This is pretty bad. The opponent needs to gain something along the lines of 1-2 life for this to be even decent ("You gain 5 life and target player loses 3 life" for B, and that isn't exactly playable because it isn't worth waiting for the condition to occur), and casting it at 7 mana is way underwhelming. It would be better if it were 5 damage to target creature or player and you gain 5 life so it could kill Baneslayer, but as it is now, not really good at all.
The original CC is way to high to be playable - it's about right if the spell wasn't a trap. However at 1 it becomes a very useful way to disrupt life gain and give yourself a little boost. It makes the idea of a bonds anti-lifegain deck possible, but not really.
I would absolutely play this in any deck using B, as it is completely perfect for Baneslayer issues.
Um, it's been a while since I've played MTG, but. . . Shouldn't you just Doom blade, or Hideous End Baneslayer instead? This trap isn't perfect for Baneslayer at all, in fact, it's a crappier more restrictive fog if you use it in that way.
Unless you've got a card that makes everyone gain life, this won't see much constructed play methinks. A good chunk of the constructed decks currently don't care about life gain. Might be a sideboard for a mono-black deck.
one word: baneslayer angel. although this will only make them lose they life they gained, but you still get 5 life for one mana.
Ridiculous. I'll take as a sideboard card against lifegain decks. Personally, the art isn't terribly reminiscent (did I spell that right? I don't want to download a spellchecker, it'd take up too much space and I wouldn't use it) of a trap. I know there's that scorpion tail thingy, but still. Not very trappy art. But maybe I could commision an alter or something. I dunno. I like the effect, though. Maybe combo with... uh... *searching for a card that gives opponent life*... maybe, Marble Chalice? That could be cool.
EDIT: Dang. I thought Marble Chalice was "Target player", not "you". It'd be useless with Sylvan Bounty, Natural Spring and the like, but there's gotta be cards out there that give your opponent life, they just haven't come to mind yet.
Modern: GRB Jund BRG RBU Grixis Delver UBR Legacy: W Death & Taxes W GRB Punishing Jund BRG GUR Canadian Threshold RUG Commander: RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
one word: baneslayer angel. although this will only make them lose they life they gained, but you still get 5 life for one mana.
No. You get Fog for B. Which is, well Darkness. Also Baneslayer Angel is two words. And that's only a reasonable card to include if you're certain you'll be playing against 'slayer. Even then you're better off with Doom Blade or Hideous End.
While I agree with the people saying that playing this against Baneslayer is neutral... I'd like to point out that it's playing one of these against Baneslayer.
If you can get 2+ in your hand, you only need the 'trigger' once. It's not like your opponent needs to gain life twice to play 2 of them.
And while it's life-neutral vs. Baneslayer, it's not Fog, as the life is actually lost. This means that, e.g., this card can trigger Shadowmoor Sygg in Extended, even though the life totals didn't change in a net sense.
Yeah, uh, if I was up against Baneslayer I'd much rather draw Doom Blade to deal with it instead of this.
I still like it, but it's just not that anti baneslayer that everyone's talking about.
Would be interesting if it had some other effect if you paid it's full casting cost instead of the trap cost. Nobody's going to play this for it's full cost. Even if it was something like they lose 5 life and you gain 10 life if you pay the full casting cost. Or it gets shuffled back into your library instead of the graveyard if you payed the full cost.
The people that play legacy / vintage always amuse me. They want their formats to be represented more. They want more tournaments. But when anyone suggests allowing more people access to the formats by reprinting cards, the same people start screaming about the reprint policy.
Um... Yes it does. When you change a life total the rule is that the player gains or loses life to equal the new total. But as others have said, would you really want this over Doom Blade?
It's understandable blue control players would be shocked and in denial at the notion of this card, since their decks have been dominating multiple formats for an eternity yet they've curiously never once had to deal with any counter-hosers that weren't ineffectual, narrow CRAP.
In a few months no one will be able to believe what people posted in this thread... It's Upwelling all over again.
Really, guys, make a few screenshots and read that stuff again around christmas this year. You know, about sideboarding this card against decks with Baneslayer Angel. You will ask yourself which drugs were en vogue this summer.
Well said sir, the only place I feel this is even remotely good is extended where RDW could use this as a second flames of the blood hand and is still limited due to the fact that the majority of decks will at most run 2 life gain effect cards.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Quote from mastab3690 »
yes turning of the tide that was a nice, props on breaking the deck
Just completely ignore the Trap part of the card and realize this is an instant speed Consume Spirit that 'costs' less (doesn't hit creatures, ok). This is perfect for MBC (which is always attempted every Standard season but actually seems very viable with what we have now) and may even see a random 1-2 of as a finisher in MBA, cause everyone is gonna be running SuiVamps.
Yes, for everyone who points out how silly this is as Baneslayer 'tech', also realize that looking at just the trap aspect is just as narrow. Despite not being scalable like Consume Spirit/Corrupt, it's splashable to other decks and is still priced the same. This card is pretty sweet.
if there is anything even remotely like a finks that comes out, this will see play. it will go in against people running any lifelinkers, like baneslayer and rhox war monk.
