Exact same text as Lightning Helix!
This card is obviously unplayable in constructed, but people give it far too little credit here in the comments. In M13 limited, Essence Drain is a completely fine card, and is even first picked by professionals in weaker packs.
Posted By:
Henrietta
(9/6/2012 9:54:06 PM)
Obvious this is contructed unplayable, but removal is removal and this is more than half-decent in limited.
Posted By:
Lavrant
(9/17/2012 8:05:54 PM)
Henrietta below me is entirely right. This card is first pickable in certain cases, and should (almost) always make the cut in a black deck. It's expensive, but a fatastic topdeck that changes the race more than most other removal. And combined with Sign In Blood, it can burn out opponents, giving black some welcome reach.
Posted By:
Steinhauser
(9/7/2012 3:44:02 PM)
This card is terribad.
Posted By:
lorendorky
(7/6/2012 2:09:59 PM)
Is it good? No. But it IS removal in limited. You can do worse for a 23rd card.
Posted By:
Arcanoi
(7/7/2012 12:09:19 AM)
This card just won me a draft.
It's not great, but don't forget that limited tends to be pretty slow. Not only does it blow up a creature (I found myself rarely casting it on a player, except for the win), but the 3 life gain is pretty strong. This, Bloodhunter Bat and Mark of the Vampire.
This is not meant to be a constructed card, but it's a solid common and I wouldn't turn up my nose at if you're drafting black.
2.5/5
Posted By:
ereidivh
(7/13/2012 8:45:40 PM)
Imagine: this could have been Tendrils Of Corruption.
Posted By:
LordOfTheFlies87
(7/6/2012 6:21:01 PM)
So this is a piece of garbage. Seriously, would you even run this in Limited? A card that costs five mana and only nets you three damage? You'd run this? Really? And what makes you think you could actually win? Oh, it's your first time and you're just here to have fun? Well. Okay. Fine.
Posted By:
Eternal_Blue
(7/6/2012 4:37:31 PM)
This is great card. I am a pro so I use this to nuke people in the face.
Posted By:
Lotsofpoopy
(9/2/2012 10:30:38 PM)
Wohooooooooooooooo
They did a reprint!
I am so happy!
It will defeat my enemies!
No.
People are too mean to it though...
Lot of worse cards have gotten higher than 0.8!
Posted By:
Gruesome-Tree
(7/7/2012 6:33:29 AM)