Pointed Discussion

Costly, but a good mana-burner and field-clearer. Drop 8 mana, kill three creatures and draw three cards. Solid.

First i was like: "Whaaaat? That cost is over high!" but then i realized its quite good for that effect

If you go infinite mana in black for some reason, this can be used to draw out your win condition. Mono-black's mana acceleration can be good enough to back this card, I think. It's casual for sure, though.

Bear in mind though, shady tradesman, you've got to have X legal targets for the kill part or the spell flops. Still though, with Korlash, Heir to Blackblade and Cabal Coffers and Dark Rituals, you can devastate pretty well with this, mana be damned. Just watch those counterspells.

Am I correct in assuming that this card has two abilities: One which destroys creatures, and one which lets you draw cards? If this is correct, you can have zero legal targets to destroy, and still draw x cards.

There actually needs to be X creatures to target when you declare this, keep in mind. But if some of them die off before this resolves, you still draw X, regardless of how many critters the spell actually destroys.

@Kataklyzmik

Actually, you do still need X legal targets. If some of them become illegal, though, you still get to draw all X cards.

indeed appealing for draft... if you see it, suddenly you're gonna be splashing black.

Good for late game or if you have mana to burn. Too costly otherwise because six mana to kill a creature and draw a card is a lot. You can get that via two cards for less mana but of course that's two cards.

At first glance, this isn't all that appealing, what with the {X}{4}{B}. Yeck.
"Why would I do that instead of just Plague Wind?"
Well, use your head, dum-dum. Plague Wind doesn't draw you cards.
Considering the absurd numbers that black mass-mana can conjure, this quickly becomes viable and - in many cases- a very powerful board wiper. Even if X is only 2, that's two threats dealt with and two more cards in hand for a reasonable 7 mana. Although it may not be able to deal with every threat on the board, it gives you plenty of new options for dealing with the survivors.
And just like most X spells, I feel multiplayer EDH is where this black gem really shines.

Damn, those 7th Edition paladins are rad.

Better in decks with green ramp or mana dorks, but you can also use the Urborg/Coffers trick or artifact mana doublers to crank this out without a large investment.

*** YES

This would be astounding as an instant. Also SO. MUCH. CARD ADVANTAGE.

Here is how these spells with both "targeting effects and non-targeting effects" and spells with "multiple targets" work.
Ashes to Ashes is a good example. The targets need to be chosen before you can cast it. Ashes to Ashes needs to target two non-artifact creatures, exile them, then damage you for five. If both of those targeted creatures disappear before Ashes to Ashes resolves, Ashes to Ashes fizzles and you do not take five damage. If both creatures are there and legal upon resolution, the spell carries out as normal. If only one of the targets are there, you still exile the other and take five damage. A spell with multiple targets needs at least one of its' targets to remain legal for it to resolve. Doesn't matter if you dumped ten mana into this and someone killed a target of yours- you still resolve it with the remaining four targets and draw five cards. If you dump ten mana into this and they sac all five targets, the spell fizzles.

Helloooo, Battlefield Thaumaturge!