After playing this at the sealed pre-release, I'm going to say this is one of the strongest limited commons ever printed, and definitely the strongest limited-environment common in Theros.
Merchant is a conflux of self-synergy. 1) Your opponents don't want to bounce him, because he gets recast, 2) they don't want to destroy him, because Black reanimates, 3) Even if they respond to his trigger, it's still on the stack -- sure the resolved trigger does less, but it's still going to resolve, and 4) he's still got 4 toughness, and can chump block like a champ. Coupled with a slow format like Theros, and it's okay to have extra commons in the 5-CMC slot than you normally would have.
Someone, somewhere is going to have the lucky opportunity to Rescue from the Underworld a Gray Merchant of Asphodel with a Gray Merchant of Asphodel, and his or her opponent will cry. 16 point life swing for 5-CMC.
Posted By:
EternalUnreality
(9/21/2013 9:05:27 PM)
And if you don't believe the Gray Merchant of Asphodel about the quality of his goods, just read these True Customer Testimonials!
"play this guy in mono black. you won't regret it."
-FaceClaimer
"Merchant is a conflux of self-synergy."
-EternalUnreality
"After extensive playtesting it can be said that this thing is overpowered."
-AncientTimer
"...quite possibly constructed worthy."
-Toquinha1977
"Easily the most powerful common and one of the most powerful cards period in this set."
-Moxxy
Posted By:
Stuflames
(2/17/2014 12:35:53 PM)
Lord of Tresserhorn, actually token COPIES do have mana cost. They take everything about the card with them. Most tokens don't have mana costs, 'cause why would they? But copies work.
Posted By:
anotherfan321
(9/17/2013 7:11:24 PM)
That's at least a two life drain, on a 2/4 for five. Assuming you have no other black cards in play.
Oh, and relevant creature type. This thing is sweet.
Posted By:
Pendulous
(9/18/2013 12:47:20 AM)
MBC curve topper in standard? Maybe?
Am I being too optimistic?
Posted By:
Flyheight
(9/18/2013 10:01:57 AM)
Token copies of creature cards have mana costs.
Posted By:
kajillion
(9/17/2013 8:13:44 PM)
This card is a lot like having a second set of Corrupts in your mono-black deck. Of course, the perfect deck to utilize this will need to be built around it. But if you go with suicide, or perhaps even MBC it shouldn't be too much of a problem. In Limited it isn't that great (obviously), but it's still a good pick if you already have other black creatures. As for me, I am definitely looking forward to building a deck for this in Pauper.
Posted By:
Eternal_Blue
(9/18/2013 11:01:31 PM)
Birthing Pod deck, with Fleshwrithers. Transfigure your Fleshwrithers into Phyrexian Obliterator, then pod another 4-drop into this guy. That's at leasta 12-point lifeswing, with an otherwise empty board. A bit janky? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Posted By:
Doaj
(9/17/2013 3:47:19 PM)
Going into my friend's Balthor, the Defiled EDH deck. It is zombie tribal and with constant mass reanimation, this thing will nuke the hell out of everyone. Since it's worded like extort, it's really powerful for multiplayer.
Posted By:
SAUS3
(9/20/2013 7:29:41 AM)
Easily the most powerful common and one of the most powerful cards period in this set. Don't forget his own mana cost counts towards the devotion.
Posted By:
Moxxy
(12/20/2013 7:12:55 PM)