 AM)
I can't believe no one is mentioning this card's synergy with Birthing Pod.
Posted By:
kashonismw
(6/5/2011 9:12:44 AM)
Splinter Twin doesn't work, the token it creates is EXILED at the end of turn.
You would need, say, a Viscera Seer or something similar, to send it to the graveyard instead.
Posted By:
MrBarrelRoll
(11/12/2010 12:48:49 PM)
How about Sneak Attack?
Posted By:
Lateralis0ne
(7/12/2010 7:44:37 PM)
And suddenly, it got a whole lot better.
Seriously, one of the best artifact search spells in the post alara environment. True, it has to die first for you to get your bomb-y artifact, but frankly, beating with a 4/4 flier is nice too.
Posted By:
diabloknk
(9/25/2010 11:03:17 PM)
I like this for EDH
Posted By:
Gezus82
(7/13/2010 5:39:56 PM)
4/5 for flavor and semi-usefulness.
Posted By:
LTJZamboni
(7/10/2010 7:42:09 AM)
With Fabricate out, this is probably the only way to tutor a 2cmc+ artifact that I can think of in standard (other than Diabolic Tutor, but that's not the point).
@Eric1618: tutoring up a Steel Hellkite would be awesome flavour ^_^
Posted By:
Stray_Dog
(1/2/2011 10:53:30 PM)
Smaug....cute
Posted By:
OutlawD1
(7/8/2010 12:22:18 PM)
Not...terrible. It's an expensive semi-tutor or an air elemental. But it's not that great, either.
Posted By:
FogRaider
(7/8/2010 9:52:21 PM)