Merfolk Looter is nowhere near as good as this guy. If you were to represent drawing a card as +1 and discarding or playing a card as -1 than Merfolk Looter is always a -1 because he causes you to both play him and discard a card for each draw. Archivist requires no discarded so the turn after you play him he's a 0 for card advantage then steadily rises from there on out.
NeedADispenserHere
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Merfolk Looter is still useful in madness or dredge strategies. This guy is better in general and is priced accordingly.
Salient
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Magpie
ereidivh
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@JL_Weber
I wouldn't say that Merfolk Looter is always worse than this guy. Understand that four mana is way more than 2 mana, and that, especially in blue, which cards you have in hand is more important than how many cards you have in hand.
I give this guy a 3.5/5. It would easily be a 4 as a 1/3, or even a 2/2. 1 toughness just scares me.
Hunter06
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Trash in standard, Gold in EDH 3.5/5 Stars
Burningsickle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
nice card; free draws are always nice. One could argue the mana cost being a little high, but people are more likely going to need the extra card draw later in the game anyways.
Comments (7)
This guy is better in general and is priced accordingly.
I wouldn't say that Merfolk Looter is always worse than this guy. Understand that four mana is way more than 2 mana, and that, especially in blue, which cards you have in hand is more important than how many cards you have in hand.
I give this guy a 3.5/5. It would easily be a 4 as a 1/3, or even a 2/2. 1 toughness just scares me.
3.5/5 Stars