I think what people don't get about that card is that it was a cheap means to get out a high CMC card in a set with a cycle of cards concerning CMCs. The "dragon enchantment cycle" (i.e. Dragon Shadow, Dragon Breath, etc.) come into mind most vividly but there were many, many others.
EDIT: I juts realized that that wasn't the best representative of Scornful Egotist's potential. Rush of Knowledge anyone? Also Dispersal Shield and Torrent of Fire. Alas, I miss the good ol' days. I started in Onslaught and I don't like to think of myself as an old player so Scourge will always live on as a "new" set in my heart.
Orcish Librarian isn't actually that bad IMO. it basically allows you to look at the top four cards and get the one you want in your hand. If you don't like the others too much, you can always use the ability again next turn too. It would be better if it was in another color, however. Besides, a 1/1 for 1R with a good ability is no match for atrocities like wood elemental.
These threads are always hilarious. Especially the OPs suggestion that a 4/4 for 4 with no on table drawback is one of the worst creatures of all time.
There's a great article by Ben Bleiweiss about the 100 worst cards of all time, written in 2004. It'll be hard to top it, as creatures are generally a lot more balanced these days. Here's the link:
My favorite is Nameless Race, which is comparable to Wood Elemental, but perhaps even more useless, as it simply has no P/T if your opponent isn't playing white.
These threads are always hilarious. Especially the OPs suggestion that a 4/4 for 4 with no on table drawback is one of the worst creatures of all time.
There's a great article by Ben Bleiweiss about the 100 worst cards of all time, written in 2004. It'll be hard to top it, as creatures are generally a lot more balanced these days. Here's the link:
My favorite is Nameless Race, which is comparable to Wood Elemental, but perhaps even more useless, as it simply has no P/T if your opponent isn't playing white.
I really should get around to doing more top 100 lists some day I'm kind of tickled pink about how many people have referenced this list over the years Pale Moon is still the worst card in Magic, IMHO. I'm not sure I wouldnt' put Nameless Race ahead of Wood Elemental, if I had the list to do over.
I can't disagree that Nameless Race sucks fiercely. It is only useful against white-dominant decks and by the time you cast it it will likely be no more than a 2/2 to a 4/4, but at the very least it has Trample, and sacrificing some life is a lot easier to manage than having to sacrifice untapped forests just to give a 4 cmc vanilla derf derf any kind of body at all. The one is horribly self-limiting and dependent on a particular color an opponent plays, but at least its possible Nameless Race would suck less in a multi-player game. Wood Elemental OTOH can never be good by its very nature as it generates card disadvantage on a significant scale just to make it mediocre and it remains a vanilla creature without even the benefit of Trample to negate some of its crappiness. I might move Nameless Race to #12 in place of Chimney Imp which, while awful, was at least just a common and easier to ignore in the long run and by comparison (by comparison people, just to make that clear :)) is more useful. Woody, however, is fine in his place as the worst critter of all time.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Decks
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite) Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks) Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks) Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Wood elemental. That card is so terrible and only forests can be sacked....just godawful, turn 5 one drop. And they have to be untapped. I think the answer is pretty clear.
Norin the wary can cause some shenanigans blocking I hear.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Yawgmoth," Freyalise whispered as she set the bomb, "now you will pay for your treachery."
Just compare it to Wood Elemental. Giant Slug is a substandard 1/1 for 2 with an awful ability, but it creates no card disadvantage like Wood Elemental does as a 4 cmc creature with no ability whatsoever. There really is no comparison.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Decks
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite) Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks) Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks) Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Alabaster Leech is the worst creature in a cycle of really bad creatures.
These leeches all made your spells more expensive for stats and abilities that are just meh.
The white leech is the worst as it is a 1/3 with no other abilities. If you get it turn one, it will hurt you the rest of the game! And the worst part, it was a rare! Automatic last pick in a draft.
While a lot of people cite Wood Elemental, I can think of a card where you pay 12cmc for 4/4. But to explore Elemental first.
I think the card isn't as bad as some are making out. The meta was in full support of Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise, Channel, and if you were willing to splash, Dark Ritual to help offset the + Forests. So what would be effectively 8 CMC, you can drop a 4/4. There is better of course. It would be a last pick in... everything really.
My vote is for Master of the Hunt. for a 2/2 and another to get a 1/1 with a special ability, Banding with other Wolves of the Hunt. So to use that special ability, you gotta pay another for a grand total of 12 CMC for what is not quite 4/4, effectively two 2/2. The dang Wolves don't even band with their Master. Slimefoot, the Stowaway has a really nice upside, an extra point of defense and costs 1 CMC less.
I never saw Wood Elemental played, but I never saw Master of the Hunt played either.
Pretty much any creature with cumulative upkeep, the worst probably being Karplusan Minotaur. That being said Master of the Hunt is awful too, more or less any creature with banding is...
