Everyone who's complaining about this card should really try playing around with it first and learn a little bit more about how to use it.
1. Amazing first turn, even with the two life loss. It simply means that second turn you should start swinging to regain that life.
2. Flyers are pretty difficult to get around in a lot of popular decks, and even if you're facing something with a flyer, this thing will hit the field faster and start swinging before your opponent can even start blocking.
3. Sure, he's really easy to get rid of, but with the right protection, it'll sit on the field for a good while. Throw a Tempered Steel down and this becomes 3/3, but there's even better options. I run a white Quest deck and this is my first and second choice for Argentum Armor. That makes it a 7/7 with lifelink and opposition destruction. That's hard to beat, no matter how you slice it.
4. And if it does get removed, you should have 3 more. Sure, it costs another 2 life, but chances are that you... (see all)
Posted By:
Deltraeus
(6/12/2011 7:36:13 PM)
You can Birthing Pod him into a Vampire Nighthawk for flavor
Posted By:
SeiberTross
(4/29/2011 9:36:58 AM)
New Glaze Fiend tech yay!!
Posted By:
Bass1987
(4/29/2011 8:49:22 AM)
As close as I can get to flying men in standard.
Posted By:
Raszero
(5/18/2011 8:19:17 AM)
Pay the life; it'll pay you back!
Posted By:
DeathDark
(6/26/2011 5:50:21 PM)
The Agent of Bolas likes this little sucker. Almost a Baneslayer. Plus, it can be played on turn 2 after an everflowing chalice.
And who would seriously waste removal on this?
Exactly. That's why it's good, like all those annoying little critters out there that gain you 1 life when a creature enters the battlefield. It seems pointless to waste removal on it, yet if you don't, you're screwed.
Edit: This little Imp also happens to have protection from black's most common removal suite in Standard: Doom Blade AND Go for the Throat. Pretty nifty, huh?
Edit 2: Already been mentioned, I see...
Posted By:
LiXinjian
(6/6/2011 6:29:37 AM)
wow, some people are off their gourd,
this is a good card,
@Shiny_Espeon comparing this to rare's that define top decks is comparing apples to oranges, the pro's about these cards is they give other colors access to things they might not necessarily have without, they let any color get things cheaper, they let any color splash without ruining their mana curve. they grant this all in one card, a keyword here is utility, this card cannot compete with inferno titan etc, but guess what inferno titan is not a good one drop? do you know why you cannot stick it in a monoblue deck and play it turn one because it costs 4rr. a card doesn't need to be game defining to get 4 stars, it needs to efficiently fulfil its role in many peoples decks, at 4 stars and almost 80 votes, it is obvious that it has
Posted By:
Ava_Adore
(6/19/2011 9:11:17 PM)
Strengths:
1. Its a early game drop that can give you life advantage.
2. Cheap cost.
3. Cheap Black flier.
4. Playable in any color.
5. Effects that specify creature, color or artifact will trigger for this creature.
Weaknesses:
1. Easily removed, even more so then normal creatures.
2.Effects that specify creature, color or artifact will trigger for this creature.
I think Its strengths out way its weaknesses.
Posted By:
Yozuk
(5/6/2011 3:48:30 PM)
I really like this guy.
First off, I can think of very few cases when you wouldn't want to pay the 2 life to get him out early. As so many others have pointed out, his flying and lifelink mean that within a couple turns, especially early in the game, you'll make up that life, no problem. Add any sort of pump--even something like Tainted Strike or Virulent Swipe for something in color--and he makes it up in a single hit, making him, for all intents and purposes, a one-drop.
Second, as a black artifact creature, he's in the peculiar position of being resistant to both Doom Blade and Go for the Throat. Sure, he'll die to Grasp of Darkness, Spread the Sickness, Glissa's Scorn, or Shatter, but those are all either a little more specialized or more expensive than Doom Blade or Go for the Throat. Even if your op... (see all)
Posted By:
SpencerDub
(5/23/2011 4:59:42 AM)
On its own a very solid one drop.
It makes sylvok lifestaff more appealing on turn 2.
Edit: outside of standard, don't overlook the fact that this is a first turn evasive artifact! creature, with lifelink to boot.
Posted By:
roguepariah
(6/9/2011 10:56:27 AM)