Pointed Discussion

I have been waiting for this dude for a long time. Festercreep was close, Phyrexian Debaser was close, but this dude is just better in most cases

The only problem I have this card is that it doesn't say you "may" give -1-1 to a creature it just say's to do it. so something needs to get it. sure hope they have something..

I think festering goblin may be a bit better because of A) cost, B) can respond with -1/-1 after blocking/attacking for extra damage

Well, don't play it looking at an empty board, that's just a waste of 2 mana. Sometimes useful, usually not... 2/5

nothing worth talking

Zen looks good for ramp based on elves/ birds/ cobras (WHY!?) this card is looking better everyday.

Useful for wiping out the ever-present one drop nightmares that opponents bring to the table... although for 2CC I always get the feeling that I could be doing it better.

Still, I can't say killing a Birds of Paradise with this thing would make me lose any sleep. Or a Steppe Lynx for that matter.

3/5

this is to festering goblin as sparkmage apprentice is to goblin arsonist

This is almost the evil twin of Ironshell Beetle! Only difference, I suppose, is that this little guy's CIP effect goes away at the end of the turn.

I wonder if this design similarity was intentional?

This card taught me the importance of the presence of an intervening 'may' or 'if' clause on a given card's effect. Sadly, as a newer player i let little Blister Beetle here nuke himself. As a (i would like to think) now more experience player, this is not such a bad effect, he's early-game removal when you need it. Also I'm sure there are some scenarios or possible decks (with graveyard recursion etc.) that could use what is essentially {1}{B} for a graveyard trigger.

One such example where this might be useful is if you're staring down a Darksteel Colossus and you have a Grave Pact under your control. In that situation Blister Beetle will quite usefully become a Diabolic Edict (albeit at sorcery speed, but still!)

The way it's struggling to climb atop that formation, it's kind of amiable. Go bug dude!

I really like this little guy, but he is just a little too weak. I think Festering Goblin knows what a card effect like this should be costed at.
I understand wotc's hesitance to make him any better, but as a counter-argument to that: Skinrender
Considering said render of skin, I am looking forward to the printing of this guy but with a -1/-1 counter rather than a temporary effect. Black really needs a 2 cost, single -1/-1 counter donating creature at this point (written during RTR) as Pith Driller looks really laughable when you put him next to the render.

Even the flavour text is taunting the strength and usefulness of the beetle. I mean, it's the same with Zombie Goliath's and Vastwood Gorger's flavour text.

Well, I guess you can't really have a universe without including some sort of weaker creatures that exist in it.

But then again, Goblins fit in that de***ion, but somehow seem to make ends meet.