This is a very old thread, so I'm going to be locking it. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread rather than necro'ing an old one.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I think what people don't get about that card is that it was a cheap means to get out a high CMC card in a set with a cycle of cards concerning CMCs. The "dragon enchantment cycle" (i.e. Dragon Shadow, Dragon Breath, etc.) come into mind most vividly but there were many, many others.
EDIT: I juts realized that that wasn't the best representative of Scornful Egotist's potential. Rush of Knowledge anyone? Also Dispersal Shield and Torrent of Fire. Alas, I miss the good ol' days. I started in Onslaught and I don't like to think of myself as an old player so Scourge will always live on as a "new" set in my heart.
EDIT: scornful egotist + soul's magesty = win!
RU Owling Mine (Runeflare Trap) RU
Recent FNM's
3-1 2nd
2-0 drop (Yeah, that is 2 wins and a drop...)
3-1 3rd
0 Karn
W Darien
U Arcanis
B Geth
R Norin
G Yeva
UW Hanna
RB Olivia
WB Obzedat
UR Melek
BG Glissa
WR Aurelia
GU Kraj
BRU Nicol Bolas
RGB Prossh
BGW Ghave
GUB Mimeoplasm
WUBRG Sliver Overlord
GWU Treva, the Renewer
EDH Spike:
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Trades
If there are any cards that combine with Mogg Squad to move the counters to opponent's creatures, then it isn't the worst creature.
3GG
wood elemental
when it comes into play, sacrifice a land.
1/1
which makes even chimney imp look like a god with its flying, lack of a drawback, and card advantage.
Worst rare: Reveka, Wizard Savant
Worst uncommon: Princess Lucrezia
it gets -1/-1, not -1/-1 counters, so it wouldn't matter anyways.
Reckless Waif; It's the red Delver of Secrets.
Wrong. It's "Sacrifice and untapped forest." Which just helps it being so bad. The worst creature there is, in fact.
I agree with this.:thumbsup: At least the Rare legend part. Even worse than Norin.
I like 4/4s for 7.
actually just "sacrifice a forest", since your tapping it to pay the mana cost in that example.
He works at the Libary and doesnt afraid of anything
There's a great article by Ben Bleiweiss about the 100 worst cards of all time, written in 2004. It'll be hard to top it, as creatures are generally a lot more balanced these days. Here's the link:
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/6699_18000_Words_The_100_Worst_Magic_Cards_of_All_Time_201.html
My favorite is Nameless Race, which is comparable to Wood Elemental, but perhaps even more useless, as it simply has no P/T if your opponent isn't playing white.
I really should get around to doing more top 100 lists some day I'm kind of tickled pink about how many people have referenced this list over the years Pale Moon is still the worst card in Magic, IMHO. I'm not sure I wouldnt' put Nameless Race ahead of Wood Elemental, if I had the list to do over.
- Ben
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks)
Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks)
Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Standard
Waiting for Innistrad...
Extended
Hah!
Modern
Living End Cascade (RGB)
Legacy
Burn
Vintage
None
Casual
WB Aggro-Control
Green Stompy
Pink Floyd (UWr Wall Control)
Lunch Box (Fatty ramp)
D-Bag (White Control)
Level 13 Task Mage
Norin the wary can cause some shenanigans blocking I hear.
Currently Playing:
Retired
Just compare it to Wood Elemental. Giant Slug is a substandard 1/1 for 2 with an awful ability, but it creates no card disadvantage like Wood Elemental does as a 4 cmc creature with no ability whatsoever. There really is no comparison.
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks)
Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks)
Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Standard
Waiting for Innistrad...
Extended
Hah!
Modern
Living End Cascade (RGB)
Legacy
Burn
Vintage
None
Casual
WB Aggro-Control
Green Stompy
Pink Floyd (UWr Wall Control)
Lunch Box (Fatty ramp)
D-Bag (White Control)
Level 13 Task Mage
These leeches all made your spells more expensive for stats and abilities that are just meh.
The white leech is the worst as it is a 1/3 with no other abilities. If you get it turn one, it will hurt you the rest of the game! And the worst part, it was a rare! Automatic last pick in a draft.
Spirits
I think the card isn't as bad as some are making out. The meta was in full support of Llanowar Elves, Birds of Paradise, Channel, and if you were willing to splash, Dark Ritual to help offset the + Forests. So what would be effectively 8 CMC, you can drop a 4/4. There is better of course. It would be a last pick in... everything really.
My vote is for Master of the Hunt. for a 2/2 and another to get a 1/1 with a special ability, Banding with other Wolves of the Hunt. So to use that special ability, you gotta pay another for a grand total of 12 CMC for what is not quite 4/4, effectively two 2/2. The dang Wolves don't even band with their Master. Slimefoot, the Stowaway has a really nice upside, an extra point of defense and costs 1 CMC less.
I never saw Wood Elemental played, but I never saw Master of the Hunt played either.
Edit - Wow, this topic is nearly 10 years old...