@ Tanaka: The difference is that spinal embrace can be both used for offense and defense (beeing an instant) while slave of bolas only for offense. If an opponent attacks you with several creatures, just spinal embrace one, block with it another attacker and you go two-for-one and get some life to boot. Or you can use it like slave of bolas, play it in your turn and attack an opponent with something.
I personally like the embrace more (because of the instant speed and old card frame).
Posted By:
majinara
(5/8/2010 8:50:32 AM)
Its a Goa'uld(Sorta...)! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!
Posted By:
combobuilder
(6/14/2010 5:20:53 PM)
Yeah, I was about to say what has already been said. I'm running Slave of Bolas in my B/R arch enemy deck, but I would way rather have this.
Posted By:
Tynansdtm
(1/27/2011 3:29:18 PM)
what a great control card to play during your opponent's attack phase. steal the most powerful creature they are attacking with, and use it to block the second most powerful. by the end of the turn you've avoided a ton of damage, gotten rid of 2 of their creatures (ideally) and even gained some life out of the deal. pricey to cast, but you get what you pay for
Posted By:
tantallum99
(9/21/2010 8:25:30 PM)
Actually, I think the art shows a spine embracing someone. XD
Posted By:
Designer_Genes
(9/17/2009 11:45:10 AM)
It embraced your spine, got you good
Posted By:
ttian
(3/23/2009 4:38:12 AM)
Slave of Bolas is more fair.
Surprisingly, I think this is the only place in Gatherer where the Flavor is consistent and Bolas comes out looking nicer than somebody.
Bluntly, Dimir doesn't give a god damn what you think of them. Bolas, being full of self-importance and vanity, DOES care that you are very impressed by his Evil Bad Assness and Majesty.
Dimir Goes for the Throat and doesn't bother explaining itself. Bolas WILL Carpet Nuke you and give you Cruel Ultimatums and Slave you and all kinds of nasty things like that, but his pompous grandstanding demands you pay attention to him, and he's the type to let you hang around on 1 life while you build up mana.
Dimir wants to make sure you die before you can see their face, and erase your memory if you caught a glimpse of them. True, this card came out before the Dimir Guild itself, but it's completely in Lazav flavor. Bolas is the Evil Villain p... (see all)
Posted By:
DarthParallax
(11/18/2013 9:49:31 PM)
Isn't that Starke? Shouldn't he be dead (storyline-wise) by this point?
If that isn't him, then it sure looks like him.
Posted By:
Gandlodder
(6/7/2011 10:39:45 PM)
radiate! Insurrection, wrath of god and a crap load of life :)
Posted By:
umumwhatshisname
(6/30/2011 10:58:14 AM)