Unfortunately the casting cost is rather ridiculous, but a free bounce every three turns is not that bad actually.
Volcre
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
What an annoying card. Imagine if you suspend like 4 of these... it would be so funny.
yesnomu
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My green deck hates this card so much--bouncing my huge things every few turns ***es me off something fierce. Pretty great card, 3 mana for eternal bouncing. Raargh.
nammertime
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The casting cost is offset somewhat by the fact that you could just suspend it with 3 mana and wait for its first bounce effect rather than pay 6 to do it right away.
Donovan_Fabian
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Casting cost being ridiculous? I've played against these and to the contrary the card is ridiculous, it replays itself every couple turns. Even just 2 in play means your opponent never can keep a creature, and has half their land sent back to their hand pretty fast. This is one of the reasons blue is hard to keep fair, it either is very over powered because the only counter to blue is itself (counter spells can only be stopped by another counter spell, reality strobe can only be stopped by a counter spell, etc), or underpowered because it lacks the control it needs to not be over run.
Anyways, reality strobe is actually really nuts if anyone has ever seen it in play, no one ever hard casts it. Always suspend 3, preferably early in the game, and then continuing benefit until game ends.
KillerWhiskey
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Reality Strobe, meet Paradox Haze. *they make out shamefully*
4.5/5, but only for casual games. At best mono-blue without support might see it taking effect as late as turn six.
KarmasPayment
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Decent Card, but for the cost and/or simply the wait, I'd rather use Capsize or Wash Out.
Belz_
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very nice artwork. Very interesting card when combined with Twincast, Sigil Tracer or other such copiers.
fbninja
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Imprinting this with a panoptic mirror, with two paradox haze's in play would make sure your opponent wouldn't play anything. Ever.
KikiJikiTiki
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
When you've got out stuff like this, Jhoira's Timebug, Paradox Haze, and Rift Elemental out, your opponent isn't going anywhere. If you want to get rid of stuff entirely, you have Reality Acid. I've brought an opponent from 4 lands down to zero and finished with them having no permanents at all.
nevenshinko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hehe imagine suspending 4 of these..... :). Great art also
Mightyass
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Bad card. Not because its weak, but because its almost unplayable in Limited, you cannot put it in a Constructed deck AND you can t play it in a casual deck - it will either be useless, or very annoying for your opponents
GracefulInferno
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I personally enjoy having this card suspended following a Worldslayer attack. Even if you're bouncing lands, it's a wonderful way to set your opponent back even more.
BloodJunkie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card. Makes a good combo with Paradox Haze and even Jhoira's Timebug.
Of course, its offset by its cost. But what ridiculously overpowered card isn't? I personally think this is the perfect cost for such a weapon of mass destruction.
I play 4 of these in a UR, bounce/burn/control deck. In said deck, I do not have Paradox Haze or Jhoira's Timebug. Early game I hit with Disperse, Lightning Bolt, Electrolyze and the like. My opponent rarely is able to play something substantial by the time I drop this, and by then, nothing is playable anymore. Then I take him/her out with Chronozoa or Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind.
Anyone who says this card is bad, has never seen it in play, or has never seen it used in combination with other bounce cards and counter spells. Burns are just a nice bonus in the mix. This card makes me LOL.
5/5
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Queue repetitive techno music.
Moleland
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A lovely card - helps deal with anything without shroud for ever!
Blackwatch_00
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At first look I was like BLAAHHH another boomerang... now 4 of these are the foundation of my White/Blue/Black control deck. by either using Venser,The Sojourner to blink or by hard casting Glimmerpoint Stags/Skinrenders/Contagion Engine etc , you can use Reality Strobes to there full potential by choosing your opponents cards or your own to recast your own creatures more effects.... I usually put them suspended state off the bat.... by having 2 or more suspended at different times can delay the match in your favor for several turns.... 5/5 for knowing its full potential
tcollins
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Capsize = {1}{U}{U} or {4}{U}{U} (with buyback) Reality Strobe, essentially a reusable, delayed Capsize..seems to have mashed both of the best things about Capsize into one card. It doesn't have the spot-removal of Capsize, {4}{U}{U} to hardcast is alot to remove a threat, especially when you need it removed quickly> It could work with effects that remove suspend counters, such as Jhoira's Timebug or Fury Charm which was the focus of the set. Nonetheless if I'm going to wait for a suspend card to trigger it's going to be something beefier like Curse of the Cabal or Deep-Sea Kraken.
Fictionarious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A permanent that never enters the battlefield. Looks like a great card.
QUESTION: With Leyline of Anticipation out, could this be suspended during the opponent's end step? It says "rather than play this from your hand, you may suspend" which makes me think it's more of a replacement effect that would allow this.
DeadLeeCoC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Donovan_Fabian
I agree with most of what you said, except for only "blue counters blue". The best answer for a blue counterspell is a black duress.
You pay one black cast duress, and either a) you make them discard the counterspell, and get to see if they're holding another one. b) they pay two mana and counter the duress, and have 2 less mana to cast the next counterspell with.
Either way, the counterspell is gone.
But yes, it is very difficult to keep blue balanced.
