The art and Poe flavor text earns this full marks.
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Seeing how Chronozoa is superior to this card since Vanishing isn't a drawback there at all, i'm wondering why Wizards apparently doesn't think 3/3 flyers are alright for Core Sets - especially when regarding green or white creatures in M10 which are superior to precedant ones from earlier sets. They should have used this one one instead of Snapping Drake for blue.
GrimGorgonBC
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Ok 3/3 flying for 3U is damn good for back then, and retro art plus classic Poe = sweeett I want one!
AmericanVigor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Serving up uncommon win since 1993.
NARFNra
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(5 votes)
Damn, this art is actually pretty creepy.
justicarphaeton
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
They just don't make cards like this anymore. Big-bodied flyer at common for a reasonable price? Flavour text referencing real-life classic authors?
Remember, this is from back in the day when Hill Giant was a typical non-green creature, so it was an on-curve creature with an added useful ability... In blue. You don't see that very often.
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art is more of a horror than a monster...
Truly scary art
NoobOfLore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Should have been reprinted in Innistrad, IMO.
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Obvious power creep is obvious.
CFLuke
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very solid card. It's surprising how many casual decks still struggle with an efficient 3/3 flier. I have a really casual revised UG deck and more times than not, this one wins the day, especially because it's usually out early thanks to green ramp and becomes quite scary after slapping an unstable mutation and/or giant growth on it.
Aquillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why do people keep saying that this was good "back then" as if creatures have gotten better now? In other colors, maybe, but not in blue. In fact, WotC seems to have decided that this was too good for a creature -- see Snapping Drake,Moon Heron, Talas Air Ship, and Windscouter.
There have been a few better creatures out there (Voyager Drake and Chronozoa), but not in core; the fact that this was replaced in core by Snapping Drake is telling. Blue isn't supposed to get creatures quite this good anymore.
(Although really, all five of the mentioned creatures, including this one, are powerful in draft or sealed; three flying power for four mana with low color investment is always going to be worthwhile.)
RetroGamer3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It was reprinted as the deadly and better Dungeon Geists.
Salient
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The first card that ever gave me nightmares.
Bonus points for quoting Poe poetry that isn't The Raven.
Comments (15)
i'm wondering why Wizards apparently doesn't think
They should have used this one one instead of Snapping Drake for blue.
Truly scary art
There have been a few better creatures out there (Voyager Drake and Chronozoa), but not in core; the fact that this was replaced in core by Snapping Drake is telling. Blue isn't supposed to get creatures quite this good anymore.
(Although really, all five of the mentioned creatures, including this one, are powerful in draft or sealed; three flying power for four mana with low color investment is always going to be worthwhile.)
Bonus points for quoting Poe poetry that isn't The Raven.