If your opponent has no cards use this, deal 3 damage, then on your turn use Blightning for another 3 damage and something to discard.
Posted By:
htgtmd
(11/22/2011 7:38:54 AM)
People are forgetting that instant-speed Divination at the cost of 2 life on yourself isn't that bad of a deal, since it lets you leave your mana open for counters/other control. It's an emergency measure, sure, but a handy one.
Also: Runeflare Trap, lol.
Posted By:
LordRandomness
(12/16/2011 4:10:37 PM)
A lot of people have talked about it hitting your opponent. I'm thinking this is reasonably good instant speed draw for yourself, normally that would cost you {1} more but you shock yourself instead.
Posted By:
djflo
(2/18/2012 5:41:35 AM)
Awesome card. Instant card draw for you for a negligible drawback, or punishment for an opponent's card draw. Or occasionally, it can be used against you.
Once I tossed out one of these when I was at 4 on my opponent's turn, hoping to draw into an answer for his Darksteel Colossus, and in response he cast Careful Consideration, targeting me. And then, 5 years later, the police found him chained to a block of concrete at the bottom of the Hudson River with a playing card embedded in his skull.
Posted By:
thexmanlight
(3/4/2012 7:52:08 PM)
For this card you really have to consider the block it was printed in. This card can combo extremely well with Tibor and Lumia, Wee Dragonauts, and Gelectrode. But with Niv-Mizzet this could hurt you just as much as your opponent. It's decent in a pinch early on when combo'd with any of the Izzet dual color critters but I would never run more than one of.
However, out of block look at Psychosis Crawler, Niv-Mizzet, Temple Bell, and a metal crafted Molten Psyche. (Assuming your opponents hand is empty with Niv-Mizzet & Psychosis Crawler on the field) Draw on your upkeep (2 dmg), Tap Temple Bell (+4), Tap (+2), Cast Cerebral Erruption on them (+4), Cast Molten Psyche. Assuming you only had Eruption and Psyche in your hand when the turn began you and your opponent should have a hand size of 3 so you draw 3 and they draw 3 (+12). That's a total of 24 dmg. Of course that requires several turns of setup (at least 7 to get Niv on field assuming no mana ramp). This combo does 2 damage to your... (see all)
Posted By:
alphagprime
(3/25/2012 1:58:07 PM)
Works nicely with Dragon Mage, especially in a grixis deck where you can throw in a megrim too.
Or, you could run it with Consecrated Sphinx.
Posted By:
KokoshoForPresident
(3/30/2012 4:13:41 PM)
If you go ultimate with Jace, Memory Adept, this can deal 22 damage. Might be worth 1 card slot just for that. And if you need to, could use it on yourself at end of opponents turn.
Or as others have said, you could dedicate a casual deck to this card.
Posted By:
TheWrathofShane
(9/7/2012 4:38:49 AM)
Step 1: Build a Pyromancer Ascension EDH deck
Step 2: Find someone who always plays their annoying mono-blue Azami EDH deck that uses Rhystic Study
Step 3: Combo out, refuse to pay the 
for each spell
Step 4: Play this
Posted By:
Superllama12
(9/11/2012 4:57:00 PM)
It just counters storm. It's also instant speed sign in blood, for izzet, costed 1 higher to account for instant. Which is awesome for the colors that enjoy instant speed the most.
Posted By:
CogMonocle
(6/22/2013 1:50:10 PM)
If the instant speed on Inspiration is worth one extra mana compared to Divination, I don't see why this is bad given this is just an instant speed Sign in Blood for one more mana. Although back then card draw on the level of Phyrexian Arena and Compulsive Research (and Dark Confidant!) were the norm so this was probably underwhelming back then.
Posted By:
sweetgab
(8/25/2013 10:13:51 PM)