I think that the exile is kind of the point, really. This is one of the uncommon card draw artifact books we have seen in many forms before, given a better mana rate but only given a limited number of usages... and pushed up to rare so it doesn’t show up in every draft.
The thought process is pretty clear, even if the end result is pretty ho-hum. It’s cheap enough for White EDH decks to consider, though (especially life gain decks).
I don't get this... Why would you ever want to put an extra page counter on it and not draw a card. Getting it quicker to getting four measly life points and exiling it hardly seems to be a payoff.
Sure the first ability is not to remove a page counter? I feel that would make sense, you can't use it for a turn but you set the clock back on losing it.
I don't get this... Why would you ever want to put an extra page counter on it and not draw a card. Getting it quicker to getting four measly life points and exiling it hardly seems to be a payoff.
Sure the first ability is not to remove a page counter? I feel that would make sense, you can't use it for a turn but you set the clock back on losing it.
@Rosy Dumplings: It's actually a rare.
I saw that it was a rare, which is why my post had this part.
I think that the exile is kind of the point, really. This is one of the uncommon card draw artifact books we have seen in many forms before, given a better mana rate but only given a limited number of usages... and pushed up to rare so it doesn’t show up in every draft.
Given Sunset Pyramid, I feel like this should be an uncommon too. I like the card, though. Would definitely consider this in monowhite EDH or even my Purphuros, Bronze-Blooded deck that really can't take advantage of red's "exile draw" cards.
Eh, seems alright. Reminds me of Treasure Map, but probably not as good. Being able to scry without paying 1 is good and the tap+sac Treasure cost of drawing with the Map is on par with the 2 mana cost, but with the Map you get to keep the flipped land which is much better than 4 life and getting Treasures can give you even more mana in a pinch.
The upside about this card compared to Map, however, is how it works well against both Aggro and Control. Against Aggro, it smoothes up your draws and digs for much needed removal at no mana investment, while also being lifegain. Against Control, it's a mana sink that allows you to effectively draw 4 cards as the game progresses. Versatile cards like these are very useful in the Arena BO1 format so maybe it has its niche.
Eh, since this thread has now been necroed, we can all revel in how much the people above suck at evaluating cards
Take a look at some of the Eldraine preview threads. People thought Cauldron Familiar was draft chaff and Embercleave was too expensive to ever see play.
but I know pretty much quite a bit of people on the web fail to evaluate cards sometimes.
I remember when everyone was wrong on emrakul, the promised end they thought that mind slaver effect was garbage due to the extra turn part and the pro from instants but proven wrong in a hurry heck it’s more expensive than the first variant just like the ulamog's.
"Brain Book" 2
Artifact Rare
T: Place a page counter on "Brain Book". Scry 1.
2, T: Place a page counter on "Brain Book" and draw a card.
When there are four or more page counters on "Brain Book", exile it. If you do,
you gain 4 life.
This was a translation done using Google Translate, no idea how close it is.
The thought process is pretty clear, even if the end result is pretty ho-hum. It’s cheap enough for White EDH decks to consider, though (especially life gain decks).
Sure the first ability is not to remove a page counter? I feel that would make sense, you can't use it for a turn but you set the clock back on losing it.
@Rosy Dumplings: It's actually a rare.
I saw that it was a rare, which is why my post had this part.
Check out my Youtube channel where I upload MTG content videos twice a week!
Mtg Lifestyle
The upside about this card compared to Map, however, is how it works well against both Aggro and Control. Against Aggro, it smoothes up your draws and digs for much needed removal at no mana investment, while also being lifegain. Against Control, it's a mana sink that allows you to effectively draw 4 cards as the game progresses. Versatile cards like these are very useful in the Arena BO1 format so maybe it has its niche.
Here are the whole text:
T: Put a page counter, scry 1.
2, T: Put a page counter, draw a card.
When there are four or more counter on <cardname>, exile it. If you do it, gain 4 life.
The 4 or more counter clause is seperated from last ability.
will be tolerable in monowhite, monored, or white/red edh decks on a budget but otherwise this card is terrible.
Yo! I was just about to say, look at all the morons outing themselves haha
Bravo sir.
Take a look at some of the Eldraine preview threads. People thought Cauldron Familiar was draft chaff and Embercleave was too expensive to ever see play.
but I know pretty much quite a bit of people on the web fail to evaluate cards sometimes.
I remember when everyone was wrong on emrakul, the promised end they thought that mind slaver effect was garbage due to the extra turn part and the pro from instants but proven wrong in a hurry heck it’s more expensive than the first variant just like the ulamog's.
I've played this enough times to know my initial read was accurate: card's okay. Nothing special. Coulda been uncommon.
I guess it's worth something now, but that's just cause value artifacts are good. Still coulda been uncommon. Not that it needed to be.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Honestly you are probably right, it could be uncommon but it's also won me games baby a time and probably would have been gross in draft at uncommon.