MTG Salvation

Fungal Infection
B
Instant
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.

Assume this won't interest 99% of you, but think this is pretty excellent 1 mana removal spell.
Takes out 2/2's that are attacking, surprisingly high number of x/1's in cube where this can generate value against.

2 for 1's against red/white decks that attacking with multiple 2/1's.
Synergy with aristocrats.dec (blood artist)

I'm legitimately interested in this one - even though it's not in my list anymore, Tragic Slip is better than most players give credit for on the front end.

Darkblast, Lose Hope, Tragic Slip, Skulduggery, and Sicken are likely all ahead of this in any head-to-head competition.

I don't think this looks particularly good...

Tragic Slip seems better, and I don't run that.

This looks pretty good to me. Tricksy combat maneuvers give this an edge against some of the more incidental upsides like Lose Hope, and unlike Skulduggery or the like, it's got a benefit that may stick around. Add to that the potential for a two-for-one at the low cost, and a backup Zealous Guardian, and it's not a bad deal. This looks like a totally solid card to me, and one of the best versions of the ability.

Still, Disfigure, Fatal Push, and Vendetta all spring to mind as more powerful one mana removal spells in black. This is a combat trick, not a removal spell. Most people probably aren't interested in that.

Quote from Mergatroid_Jones »

Still, Disfigure, Fatal Push, and Vendetta all spring to mind as more powerful one mana removal spells in black. This is a combat trick, not a removal spell. Most people probably aren't interested in that.

It does have combat trick like applications, but I see it as a powerful removal spell against agro, that has utility in other matchups.
I really like my black control decks to have access to an effecient 1 mana spell that is excellent against cheap creatures.

UB Control does so well against decks that go bigger (counter magic), but can easily lose to an early rush.
I've never seen another 1 mana black spell that has potential to 2 for 1 an agro deck ON TURN 1.

If you have an meta of like 33% agro, 33% ramp/combo , 33% control/value midrange.
It's insane against all agro decks, very solid against green ramp (sniping mana creatures) and still can find targets/uses in the other 55% of matchups. Ideally would be looted away or something.

Historically I've run disfigure and fatal push to fill that roll, but have always been happy with 1 card to fill that roll in black. They get main decked a reasonably high % and have solid sideboard applications.

Don't see this as a pure UB control card either, seems strong in an aristocrats like deck to take advantage of the extra body.