Compare to Geralf's Messenger :
The Messenger 1) gets stronger when it dies and can immediately come back via undying, 2) has the useful zombie creature typing, and 3) will ultimately deal more damage to one player than the fiend would.
However, Soulcage Fiend does have a few advantages:
1) It's mana cost is not as heavily dependent on black, so it is easier to splash.
2) It's effect targets EVERYONE, so it is pretty scary as a blocker/ sacrifice fodder in multiplayer, and since it has a global effect, in my experience, your opponents are less likely to get mad and gang up on you.
3) It can block for you the turn it comes into play.
4) It is a common, and much less likely to break your wallet than the highly sought-after Messenger.
I really like both of these cards, and I appreciate both of them. I just have too many friends questioning why this card was made in the same block as the Messenger.
Posted By:
Specter_Fanatic13
(5/6/2012 12:57:24 PM)
Very good power and toughness for its cost. Your opponent loses 3 life whether they block and kill it, kill it elsewhere, or let it through.
Posted By:
Splizer
(4/27/2012 9:21:24 AM)
It's not overpowered at all, but it definitely works for anybody that would want to make a demon-themed deck. Just look at that art... so sadistic and hardcore. All you can see behind that mask is his teeth!
With me personally, I have made a sort of demon-themed deck that actually works with multiplayer games (even though I hate multiplayer typically) this guy with barter in blood, innocent blood, trecherous pit-dweller, Abyssal Persecutor, and bloodgift demon will make some really interesting multiplayer interactions I think.
Posted By:
Andromeiylochk
(5/12/2012 3:00:33 PM)
I run 4 of these in my Aggro-Sac deck. 3 CMC gets him out fast, 2 toughness lets him die easily (which you want him to do anyways), and his 3 dmg ping + 3 power + the ability to sac him whever poses an intersting delema: whether they let him through, block and kill him, or block with a chump and have him be sacrificed anyway. Whatever they choose, they're taking at least 3, possibly 6, when he swings. Cheap, useful, damaging. And who cares about the life loss. The goal of the game is to reduce your opponents life to 0 (generally speaking), not keeping your own at 20. 4/5
Posted By:
ThinkOriginal
(7/17/2012 11:23:49 AM)
One of the cheapest demons you can get in a pure demon tribal deck. Love this guy.
Posted By:
psychichobo
(4/17/2013 2:46:20 PM)
I like mostly that it's a 3-drop demon. He'll probably find his way into my kamigawa ogre/demon deck or possibly a demon-tribal.
Posted By:
blurrymadness
(5/7/2013 10:42:51 AM)
"Kastinne, the Demon Killer. A young and insane woman from Shadowgrange who considers herself a wandering monk. A demon killed her three children, and she has vowed to slaughter it and every other demon until her children's souls find rest."
I never noticed that the woman from the flavor text was mentioned in the Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad! She's in the Stensia section.
Posted By:
Axelle
(10/13/2012 8:07:25 PM)
This guy is a fixed Deathcurse Ogre, with a halved cmc in exchange for one toughness on something that wants to die anyway.
And you can tell it was an intentional throwback too. In addition to the same power and ability, their names are both (made-up compound word + species). And hell, they're even an ogre-demon pair.
Way to make a stupid card playable in the most stylish way possible, y'all.
Posted By:
MisterAction
(5/30/2012 12:59:50 AM)
disciple of griselbrand helps counter his drawback.
Posted By:
calsino
(6/26/2012 7:54:57 PM)
Abusable common.
Posted By:
lorendorky
(4/26/2012 10:59:55 PM)