Funny thing is, compared to the Cap, this was almost totally overlooked back then...
It's a very interesting card because it's power depends strongly on the skills of the user - they need to recognize the board state as well as the deck strategy their opponent is playing to get maximum use out of it.
Might be cool in EDH. Today, though, it's likely too slow to really stop anything.
Posted By:
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
(12/29/2012 7:46:46 PM)
When Ice Age was the shizz, the Cap was the hit $20 card in the set (since then, just about every set had one or two cards that would hit that price but nothing ever topped $30 until the past couple years with Tarmogoyf or Jace or fetch lands), and the Mask was considered borderline junk. Maybe it was a reflection of the climate back then, I don't know. The Cap is built for destroying combos. Realistically, a good combo deck will probably go off before the Cap can do its thing. The Mask is for just generally screwing over the opponent. If they are mana-screwed, give them all cards that they will not be able to play for a long time. If they plenty of land, give them a hand full of land.
Hard to say which card is actually better now.
Posted By:
Technetium
(4/30/2013 1:26:23 PM)
So, you want to make an ally in a multiplayer game...
Posted By:
Asmodi0000
(9/17/2011 6:47:39 AM)
Remember getting seriously stoked pulling one of these out of an Ice Age booster many, many moons ago. Pulled in quite a haul in a trade for it. Five mana for an artifact like this was not considered such a big deal back then.
Even still, it's pretty good if you can get it out early with some ramp, and give them exactly what they don't need. If you have a Voltaic Key and enough mana you can use it the turn it comes out.
Posted By:
jfre81
(6/21/2011 11:06:02 PM)
WHAT
This seems SO broken. Give them all all lands if manaflooded, or give them all their situational stuff, or if they are manascrewed give them the most expensive things, or cheapest, most pointless things, the possibilities are endless.
This card seems like it comes from a joke set, and i cannot believe it was printed. I know it happens turn 6 without acceleration, but still, in slow decks that's not much. This cards seems so useful and unusual. Maybe it is just the timmy/johnny in me, but this card seems to say 'screw you normal conventions!' and then spits in its face.
Posted By:
jsttu
(3/13/2011 8:50:11 PM)
This is just hilarious.
Posted By:
Batstewart
(11/12/2009 1:19:48 PM)
Oh, I found these 7 great cards in your deck, mind if I mindtwist you now? Okay here we go...
Posted By:
Elaedyn
(1/31/2012 3:36:26 AM)
One of the three rares in my first ever Magic deck.
Posted By:
stygimoloch
(12/1/2008 4:34:33 PM)
But that'sa why it is a very good card (TM).
Posted By:
tavaritz
(5/23/2011 11:28:04 AM)
Unfortunately, it's just too slow for what it wants to do. By the time you can play and use it, most of the good cards in their hand are going to be hitting you in the face anyway.
It does have the advantage of being able to go off during your opponent's upkeep, so you can take away at least one card that they've definitely had no chance to play (unless it's an instant, obviously.)
Posted By:
Aquillion
(5/24/2013 10:19:22 PM)