I love that they reprinted this card and I think it'll be especially fun to use in a multiplayer format like conspiracy. Glad they printed it at rare though, it's a bit underwhelming for a mythic.
I was testing cryptbreaker in control lists without additional zombies, the only creatures were itself and snapcaster mage. I think it works better in these styles of decks than in dedicated zombie decks, it's too slow in those most likely.
I'm surprised nobody's talking about cryptbreaker. In my testing it's behaved like pack rat in that it can take over games rapidly, but it's much better than the rat because it comes down on turn one and will eventually start drawing you cards. It works really well in a controlling shell, and it's usually the only creature I need to win games. the fact that the zombies enter untapped is a huge benefit as well.
At least the flavor's great, cause that's all this card's got going for it.
Seriously, you can even see the resemblance of the gods' statues and the eldrazi titans. emeria's wings even make out emrakul's figure.
The only reason this might see play in standard (and i think it might) is because ulamog is so insanely strong once you can cast him that playing one or two of these is justified.
Talking about "all the crap rares in the set" when most of the rares spoiled are intro pack rares and the rest of them are pretty good seems like jumping the gun. As for this card, it's really not as bad as people think it is. Yes, it's often worse then baleful strix, but not every card can be a legacy staple. The implications of a cheap ingest creature that gets better as the game goes on makes the processor cards, such as Blight Herder, really strong, and the fact that this card is basically never dead in your hand is good. having a 2 mana card that trades with their siege rhino's tasigurs, and other big things is certainly not bad, and drawing more cards later in the game makes it even better, this card is definately on my radar for a constructed staple while we see how the set pans out.
trun 6 cast this, lifegain means you don't die the following turn, turn 7 play a land and cast ulamog. probably the only reason this card will see play, but seeing how good ulamog is this isn't impossible. Also, triggers 3 landfalls (hello omnath)
Blight Herder is so strong!!!! a 4/5 and three 1/1's that you can sacrifice for mana if you can make it work, and you get the 1/1s even if blight herder itself is countered, which is amazing. The one question is: how easy will it be to make this work in standard?
It's not inconceivable that this sees constructed play. Survives languish, trades with ojutai, keeps seige rhinos and other big things locked down. keep in mind that most of our cheap removal is rotating, with the best option likely being Utter End, and this is out of the range of most burn. Clearly a bomb in limited with potential constructed applications; We'll have to see how the set pans out.
Mana cost: not a problem, explosive vegetation on turn 4 and you have it once you hit your next land drop. with elvish mystic, this goes even faster.
Clunky?!?!?! this card is most definitely not clunky, at least not as clunky as interpret the signs. While interpret the signs has the problem of being an expensive sorcery that didn't impact the board, which didn't allow blue decks that liked to run it the chance to hold up counterspells or otherwise be disruptive, this card doesn't suffer that problem in the same way. assume one of the less desirable scenarios: hitting a courser of kruphix as your best creature in the 5. if you choose to leave it on top, you draw 2 cards and gain 4 life, which isn't impressive at first, HOWEVER it STILL is much better than even some of the better interpret the signs. Gaining the life is the most overlooked part of this card, but the most important, as it could save you an entire turn of being hit. Courser off of this card absorbs an entire rhino shot with the 4 life, which makes it hard for the opponent to start a race with you, expecially since you just scried 5 and are very likely to have an answer to whatever they play, especially if they try to overextend due to your lack of board presence because of casting this card. now if courser was a bad scenario, imagine hitting an Arbor Colossus, or a Gaea's Revenge. Not only doing that, but making sure you draw into what you want with the Scry 5 (even if you whiff on creatures entirely), as well as preserving your life total to be able to cast this kind of spell, is what makes this card good.
Standard play: Maybe, if more decks start to run explosive vegetation like i think they will. Very good casual and commander card.
am i the only one who's excited for Priest of the blood rite? that card is crazy good. beats rhino, ojutai, pretty much any other creature in the format, and also comes with a 2/2 who attacks until he dies or can be used with blink/reanimate shenanigans. the 2 creatures for 1 card is also a good deal against sweepers, and if they kill the demon it gives you time to play with the priest and use it to better effect. Works well with the new liliana too.
Stonybrook schoolmaster + wanderwine prophets for infinite turns provided they aren't blocked.
Seriously, you can even see the resemblance of the gods' statues and the eldrazi titans. emeria's wings even make out emrakul's figure.
The only reason this might see play in standard (and i think it might) is because ulamog is so insanely strong once you can cast him that playing one or two of these is justified.
I probably will play it in my edh deck though.
Clunky?!?!?! this card is most definitely not clunky, at least not as clunky as interpret the signs. While interpret the signs has the problem of being an expensive sorcery that didn't impact the board, which didn't allow blue decks that liked to run it the chance to hold up counterspells or otherwise be disruptive, this card doesn't suffer that problem in the same way. assume one of the less desirable scenarios: hitting a courser of kruphix as your best creature in the 5. if you choose to leave it on top, you draw 2 cards and gain 4 life, which isn't impressive at first, HOWEVER it STILL is much better than even some of the better interpret the signs. Gaining the life is the most overlooked part of this card, but the most important, as it could save you an entire turn of being hit. Courser off of this card absorbs an entire rhino shot with the 4 life, which makes it hard for the opponent to start a race with you, expecially since you just scried 5 and are very likely to have an answer to whatever they play, especially if they try to overextend due to your lack of board presence because of casting this card. now if courser was a bad scenario, imagine hitting an Arbor Colossus, or a Gaea's Revenge. Not only doing that, but making sure you draw into what you want with the Scry 5 (even if you whiff on creatures entirely), as well as preserving your life total to be able to cast this kind of spell, is what makes this card good.
Standard play: Maybe, if more decks start to run explosive vegetation like i think they will. Very good casual and commander card.