A rather poor example of black's "Drain Life" abllity... definitley needs to be upgraded into something more useful, IMHO. Still, it is removal in Limited, so it could be worse.
Posted By:
Radagast
(7/16/2012 2:38:34 PM)
At least it's better than Absorb Vis, though with that one you can pay to throw it out and get a land, so it might just be a toss up.
Posted By:
Bobth
(7/26/2012 10:24:12 PM)
Okay, so they reprint all those scary, broken, Urza's Legacy cards...
And then this.
Posted By:
DoragonShinzui
(9/6/2012 9:07:24 PM)
This is one of the best cards in m13 limited. It is certainly first pickable and after murder is either the second or third best black common (possibly behind bloodhunter bat). Removal for 5 has always been good in limited.
Posted By:
auhosj877
(9/26/2012 11:56:38 AM)
Do remember that black isn't the strongest burn colour.
Not only that, but this gives your a +6 life difference between your opponent and you. You're also given the option of smashing some pretentious Nighthawk's nose in.
I'd say it's much better than Lava Axe for these reasons. Neither are playable in constructed, but this gives you options. Lava Axe can easily be a dead draw.
Posted By:
Ferlord
(12/11/2012 10:58:42 PM)
1 star.
Compare to blightning and lightning helix.
These spells SHOULD have had a 2 black mana cost, and reach deeper into the flavor.
3 damage does not trade with any playable 5 cmc creature, and thus -- this is only useful for killing lower-costed creatures, causing you to lose tempo.
In a monoblack deck, the only decks that would run this under any circumstances, corrupt and Consume Spirit are better cards.
This is essentially a strictly worse Consume Spirit, only made useful in drafts by having limited removal in ... limited.
Posted By:
Frostraven
(2/2/2013 5:14:31 AM)
the difference between this and lightning helix is this came out whilst dark ritual was a thing which has impacted the cost of nearly every black spell in the fist 15 years of magic's history.
Posted By:
Wormfang
(5/10/2013 10:23:02 AM)
More playable in decks with lots of other colors. Doesn't need the Black mana input of Drain Life or Consume Spirit, and it doesn't need the presence of Swamps like Tendrils of Corruption or Corrupt.
Otherwise, the effect is identical to a Consume Spirit cast with four mana - which is currently rated 3.5-3.8, depending on the printing - and this is much less color-demanding.
Now if this had been multi-color and had a lower CMC, it would be receiving a higher community rating.
Posted By:
humor_love
(9/21/2013 11:20:32 AM)