Thing that gets me is that this Planeswalker is just cheap. It's not like the ridiculous casting cost of ones like Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, it can pop out in the first couple turns and start making a mess.
The third ability is so laughable that it almost doesn't bear mention. Its utility compared to the second ability price-wise is negligible. You could be putting their Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, or Progenitus into play for that kind of investment, not to mention the army of other less expensive creatures you've been exile milling this whole time.
Posted By:
Hepatizon
(9/22/2013 6:53:21 PM)
Initially, I viewed him *like many* as terrible, than I played agenst him... *Shudders*
4.5/5 Stars
Posted By:
Hunter06
(1/28/2014 4:20:07 PM)
Ashiok is by far one of the more powerful planeswalkers to come out recently. She/He can really put a hold on aggro decks with that +2 and -X. Also don't forget, standard is now a Scry heavy format, with Scavenge out for the Golgari decks and Scavenging ooze decks.
Also speaking out of standard, can you imagine your opponents face when you steal their nice $200 tarmogoyf or Dark Confidant?
His/Her ultimate however is trash and not really that relevant but does work well with the -X ability but still, -10? That's 3 turns after he/she comes out, and with all this burn i.e Burn, Boros Charm, Searing Spear, Magma Jet, I don't see him/her living too much longer after that.
Still, amazing card, can be game changing granted you can protect it, but still not Liliana of the Veil given they both start at 3 and have a 3cmc. Bu... (see all)
Posted By:
Umbric
(9/29/2013 7:33:12 PM)
@Sel3l3e: Good in control.
Posted By:
Continue
(9/17/2013 3:53:01 PM)
Very interesting card. Ashiok is Magic's first officially gender-neutral planeswalker. And what race is Ashiok supposed to be? Sort of humanoid, but .. Ashiok has no eyes or forehead. Just those smoky horns.
So how does this card play out? Pretty impressive from what I've seen so far. It's pretty scary seeing this card drop on turn three, go to five loyalty, and flip over my Blood Baron of Vizkopa. I find myself scrambling to deal with this thing just so I don't have to die to my own creature. Now that's a nightmare! But even if Ashiok doesn't come down until later, it's another thing that can get out of hand if it's not dealt with.
Cool card.
Posted By:
arise_shine
(10/9/2013 10:12:58 AM)
You dare to categorize Ashiok under your puny five star rating system? Ashiok is displeased. Ashiok is a 6/5.
Posted By:
ButlerOfBolas
(9/17/2013 4:36:07 PM)
Here is the full art for Ashiok. Very nice. Notice how it floats. http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/ur/ur276_ashioknightmareweaver.jpg
Posted By:
Stinga
(12/11/2013 2:31:45 PM)
Ashiok may not be a woman, but whatever WoTC says, the artist sure as hell drew it that way.
Posted By:
RAV0004
(9/18/2013 10:44:37 PM)
I have a theory as to the nature of Ashiok I'd like to throw out there.
Ashiok might not be just a guy who got so soaked in terror magic he started breaking down.
Ashiok might be an aspect of Nicol Bolas.
Now, hear me out before tearing this one down.
Prior to The Mending, Bolas was one of the most powerful planeswalkers to exist. He was powerful enough to pretty much resurrect himself when Tetsuo Umezawa killed him. However, when the mending happened, it cut down on the power of all planeswalkers, making them a bit more reasonable and mortal.
However, Bolas wasn't just some run-of-the-mill planeswalker. Over centuries, he's been amassing power, energy.
Physics says energy cannot be destroyed, only diverted.
My theory is Bolas had so much power, he shot off at least one fraction of himself. Possibly more.
Ashiok could represent the power of fear Bolas had, or maybe Bolas' own fear of being betrayed by a subject like Tetsuo.
For a visual cue, look at Ashiok's face. It's two giant horns.... (see all)
Posted By:
DangeRuss
(1/3/2014 4:42:04 PM)
Awesome art. One of the cooler planeswalkers printed recently (top spot still goes to Vraska for me, but that's neither here nor there).
However, I half-wish that his +1 discarded the top two cards, not exiled. Exiling is more permanent and will probably deal more damage in the long run, but the potential of running him in a Dimir deck would have been awesome.
Oh, well. 4/5 for a good, cheap planeswalker.
Posted By:
MrMonday
(9/17/2013 6:50:57 PM)