MTG Salvation

I sat down across from a Chromium player the other day at my LGS. One of the guys in the group read it and said "Rampage?! What's Rampage?"

Then I realized that there are lots of obscure old mechanics that I've never really used in EDH, like rampage, phasing, flanking, and banding. I almost played shield bearer in doran, but he got cut for something good.

Are there other old mechanics I'm forgetting about that I've probably never used? (Pre-6th edition-ish)

What cards could you see yourself playing (or do you currently play?) that feature these beauties?

The power in banding is in the time you need to explain how it works.

Shimmer is an awesome card that doesn't get enough play. Otherwise Equipoise or Teferi's Veil are the only other two I've seen played.

Vanishing is great, especially in Zur, but also in any deck where you want to politically control another creature or give one of yours good protection.

Quote from therestless

It would be cool to see Dauthi Embrace played more but I haven't built a deck that would make very good use of it.

I use Dauthi Embrace specifically, plus a fair number of shadow creatures in different colors (mostly white, black and blue). Making things essentially unblockable is pretty good, especially in regard to general damage.

Reality Ripple is fun. Particluarly when combined with Radiate

Quote from JWK

I use Dauthi Embrace specifically, plus a fair number of shadow creatures in different colors (mostly white, black and blue). Making things essentially unblockable is pretty good, especially in regard to general damage.

If you're playing a black general that wants to get in with damage, this is practically an auto-include. I love it, and it's pretty sweet playing politics by giving an opponents creature shadow too.

Shadow Rift is decent too, especially in Voltrons like Rafiq and Thada Adel.

I run a Soraya the Falconer Bird/Solder tribal deck, and while I don't use Soraya's activated ability very often, it has come in handy on a few occasions. It's a combat trick nobody sees coming, because they can't understand what the hell it's doing!

Quote from (cryogen)

If you're playing a black general that wants to get in with damage, this is practically an auto-include. I love it, and it's pretty sweet playing politics by giving an opponents creature shadow too.

Ripping off great advice from mtgs poster Wildfire: DE can also be used to prevent your opponents' creatures from blocking too (by giving them shadow against non-shadow attackers)! I had always thought of it for use on my own creatures, but it can be a very powerful political tool if you can screw with other players combat options as well.

Quote from Dolono

Ripping off great advice from mtgs poster Wildfire: DE can also be used to prevent your opponents' creatures from blocking too (by giving them shadow against non-shadow attackers)! I had always thought of it for use on my own creatures, but it can be a very powerful political tool if you can screw with other players combat options as well.

Yep, absolutely. I've played that game with Dauthi Embrace as well, allowing other players to get attacks through against whomever had the best board position, or the guy we know was about to combo out, or whatever.

"So, I've got a Swords to Plowshares in hand. If your Grave Titan comes my way, you can guess what will happen. Wouldn't it be neat if he could get in a hit on (the Sharuum player) sitting back behind his wall of chump blockers?"

It may not be the most subtle politicking in the world, but sometimes it works.

Quote from Lithl

I run a Soraya the Falconer Bird/Solder tribal deck, and while I don't use Soraya's activated ability very often, it has come in handy on a few occasions. It's a combat trick nobody sees coming, because they can't understand what the hell it's doing!

I briefly had a Soraya deck for basically the same reason. Threatening someone with the banding rules is a good way to manipulate combat to your own advantage (e.g. "wait, how does banding work again? Actually, no, don't bother explaining, I'll just let them through"). Then you blow their minds by using it defensively as well as offensively.

Banding is a good ability, i use it a lot back in time, with my Mesa Pegasus army....but seriously, its very good when you block, not that much when you attack.
And i think its one of the only way to block super-trample ability (for that matter)

I like shadow and flanking, use them from time to time.

And the only time ive ever use Rampage, is when i was playing Lure on a Craw Giant.... not that good...

The fact that no one's mentioned Old Fogey in this post is a clear oversight.