Just completely ignore the Trap part of the card and realize this is an instant speed Consume Spirit that 'costs' less (doesn't hit creatures, ok). This is perfect for MBC (which is always attempted every Standard season but actually seems very viable with what we have now) and may even see a random 1-2 of as a finisher in MBA, cause everyone is gonna be running SuiVamps.
Errr.... If you ignore the trap part of the card, it's essentially Absorb Vis without the option to landcycle. Forget about constructed, that's not even all that playable in limited.
Instant speed. Literally changes everything and makes it very playable, control loves this.
Agree that it's not really limited playable, even as a singleton (MAYBE if you had some crap endgame fattie picks).
The comparison to Absorb Vis isn't appropriate because that is very limited playable and constructed junk whereas this is the opposite. Again, this replaces Consume Spirit/Corrupt where appropriate in those decks. I highly doubt that any T1 Jund decks are gonna splash it in the MD or even SB but that possibility is a plus of the card, since it doesn't force you to commit to heavy Swamps.
Wonder all you want. I don't really see how me saying "This will be played/tested/tried in MBC (which is actually looking quite viable) and MBA Vamps (which everyone and their DOG is going to build so they will play this)" is somehow equated with me saying this is the Second Coming of BBE or something (hyperbole obviously). Perhaps you should re-read what I actually posted/commented on?
Um, it's been a while since I've played MTG, but. . . Shouldn't you just Doom blade, or Hideous End Baneslayer instead? This trap isn't perfect for Baneslayer at all, in fact, it's a crappier more restrictive fog if you use it in that way.
Talk about the shiny "New card" goggles, sheesh.
Thanks to scuttlemutt productions!
one word: baneslayer angel. although this will only make them lose they life they gained, but you still get 5 life for one mana.
Standard:
RURuneflare ComboRU
-----------------------
WURBGGreanimator WURBG
Elder Dragon Highlander:
GUMomir VigGU
Gen. George S Patton, Jr
EDIT: Dang. I thought Marble Chalice was "Target player", not "you". It'd be useless with Sylvan Bounty, Natural Spring and the like, but there's gotta be cards out there that give your opponent life, they just haven't come to mind yet.
Modern:
GRB Jund BRG
RBU Grixis Delver UBR
Legacy:
W Death & Taxes W
GRB Punishing Jund BRG
GUR Canadian Threshold RUG
Commander:
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Quotes in blog.
No. You get Fog for B. Which is, well Darkness. Also Baneslayer Angel is two words. And that's only a reasonable card to include if you're certain you'll be playing against 'slayer. Even then you're better off with Doom Blade or Hideous End.
If you can get 2+ in your hand, you only need the 'trigger' once. It's not like your opponent needs to gain life twice to play 2 of them.
And while it's life-neutral vs. Baneslayer, it's not Fog, as the life is actually lost. This means that, e.g., this card can trigger Shadowmoor Sygg in Extended, even though the life totals didn't change in a net sense.
I still like it, but it's just not that anti baneslayer that everyone's talking about.
Would be interesting if it had some other effect if you paid it's full casting cost instead of the trap cost. Nobody's going to play this for it's full cost. Even if it was something like they lose 5 life and you gain 10 life if you pay the full casting cost. Or it gets shuffled back into your library instead of the graveyard if you payed the full cost.
Currently Playing:
sorry sir, this does not work
Um... Yes it does. When you change a life total the rule is that the player gains or loses life to equal the new total. But as others have said, would you really want this over Doom Blade?
Sorry sir, It does. Read the Comp. rules.
CORRUPT IS GONE. YOU NOW HAVE THIS AS AN INSTANT SPEED FINISHER.(not to mention splashable)
Sanguine Bond though....... Yum.
I think it's a darn good sideboard card at least. B for a 5 life syphon? At uncommon? Count me in!
WUB TransmutElixir
WU <Mirror Mania>
Mono B Discard
(((W/U)(Shield)(W/U)))
MtgO
U/W Wall Control
U/W Sliders
Thanks to www.myextralife.com for my pic
Well said sir, the only place I feel this is even remotely good is extended where RDW could use this as a second flames of the blood hand and is still limited due to the fact that the majority of decks will at most run 2 life gain effect cards.
Yes, for everyone who points out how silly this is as Baneslayer 'tech', also realize that looking at just the trap aspect is just as narrow. Despite not being scalable like Consume Spirit/Corrupt, it's splashable to other decks and is still priced the same. This card is pretty sweet.
Errr.... If you ignore the trap part of the card, it's essentially Absorb Vis without the option to landcycle. Forget about constructed, that's not even all that playable in limited.
Agree that it's not really limited playable, even as a singleton (MAYBE if you had some crap endgame fattie picks).
The comparison to Absorb Vis isn't appropriate because that is very limited playable and constructed junk whereas this is the opposite. Again, this replaces Consume Spirit/Corrupt where appropriate in those decks. I highly doubt that any T1 Jund decks are gonna splash it in the MD or even SB but that possibility is a plus of the card, since it doesn't force you to commit to heavy Swamps.
Commander: *Five Color Fun-Stuff *Grixis Artifacts *Beast Tribal
Brawl: To Be Decided At Eldraine Release!
BUG Dredge BUG]
WUBRG Storm WUBRG
UBR FaerieStalker UBR
EDH
Sygg, River Cutthroat (1vs1)
Maga, Traitor to Mortals (multiplayer)