I agree that this card kills much of the fun in a multiplayer setting when it comes out.
On the Urza's side of this cards comments, someone posted that we should use more board sweepers. This card is most often used, in my experience, as a response to board wipers, leaving someone with a painful about of life (60-100+ is not uncommon). I don't want to kill every player in casual multiplayer by turn four, and if you know their deck has the card focusing on someone who hasn't put any power on the board is seen as puppy kicking. Cards like this create a catch-22 in those situations. You can't have fun because there is too much life to widdle down, or you can't have fun because your best friend got taken out in the first 20 minutes of a 2-hour game.
Posted By:
kiseki
(12/23/2010 10:24:28 AM)
One of the best multiplayer cards...EVER. Downright shamefully good. Even in regular 1v1 matchups, this card will provide 10+ life in the right deck. Against a creature heavy deck, expect to see 14+ life gain. One of the greatest life gain cards in existence. And it is a common, how can you complain? Great stuff.
Posted By:
feeble2002
(12/30/2010 10:34:08 PM)
I run this in any EDH deck I make involving white. Most of the people I play against are heavy on making swarm armies, be they saps, goblins, elves, or anything else that can be mass-produced. It's always entertaining to watch them build up an 'infinite' army, swing, and then I drop this in response, then wrath next turn. There's also a combo with this and False Cure for massive, almost unstoppable life loss.
Posted By:
endersblade
(5/25/2011 12:55:26 PM)
lol at angelic up-skirt shot.
Man, im pathetic. haha.
Posted By:
Ludovici
(11/4/2009 1:33:17 PM)
Good in a multiplayer game? Yes.
Unfun to play against? Very yes.
It's just a little too inexpensive, really. Most casual aggro decks can't quite kill on turn 4. But hey, if you want to win a multiplayer game, this can help a lot. It might not make you friends, but it'll play very well :)
Posted By:
izzet_guild_mage
(7/12/2010 2:46:48 PM)
Best multiplayer lifegain in Magic. Not more, not less.
Posted By:
holgir
(10/6/2009 9:56:15 AM)
Fun to play in a white/black deck with sanguine bond.
Posted By:
mythryn
(10/2/2009 8:34:43 PM)
Meh, I'd think Soul Warden might be better oftentimes.
Posted By:
littlebeast
(6/1/2010 5:24:19 PM)
In any game, just use Darien, King of Kjeldor!
Posted By:
12345morgan
(7/6/2010 10:10:35 PM)
I've played with and against Congregate, and for my four mana, I'd still prefer to have a Wrath of God instead in almost every situation. Most creatures can do more than two damage through their initial size or an opponent's ability to pump his token army. Both WoG and Congregate will tend to *** your opponents off, but WoG makes it difficult to retaliate immediately. Congregate just sees the creatures that just gained you life turn to take it away from you.
This can be a substantial stall tactic, but in the end that's all it is.
Posted By:
scumbling1
(1/12/2012 2:00:55 PM)