That's pretty expensive for a 2/2 with a 2 damage suicide. If you can swing +0/+2, he becomes very useful. A free Shock every turn is nothing to be sneered at. Getting that +0/+2 can push his total mana cost to or above 7cc, making it a far too pricey means to multiple Shocks.
GrimGorgon, the Clout of the Dominus would do nothing...shroud would not protect it from the 3 damage...Also this flavor texts represents the card perfectly...
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Far too expensive for what it does. And since M10 rulings, you can't even let this thing deal both damage by blocking and by activating its suicidal burn. Bothering with combos like Blue Ward are normally not worth it.
I prefer the Sliver remake of this. Far more combo potential.
Also, i think this is the only Æther-related card which only mentions it on the flavor text, not on the card's name itself.
GrimGorgonBC
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Edited
Mister_Tapwater
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
It's kind of cool how this card and Bloodshot Trainee have really similar mechanics, but one card rewards you for boosting its toughness, the other, its power. It's also noteworthy that if they reprinted this guy he'd definitely be red. This template is really simple, but it has a similar gameplay effect to the more complicated wording on the trainee, with the added bonus that it enables this to interact with cards that care about creatures taking damage. His power level seems pretty low now, especially compared to modern five and six drop creatures, but even taking that into consideration he was probably always a lot worse than just Psionic Blasting them for 2 less mana. 2/5
themlsna
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Hero's Resolve now if you can untap him, you can even hit for 4 damage/ turn.
GainsBanding
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
They missed an opportunity for symmetry by not making the numbers 4 and 2 like Psionic Blast.
Missile_Penguin
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Back in the day this guy plus Web was actually a big deal. They commonly appeared together in a U/G deck with Prodigal Sorcerer and Fungusaur to abuse the Fungusaur's growth ability. Having a bunch of pingers and this big pinger didn't hurt either.
Paolino
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Were it costed it would be worth some combos to keep it alive after use, but at it's completely unservable. I like old cards a lot from a flavorful perspective, for their very original artworks and their particular flavor texts, but I must admit that most of them are unplayable for modern standards.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He would almost not suck if he didn't suicide himself.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Curses, looks like I'm gonna have to cancel my Susan Van Camp theme deck.
Unless...R&D's Secret Lair, you've done it again!
MICKEY.KNOX
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That guy looks upset that a snake with arms is licking his nipple... I can't imagine why.
SeriouslyFacetious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's unfortunate that this card's CMC prices it right out of the market, because he's so cool. They never really pursued "psionics" that much in MtG, which kind of a shame. I could see the Simic "breeding out the species natural limitations" in "The Escape from the Return to Ravnica", or something...
Really good for fun casual theme decks, tho. I once made a janky Bant coloured deck in Shandalar that had these plus Instill Energy and Blue Ward as the win-con.
Comments (14)
Also, lol Justin Hampton ruling.
I prefer the Sliver remake of this. Far more combo potential.
Also, i think this is the only Æther-related card which only mentions it on the flavor text, not on the card's name itself.
I like old cards a lot from a flavorful perspective, for their very original artworks and their particular flavor texts, but I must admit that most of them are unplayable for modern standards.
Unless...R&D's Secret Lair, you've done it again!
Really good for fun casual theme decks, tho. I once made a janky Bant coloured deck in Shandalar that had these plus Instill Energy and Blue Ward as the win-con.