I can see it drafted for Reanimator decks, especially in conjunction with the likes of Putrid Imp and Wild Mongrel. Aggro RB or GB could see it played as well. Not 360 worthy, imo. Perhaps at 540
Have a helicopter drop you off out front. Light your cigar with a small Indonesian boy holding a black lotus. Then bust out a craw wurm deck with no sleeves. Raw dog shuffle, loose terribly, flip the table, leave in a hovercraft.
This card is actually so cool, and I'm really excited to pick up a copy (whether for cube or not).
I don't think it's going to be a Masked Admirers, which I feel is a bit overcosted for its effect. at 4, you have much better things to be doing. At 2, a 2/1 isn't the end of the world for most aggro decks, especially when you're scrabbling for a density of aggro creatures. the fact that it's a zombie means that it will play nice with gravecrawler as well.
i wonder how often it's ability will kick in though, even with aggro decks. usually i find myself holding on to a piece of removal or reach for the final push. seems like a cool card regardless.
The zombie needs first strike or something useful while you still have cards in hand. He's so fragile to be hoping that he survives your opponent's whole turn before you get any value off your otherwise 1B 2/1... worse than Walking Dead.
Interesting card. I think we might test this if we find a good cut. It works with reanimation, in aggro, it is a zombie, it is decent in pox. Its body is rather weak without any relevant abilities, but its upside is big so it might offset this.
It seems like a reverse Library of Alexandra on a stick, i.e. if you have zero cards you can draw and play two a turn. Seems just what you want from an aggro dude. Funny that he and Dark Confidant fill similiar roles but don't work great together:P
Blood Scrivener is very interesting. It's not a great (but passable) aggro body, though it's a Zombie (bonus), and best of all it's a free Phyrexian Arena when you empty your hand. Nice throwback to Hellbent. Black has the lowest and most aggressive CMC/curve of all my colours, so I'm interested. My gut instinct is that is probably not quite good enough, though. I don't tend to empty my hand all that often in cube, but it's something I'll look at in drafts next week as I could well be wrong.
Great design by the way. This should have been in Dissension...
Black needs more solid 2 drops. This feels like a solid 2 drop for me. Early on, he comes down and swings out. If he survives to the mid-game or beyond, fine, maybe you'll pick up some cards. The real joy is when you draw your little beater late. A lot of black's 2 drops are outclassed at that point and have minimal board presence. Not this fellow. He also works great with Oona's Prowler and Pack Rat.
The question is: how often is he going to be worse than Walking Corpse? My instinct says "more often than not" but it'll be interesting to see how he plays out.
The question is: how often is he going to be worse than Walking Corpse? My instinct says "more often than not" but it'll be interesting to see how he plays out.
How often is Library of Alexandria worse than a basic land (answer is somewhat often)? The low opportunity cost of this little zombie is likely well worth it IMO. (Btw I am not saying its as good as Library ... Just making a similar comparison on how WCS on both is the same and likely irrelevant)
Given that 1) the upside is incredibly high, 2) the cmc to p/t ratio is on par for aggro, 3) the cost to get the upside (emptying your hand) is something aggro decks do naturally (pox too, by the way), and 4) black not having a dearth of great 2-drops, I think this card merits testing at the very least. Oh, and it being a zombie is a nice bonus.
If he does end up being playable, it's one step closer to Cemetery Reaper being playable. Cuttups has mentioned it to me, and with all the zombies he seems like he's about to break that threshold.
And Putrid Imp looks nice in that package as well. I like the idea of more zombies, even though I don't like tribal in general.
It's natural tribal; it's not like the other zombies are getting forced in even though they're unplayable. Playing subpar humans/elves/goblins/etc. is not worth it to enable tribal cards, but good cards that work because of a large amount of enablers are worth it. For example, I don't think Kiki Jiki was too great, but with the addition of Zealous Conscripts and Resto Angel to go infinite in the past couple of years he now has the BCS of "win the game you assemble the two-card combo" in addition to being a value machine. With all the playable zombie to have come out recently, Reaper has gotten stronger as a result.
