great card. nothing more needs to be said.
the only downside is that it costs two black.. so it can be awkward in multi coloured decks.
Posted By:
Megrimage
(9/8/2009 9:56:24 PM)
Spycrab, I hate to admit it, but your right, I hadn't seen the original in so long I forgot what it looked like. That said, even though the other one shows the purest definition of selfishness (black is all cool with that), I still love the art from this one (though not as much as the other). Even though thematically ( abunch of guys fighitng crazily for there life) it fits in red more.
That said, I prefer this over dark confidant as its easier to protect (only green and white have enchantment nuking and most don't run it normally, sticking stuff like that in the sideboard) where as just about every color can take out creatures (cept green? (well, not easily). I also run a cleric deck and dark confidant is not a cleric :P (I like to keep my theme pure).
Posted By:
Callipsa
(6/4/2011 4:18:21 PM)
this or dark confidant..
I wouldn't say one is better than the other, they're both great card advantage engines depending on your built..
this seems to favor more controllish builds that runs tons of disruption and removal with few high-cost back breaking spells to win in the late game while the latter is more effective in mid-range builds that seeks to disrupt the opponent's game early on and win in the mid-game..
both are great in their respected rights..and please excuse my english, im not a native speaker..
Posted By:
zenitramleirdag
(12/20/2012 3:59:16 AM)
Perhaps even better than Dark Confidant
Posted By:
jugglingguy
(11/25/2009 11:19:39 AM)
Drop in a vampire tribal deck, since Vamps have no problem gaining life.
Posted By:
jemas42
(3/27/2011 1:38:28 PM)
Definatley better than Dark Confidant imo since it's more easily sustainable.
Like the Apocalypse artwork a bit more.
I agree with Callipsa that it embodies the theme of black.
I sometimes have two or three out with my cleric deck.
Posted By:
Econael
(1/16/2010 9:11:28 AM)
really good if you pop in prevention cheap
Posted By:
qaq456
(5/16/2010 11:36:09 PM)
Callipsa. Seriously What? Good art? I almost raged when i bought my zombie empire box and got this stupid version of the phyrexian arena.
The Phyrexian Arena was on the 9th sphere of Phyrexia, where Yawgmoth lived (he was the 9th sphere). Both Urza and Gerrald swore alleigance to yawgmorth and then fought aganish each other in the arena.
While the old illustration captured the moment right before Gerrald decapitates Urza this new one shows some sh*tty gladiators figthing aganish each other, which never happend in the book.
Still its a great card, worse than Yawgmoth's Bargain or Necropotency, but those are banned on legacy, IMO it stands on pair with Dark Confidand since while Dark Confidand is better in Aggro decks he requires you to show the card you drawn.
I run 3 of these in my Aggro zombie deck since Dark Confidant isn't a zombie and i'm not confortable with the random life loss in a deck with 4 korlash and 12 lords.
Posted By:
SpyCrab
(1/15/2011 6:46:35 AM)
While Arena is good, its definately not better than Dark Confidant. Bob can attack, be sacced for effects such as Cabal Therapy and is generally more controlable with its damage. What if your opponent attacks and you're down to one life with an Arena out in mono-black? Black can't answer enchantments to well, so I guess you're a goner. But with Bob? Maybe sac him to one of the man beneficial black "Sac a creature you control" effects, maybe hit him with your own removal? Im not taking away from Arena, its an awesome card in upon itself. Better than Confidant though? I dont think so.
Posted By:
NeoSin
(4/12/2011 11:40:29 PM)
The biggest reason dark confidant sees more play in modern is because it comes out one turn earlier. One turn can mean all the difference in formats like that. In the context of casual, however, I would play this over Bob. Though note that Bob can be turned off if the life loss became too much, while the Arena can't be killed in a mono-black deck.
Posted By:
RikerBlake
(1/30/2012 4:58:07 PM)