@SerGarlan: Demonic Tutor is banned in Legacy and hasn't been printed recently enough to be in Modern (don't think for a second it wouldn't be banned there if it was, though) and is Restricted in Vintage. Its hardly fair to say Dark Confidant is bad because of how it matches up to a card you're not even allowed to play...
Demonic Tutor is also a totally different type of card. It gives you one card of your choice, right now, which is most useful for combo decks (although it costs so little that non-combo decks would love to use it too). Dark Confidant gives you consistent card advantage turn after turn. If it survives even a turn its gotten you a card back, so you've still got card advantage when he gets removed. Even if he gets killed before your first upkeep, he's still only 2 cost, so it probably took your opponent's entire turn as well, meaning that you haven't really lost tempo or card advantage.
Say an opponent doesn't kill Dark Confidant (maybe they don't ... (see all)
Posted By:
EvilDarkVoid
(12/29/2013 4:39:35 PM)
Pain Seer seems worse. Let the debate begin
@ j-mindfingerpainter except they are going to have 100 hunderd and one ways to have you tap and untap pain seer they are not going to put in the whole new mechianic inspired and not have dozens and dozens of cards that can work with the card in all formats amd some formats they could have cards that could make bob worse then pain seer.
Posted By:
smartguy876
(1/21/2014 8:28:01 PM)
Pain Seer seems worse. Let the debate begin
EDIT: Well, the debate happened on the Pain Seer page. It was pretty redundant, actually. Here's my take: Bob is good enough for any format. Pain Seer can make it into Standard mono-{B} devotion. Cards that require additional turns or cards to make a payoff just aren't as good as the ones that don't, simple as that.
It would never happen but I'd love to see this card reprinted in Standard. Greatness/5
Posted By:
j_mindfingerpainter
(2/2/2014 8:17:19 PM)
@Gcrudaplaneswalker: Ironically, this version costs $20 *more* than the Ravnica original currently does.
Posted By:
SkyknightXi
(3/3/2014 9:19:50 PM)
Unlike my rant on the Tarmogoyf, I do believe this card however is worth its price tag. I have played both cards in decks, and DC has always been my favorite for it's abilities. By far, my favorite MTG card of all time.
Posted By:
Jedijoe
(3/14/2014 6:16:27 AM)
Can you imagine being the designer that said "No, I really do think a 1/1 for 2 that draws you a card every turn is underpowered, at least make it a bear!" only to compromise at 2/1?
Posted By:
jonrds
(3/14/2014 4:35:18 PM)
Shouldn't he be an adviser?
@Paleopaladin: Also, the fact that he's a creature is a big deal. In the card advantage decks based around him, you will generally be running a bunch of cheap high-power creatures and a bunch of cheap removal, with the goal of trading removal one-for-one with your opponent's blockers and threats, while swarming them with your creatures before they can put together anything more complicated or dangerous.
If you put four Phyrexian Arenas or Dark Tutelages in a deck, you lose a bit of pressure on your opponent when you spend the card and mana to play one, and then you run the risk of losing even more if you draw another one as your extra card (which is not as good as it sounds because your whole deck depends on keeping up the pressure right now rather than a few turns from now.) Whereas if your Dark Confidant draws you another Dark Confidant, you can play it and use it as another beatstick to end the game more quickly.
Posted By:
Aquillion
(3/15/2014 11:13:24 PM)
The king placed his confidence in this man, who while providing him with vital information also slowly corroded the monarchy and usurped control of it. This is perhaps what the art of this card is attempting to get across (I suggest the king hire a royal assassin POST HASTE).
Posted By:
Goatllama
(4/23/2014 6:37:56 AM)
Not quite worth $80 IMO but 5/5 hands down. Need a playset for legacy still :( part of me likes Phrexian Arena better for two reasons. It is an enchantment so it is way harder to remove, and you lose 1 life per card instead of potentially 4.
Posted By:
Silence9
(5/4/2014 11:46:38 PM)
Of all the creatures, this one has to be the most value. There more comboish creatures, more aggressive creatures, more efficient creatures. But none with better value.
Posted By:
HotTroller
(5/18/2014 5:12:08 PM)