This card is very, very playable.
Also, on a flavour note, I'm really struck by the look of the converted loxodons (Ichor Explosion, Loxodon Convert), and this is probably my favourite depiction because of the creepy glowing red eyes. It's actually very interesting that we see Urabrask overwhelming a white Phyrexian, rather than one of the remaining Mirrans; Phyrexia doesn't even play nice with its own.
Posted By:
Leshrac_Nightwalker
(5/16/2011 8:16:14 AM)
Temporary creature control of this sort is one thing, but the beauty of this card is two things:
1, It's using Phyrexian Mana instead of normal red, which both makes it splashable into non-red decks, and also makes it easier to cast in, say, red/white decks that have good lifegain to them.
2, The fact that it gives temporary haste to that creature. Your opponent drops some horrid giant terror such as Kozilek, Butcher of Truth? Dont just smack it with some sort of removal... Use this on it, and smash your opponent with it first! If you paid for this with life instead of red mana, you may have extra mana left, since it would then only cost 3, to use ACTUAL creature removal on it afterwards! Take your opponents horrible giant beast, smash them with it, and then put it out of it's misery!
Oh yeah, really loving this card so far.
Posted By:
Misery55
(6/27/2011 3:32:59 AM)
New Phyrexia is on Gatherer! First! this is pretty cool, it can be played at instant speed to two for one.
Posted By:
PhyrexianFailure
(4/28/2011 3:18:53 PM)
That Elephant Is All Kabal From MK Style. And Yeah Act Of Treason/Threaten 4 All Colors.
Posted By:
MasterOfEtherium
(4/29/2011 9:40:25 PM)
only decent part of the card is the flexibility for all 4 colors...I would never run it in any of my red decks.
Posted By:
avenged492
(5/3/2011 11:31:32 PM)
This isn't a creature kill spell, it's an under powered Time Walk or a minor reduction in damage. Think about it: if you cast this before your opponent declares attackers, they just won't attack. If you use it to steal an attacking creature, all you're doing is removing that creatures from combat, which is somewhat useful against a sworded creature (trading 4 life for 3 life and effects), although with the addition of Sword of War and Peace this card is less valuable. You won't be able to block with the stolen creature unless it had vigilance (Sun TItan is the only vigilance creature seeing standard play right now). Red decks won't play this (they have three spells that are strictly better), and it doesn't really have a slot in other decks.
Edit: Disregard that, I can't read. Also auto-wins against Exarch-Twin if they don't have removal (cast in response to first copy, make arbitrarily large number of copies on end ... (see all)
Posted By:
EverJohnny
(5/25/2011 11:02:42 AM)
in limted this should read, win target game.....
Posted By:
Mindbend
(6/16/2011 1:23:26 PM)
In constructed this card does offer some flexibility at the expense of some life, BUT there are a dozen other options that work just as well, or better. I personally cannot see running more than 1 of these as a "just in case" card.
In sealed/draft this can be a game changer and/or game ender. It would be very high on my list.
Fun cards to use with this:
Dracoplasm: sac engine
Demonmail Hauberk: sac engine
Disciple of Griselbrand: sac engine
Rage Extractor: blow stuff up
Gruesome Encore: pull-back after sac, then re-sac... LOL
Posted By:
PanzerDragoon
(2/18/2012 12:44:20 PM)
A touch on the expensive side, as is most of the Red Phyrexian Mana cards, but this is a massive effect. Lots of chaos, lots of mayhem, and can really turn any aggressive strategy on its head.
Posted By:
DoragonShinzui
(4/9/2012 8:34:01 PM)
I remember when Zendikar was in standard and Vampire decks would sideboard this and 2 Teetering Peaks against Valakut to finish them off the turn they play their Primeval Titan. They would attack them with their own titan, grabbing both Peaks and making it 10/4. If they didn't just win that turn, they would just sac the titan to Viscera Seer.
Posted By:
DacenOctavio
(11/2/2012 8:05:11 PM)