Pointed Discussion

I don't understand why this was in Future Sight...

Turn this into a pinger with anything and you have an insta death machine on your hands.

Deadly recluse is like a better version of this. It has reach and deathtouch so its better off as a blocker but that 1 toughness doesn't do much for it. Of course in an Elf Deck, this might actually be good.

this card combos great with viridian longbow its so much fun.

I thought for sure that it was going to be in shadowmore. It is a real efficient threat in elf decks.

I prefer deadly recluse. if you have deathtouch, does power really matter?

In terms of projected deathtouch (viridian longbow combo) deadly recluse is more suited

@adam_b:"if you have deathtouch, does power really matter?"
I guess that you do not know about multi-blocking ?

I love Future Sight cards!!!

For something with reach and deathtouch is 1/2 better or worse then 2/1? While blocking, having that extra power won't help given the deathtouch and lack of first strike, but having the extra toughness could save your ass. When the creature pings power and toughness don't matter. On attack, greater power is better as you could kill multiple blockers or do extra damage to an opponent. Granted, the higher toughness can be better on attack if facing a small creature with first strike or if the opponent uses a very small blocker (1 power). Higher toughness is clearly better against any form of direct damage (such as being pinged).

On the whole I'd say that higher toughness is generally better for this type of creature. If you give it first strike or double strike that probably switches things to favor higher power. Note, however, that elves are a far better tribe then spiders.

I like it as 2/1. It's a creature with a hugely relevant tribe, not to mention it has twice the clock that deadly recluse does. This can be a threat or, effectively, a removal spell. Whereas recluse is stuck as a removal spell.

A really awesome blocker

This was in Future Sight because it was our introduction to the mechanics Deathtouch and Reach, which were keyworded in Future Sight, though I believe this was the only card in the set that had either ability. Since the keywording of these abilities, their frequency has substantially increased, which means that this little fellow did a very good job of opening up design space; Something many of his Futureshifted friends at rare and uncommon failed to do.

This and Psionic Gift FTW

Deadly Recluse is better in a vacuum, but its an elf, so that makes it about equal. And no one in their right mind would gang block a 2/1 deathtouch, though it does kill ur opponent a lot faster, presuming its not blocked by an arbitrary 1/1

Everyone says elf is the superior tribe. But how many elves do you see hanging around a Swarmyard, holding down the fort while you grow your Scute Mobs and armies of Ants?

As a COMMON? Dayum.

I actually like this better than recluse, by a lot. The extra point of toughness only matters when your opponent is attacking with 1/1s, and if you're being attacked by 1/1s they're probably attacking with a lot of them, so a single creature matters less anyway. With this, you can apply a reasonable clock and pressure your opponent to block, in which case they'll eventually be forced to block, likely trading your two-drop with a bigger creature.

I prefer Deadly Recluse. The art is better on this card, and the creature type is more relevant, but pingers are really popular among casual groups and players would be smart to take this guy out. But clearly if you're in an elf deck you will choose this over Deadly Recluse, and it's still a great choice.

2 power is twice as good as 1 power.
2 damage = 10 turn clock.
1 damage = 20 turn clock.

Toughness is good verse pingers, 1 power creatures, or 1 damage burns, but otherwise go with the power.

Pretty sure this is what Maro would call an "elegant common."