RJDroid
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I haven't used this in a deck yet, but the art is absolutely gorgeous in foil.
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The main problem with this is that any funky deck scheme built around making it go off all the time would be much better built around Chronomantic Escape.
MrGoodSire
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
When I play this card I imagine my planeswalker standing on top of my dominion in the midst of heated battle. Then the strobe lights hit and techno starts playing as creatures clash and spells are cast.
My planeswalker may or may not be decked out in glow sticks.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Better than the rest of the cycle because it's pretty much guaranteed removal for basically EVERYTHING. Getting three out and having a free Boomerang each turn is glorious.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sweet card, this with Arc Blade would make a fun little deck.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What happens if the last time counter is removed while there are no permanents on the field?
spirit_of_blue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@DeadLeeCoC: The best answer for a blue counterspell is a black duress.
It really depends on actual situation. Lets say both players have 4 cards in hand and black player would play duress only to see 4 various counterspells in blue players hand. 1 will be discarded and now both players have 3 cards in hand.
Philosophical mind games. Black player is happy for discarding counterspell, blue player is happy for "countering" for 0 mana, thus have open mana for next countering of real threat. Both players are happy for reaching their goal. ;-) Actually it is my "magic greenhorn years experience" from casual games with my friend we played many years ago. He had dedicated black discard deck, I had dedicated blue counterspell deck. Unless he tried discarding 2 for 1 like with Hymn to Tourach or Mind Rot, I did not bother countering 1 card discard spell as it was card for card.
@ Arachnos: What happens if the last time counter is removed while there are no permanents on the field?
Spell does not have legal target and goes to graveyard. It will not be suspended again.
elhajjaj
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Question: Is there a way to make this spell colorless with Ersatz Gnomes or some similar spell/effect as it comes out of suspension?
Enelysios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ elhajjaj - Yes, after the last time counter is removed from it while it is suspended it is cast, it can then be countered, gnomed, moonlaced or anything else that you can do to spells. However, when it comes back, it will be a new spell and you will need to make it colorless again.
Comments (29)
Anyways, reality strobe is actually really nuts if anyone has ever seen it in play, no one ever hard casts it. Always suspend 3, preferably early in the game, and then continuing benefit until game ends.
4.5/5, but only for casual games. At best mono-blue without support might see it taking effect as late as turn six.
Not because its weak, but because its almost unplayable in Limited, you cannot put it in a Constructed deck AND you can t play it in a casual deck - it will either be useless, or very annoying for your opponents
Of course, its offset by its cost. But what ridiculously overpowered card isn't? I personally think this is the perfect cost for such a weapon of mass destruction.
I play 4 of these in a UR, bounce/burn/control deck. In said deck, I do not have Paradox Haze or Jhoira's Timebug. Early game I hit with Disperse, Lightning Bolt, Electrolyze and the like. My opponent rarely is able to play something substantial by the time I drop this, and by then, nothing is playable anymore. Then I take him/her out with Chronozoa or Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind.
Anyone who says this card is bad, has never seen it in play, or has never seen it used in combination with other bounce cards and counter spells. Burns are just a nice bonus in the mix. This card makes me LOL.
5/5
Reality Strobe, essentially a reusable, delayed Capsize..seems to have mashed both of the best things about Capsize into one card. It doesn't have the spot-removal of Capsize, {4}{U}{U} to hardcast is alot to remove a threat, especially when you need it removed quickly> It could work with effects that remove suspend counters, such as Jhoira's Timebug or Fury Charm which was the focus of the set. Nonetheless if I'm going to wait for a suspend card to trigger it's going to be something beefier like Curse of the Cabal or Deep-Sea Kraken.
QUESTION: With Leyline of Anticipation out, could this be suspended during the opponent's end step? It says "rather than play this from your hand, you may suspend" which makes me think it's more of a replacement effect that would allow this.
I agree with most of what you said, except for only "blue counters blue". The best answer for a blue counterspell is a black duress.
You pay one black cast duress, and either
a) you make them discard the counterspell, and get to see if they're holding another one.
b) they pay two mana and counter the duress, and have 2 less mana to cast the next counterspell with.
Either way, the counterspell is gone.
But yes, it is very difficult to keep blue balanced.
Then the strobe lights hit and techno starts playing as creatures clash and spells are cast.
My planeswalker may or may not be decked out in glow sticks.
The best answer for a blue counterspell is a black duress.
It really depends on actual situation. Lets say both players have 4 cards in hand and black player would play duress only to see 4 various counterspells in blue players hand. 1 will be discarded and now both players have 3 cards in hand.
Philosophical mind games. Black player is happy for discarding counterspell, blue player is happy for "countering" for 0 mana, thus have open mana for next countering of real threat. Both players are happy for reaching their goal. ;-) Actually it is my "magic greenhorn years experience" from casual games with my friend we played many years ago. He had dedicated black discard deck, I had dedicated blue counterspell deck. Unless he tried discarding 2 for 1 like with Hymn to Tourach or Mind Rot, I did not bother countering 1 card discard spell as it was card for card.
@ Arachnos:
What happens if the last time counter is removed while there are no permanents on the field?
Spell does not have legal target and goes to graveyard. It will not be suspended again.