Well, compared to consume spirit, you can spend also red mana on this one, HairlessThoctar. Doesn't make it insanely better, but not striclty worse.
Posted By:
majinara
(2/13/2011 2:48:32 AM)
Though this is probably the worst of red and black's numerous scaling X spells, it's still a scaling x spell, and that's pretty darn good in EDH.
Posted By:
HairlessThoctar
(8/21/2010 10:23:46 AM)
This card is O.K, but when comparing it to similar cards, it is the worst. For one less colorless mana you can through down a consume spirit, which has no limit to how much life you gain and how much your opponent looses. Personally, I think Tendrils of corruption and corrupt are better than both of those. Not playing mono black, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth will take care of that. Its a decent card, but its too expensive and is limited in what it can do.
Posted By:
BiOhyBr
(5/8/2010 12:56:52 PM)
For monoblack, Consume spirit is better. For Black/red decks, I would prefer an X cost red spell. Paying five mana to do 2 to a creature and gain 1 life just isnt a good output. Even pumping ten mana into the thing won't get you far. The small amount of life won't get you far. Hell, Consume Spirit is probably better in a black red deck. Use a red for the colorless part of the casting cost and there you go. Only want to hit players? Exsanguinate is a fine card.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(9/13/2011 4:07:59 AM)
This is quit epossibly one o the most convoluted cards that has ever seen print. When you stop mid tap to make sure you're doing it right, I'd just rather not use it.
Posted By:
ZestuXIII
(9/23/2011 6:25:54 AM)
@Kryptnyt
Consume Spirit's X must be paid with black mana, and black mana only.
I do have this in my R/B vampire deck, but lifegain happens quite rarely. As for burn tactics I have Shrine of Burning Rage there too, but the whole deck needs some make-over since my Stromkirk Captain went on a holiday with Fiend of the Shadows. Again a hard lesson to me about playing while drinking.
Posted By:
AshToMoutHound
(5/21/2012 8:08:54 PM)
Gosh, they were either *really* afraid flavor wise or *really* worried powerwise to put on all of those restrictions.
It should've just been: "Deals X damage to target creature or player, you gain 1-life for each {B} spent on {X}"
I'm glad that they use much more simple cards these days when it comes to something like this; all of those restrictions and their awkward wording makes it a chore to read and re-read the spell to be sure you got it right; especially after the oracle has it's way with it.
Posted By:
blurrymadness
(6/17/2013 10:22:28 AM)