@Dr.Pingas Noturnus was really that good. a +2/+1 power boost and flying on all your creatures in a highly aggressive, creature based deck is a little more than glorified levitation; it's a game winner. The turn/turn after Nocturnus dropped, games were over.
As for Bloodlord, he's not quite as good. definitely changes the flow of games, but won't be causing nearly as many blowouts, if only because he only effects cast vampires. if he'd affected vampires entering the battlefield, he'd be great, since bloodghast could potentially be a 4/3 hasty guy after landfall, but since it's on cast, the bloodlord loses a lot of appeal. Maybe in a U/B vamps that would bounce some of it's own guys for a little utility/bloodthirst counters
Posted By:
Razbot
(7/17/2011 1:11:11 PM)
Too many people forget that this is a 6/6 flier for 5. The sheer efficiency of that alone makes him worth it in my book.
Posted By:
TherealphatMatt
(4/17/2012 8:32:21 PM)
It isn't vampire nocturnus, but it is flavorful. Hopefully we see more vamps like these in the next set.
Posted By:
Keino
(7/7/2011 3:07:45 PM)
Had a ball playing this card at the prerelease, but I still question how powerful it will be in standard. If the new Vamps will be anything like the current one, this might be a bit too high on the curve. Its a definite game ender though. I like it for its flavour, I like it in limited but I'm not sure how it will fare in standard.
and @Shadoflaam: calm down, Innistrad is gonna be big on vampires, its got a gothic inspired setting and the name itself is a reference to Strahd von Zarovich, one of the best known baddies in D&D, and he just so happens to be a vampire.
Posted By:
ddong
(7/9/2011 5:07:18 AM)
As someone who plays vampires in tribal, this is an awesome alternative to Nocturnus. I cannot help but wonder, though, how useful he will actually be outside of standard. Unless you get him out early using a Dark Ritual, or your creatures have been nuked, how many other vamps are you going to cast after this getting a 6/6 flier out?
Still 5 stars.
Posted By:
EvilCartographer
(7/8/2011 6:15:03 AM)
I really like the capabilities of this card. Especially if you have multiples out (splash green for Doubling Chant and Autumn's Veil perhaps). I plan on making use of him and seeing how far he goes. No, he's no Nocturnus, but at least he's not Captivating.
Posted By:
DeathDark
(7/9/2011 3:30:29 PM)
Absolutely amazing art on the promo card...warriors are so cool.
I think people are focusing too much on the fact that he's a vampire and they think he needs to go into a vampire deck or something. If you just ignore that entire ability, you're left with a 6/6 flyer for 5 mana and that's not bad at all.
Posted By:
Laguz
(7/23/2011 1:31:35 PM)
Hey, he gives Vamps a boost in EDH. And if you're capable of fending off an aggressive Vampire deck (Soldier decks can manage that very easily) then this guy gives them a very brutal edge. He's no Nocturnus, but I've seen both on the board and really could've done without them. Plus, his death doesn't render everything useless again.
Posted By:
psychichobo
(5/4/2013 4:10:12 PM)
Yeah, I like the concept, but it seems forced. Like Taste for Blood. They made that card FOR Bloodthist.
Posted By:
OmegaSerris
(7/7/2011 2:51:06 PM)
This guy is a monster, he is pretty much a 6/6 flier for 5, the bloodthirst to other vamps is just icing. Don't compare him to Vampire Nocturnus, there's a reason they didn't reprint him, He's overpowered. If you have a couple of weenie vampires out like Pulse Tracker and Vampire Lacerator It's like turn 4 Nocturnus swing over your head for 12 or even more, It's kind of dumb.
Posted By:
Revelation666
(7/9/2011 12:34:42 AM)