I really wish Cemetery Reaper would read: 2B, T: Exile target card from a graveyard. If a creature card is exiled this way, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
I agree with Phantizle, the question is how good the card will be in general, because the black two drops we have now are not that terrible that any 2/1 for 1B with a small upside will do, especially not at a smaller Cube size.
Intimidate would be nice as well. I REALLY like the design of this card. I just don't know if it's average impact will be strong enough to include in cube...
First off I am always glad to be talking about a black 2 drop that is not BB and is a Zombie. Graveborn muse is great with him as well. Frankly I like the idea of him with Pack Rat. Now I know Pack Rat is great but in my group it has become kill on site and I am often unwilling to reanimte the rat later as I am low on cards. This guy can really givea boost to the Rat, Lotleth Troll, or Wild Mongrel. And as a bonus he could end up being a nice combo with Necro but I have to look at the wording.
Edit: Ok it looks like it is a wash with Necro but it makes all your other draw spells +1 if you have an empty hand. Wheel of fortune, draw 8, and a few other nifty things. Faithless looting could get profitable. Wild guess and some of the other new red draw are interesting with this.
I think this card looks good. It's the one card that was spoiled today that I feel might be at least worth testing. It's a relevant creature type with a solid P/Cost ratio, and it has a really strong upside once you get hellbent. Like, really strong. I find myself in topdeck mode in aggro decks often enough; I think his ability will be quite relevant. I think your opponent will go out of their way to remove it (even if they trade unfavorably to remove it) just to prevent the CA engine from triggering. That's pretty nice on a 2cc creature.
Thoughts on this card? I know I've drafted some Black Red decks where this could be useful.
How big of a cube would this belong in?
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I don't think it's going to be a Masked Admirers, which I feel is a bit overcosted for its effect. at 4, you have much better things to be doing. At 2, a 2/1 isn't the end of the world for most aggro decks, especially when you're scrabbling for a density of aggro creatures. the fact that it's a zombie means that it will play nice with gravecrawler as well.
i wonder how often it's ability will kick in though, even with aggro decks. usually i find myself holding on to a piece of removal or reach for the final push. seems like a cool card regardless.
But he does work quite well with discard outlets.
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Anyway one relevant thing is that he is a zombie, so he works well with gravecrawler.
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T: why did you fix it. now i look silly.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=484979
I feel compelled to repeat everything I hear
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=385729
Blood Scrivener is very interesting. It's not a great (but passable) aggro body, though it's a Zombie (bonus), and best of all it's a free Phyrexian Arena when you empty your hand. Nice throwback to Hellbent. Black has the lowest and most aggressive CMC/curve of all my colours, so I'm interested. My gut instinct is that is probably not quite good enough, though. I don't tend to empty my hand all that often in cube, but it's something I'll look at in drafts next week as I could well be wrong.
Great design by the way. This should have been in Dissension...
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How often is Library of Alexandria worse than a basic land (answer is somewhat often)? The low opportunity cost of this little zombie is likely well worth it IMO. (Btw I am not saying its as good as Library ... Just making a similar comparison on how WCS on both is the same and likely irrelevant)
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=385729
If he does end up being playable, it's one step closer to Cemetery Reaper being playable. Cuttups has mentioned it to me, and with all the zombies he seems like he's about to break that threshold.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
"What am I looking at? Ashes, dead man."
It's natural tribal; it's not like the other zombies are getting forced in even though they're unplayable. Playing subpar humans/elves/goblins/etc. is not worth it to enable tribal cards, but good cards that work because of a large amount of enablers are worth it. For example, I don't think Kiki Jiki was too great, but with the addition of Zealous Conscripts and Resto Angel to go infinite in the past couple of years he now has the BCS of "win the game you assemble the two-card combo" in addition to being a value machine. With all the playable zombie to have come out recently, Reaper has gotten stronger as a result.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I agree with Phantizle, the question is how good the card will be in general, because the black two drops we have now are not that terrible that any 2/1 for 1B with a small upside will do, especially not at a smaller Cube size.
"What am I looking at? Ashes, dead man."
Edit: Ok it looks like it is a wash with Necro but it makes all your other draw spells +1 if you have an empty hand. Wheel of fortune, draw 8, and a few other nifty things. Faithless looting could get profitable. Wild guess and some of the other new red draw are interesting with this.
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