A lot of people have mentioned Obsidian Fireheart as a counterpoint to this card. But keep in mind that the reason why Obsidian Fireheart's effect stays around after it's dead is NOT because the card reminds you it does. It sticks around because Obsidian Fireheart's ability grants an ability to the land when it's used. So, even when Obsidian Fireheart is dead, the land itself still possesses the ability "At the beginning of your upkeep, this land deals 1 damage to you." Notice how it says "You" and not "the land's controller".
Small distinction, perhaps, but the rules of Magic are very complex and it's obvious from the discussion around Iona that most people are confused about them. Me too. :P
Someone mentioned Stifle and/or Pithing Needle, and I'll point out that Pithing Needle probably won't work since the "As Iona enters the battlefield..." is a triggered ability and not an activated ability (w... (see all)
Posted By:
Ormiss
(8/31/2010 7:05:26 AM)
Turn 1: Play a swamp, then Dark Ritual into Entomb and Exhume, putting Iona from your library to your graveyard and playing her immediately
Turn 2: Play another land and play Painter's Servant, just to be a dick.
Your purple spells are useless!
Posted By:
Tharikifa
(9/1/2010 6:04:52 PM)
This card is very good, but I have a vengeance against both her and baneslayer for stopping my mono red deck.
Posted By:
Kamidii
(9/10/2010 5:45:31 AM)
I played a monogreen deck and someone reanimated iona, I still beat him because they waited til like turn 6 to do it and I still had some mana dorks out and like 6 lands anyway, hard casted the single artisan of kozilek I have in my deck then brought back a terra stomper my opponent killed via righteousness earlier in the game. Bashed my opponents face off the next 2 turns
Slipping a single colorless (eldrazi) card in a deck capable of producing lots of mana anyways can sometimes win you the game!
Posted By:
IshubarashI
(10/20/2010 12:10:57 PM)
5/5 for being the most powerful creator in the game on even Emrakul, the Aeons Torn can match her power.
Posted By:
dragonking987
(10/31/2010 9:36:53 AM)
Alternate text: "you win the game."
I mean, if your board position is bad enough, you might not, but generally if you survive long enough to get out nine mana, that's not likely to be the case. She's great for demonstrating to players that with ridiculous mana costs, a creature had better win it for you or it's not worth it.
Posted By:
SleetFox
(11/8/2010 3:53:17 PM)
Okay, I've decided to let my comment get lost, but here goes:
When playing this in EDH, can you choose a different color every time she comes into play?
and xc, no, because they die right away. (Legendary).
Posted By:
land_comment
(3/30/2011 2:33:18 PM)
Combo with momentary blink = thanks for playing
Posted By:
Pipikako
(9/21/2011 12:57:06 PM)
so am wondering??? might not Mirror Gallery be a legit card to run with her? might be fun if you can pull it of.
Posted By:
valhalla86
(10/16/2011 6:04:09 PM)
Epic target for reanimator decks, and I don't know why it was in Graveborn.
Posted By:
RunedServitor
(1/10/2012 4:21:59 PM)