One of the more intuitive new cards. It captures the essence of the wish giving Djinn.
SavageBrain89
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Perfect flavor with an ability that is extremely awesome. Easily one of the best and most interesting cards in 2010th edition.
Dragek
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
I like the flavor of the card, but I feel like his ability's cost makes him a tad underwhelming
True_Mumin
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(7 votes)
I disagree on the flavor issue. If I wish for something, wouldn't it be something more specific than the random card at the top of my library? Seems flawed to me. Power-wise, he's okay, but not too great. Unfortunately, he's the only decent blue rare of this whole damn failure of a set.
MasterOfEtherium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
This Guy Is Sick Had Him At The Pre And Took It All Home
ChaosFire
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Djinn is good. I got him at a pre-release and he definitely works well....in a draft. Paying 5 for a 4/4 with flying and an ability is fine. My problem is that the ability costs 4 to play. In most cases, you're paying more for the spell than its actual mana cost. And what if you can't play the card? Well, too bad, its exiled. Personally, I think he's overrated.
Nickwright
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
But you're paying 4 mana to play a card you're not supposed to be playing yet. Sure that horned turtle costs 3 to play originally, but he wasn't in your hand yet was he?
Studoku
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
This guy comboes well with anything that allows you to see the top card of your library and extremely well with scry effects.
SerendibAl
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
What about X spells? Good top-down design; oh boy daddy needs a counterspell now! So glad they didn't make the ability a sorcery.
Djinn + Liliana Vess (2nd Ability) = Turn 5 Bolas A good card as far as blue creatures though. I'm sure the more experienced players can cause massive havoc in casual play with this guy.
SpazTheFallen
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I like how the symbol on his head is similar to Yawgmoth's.
Also, to JonnyPhoenyx ,unless you had some random, nonsense mana-accel in a deck with blue and black, you wouldnt get Bolas out on Turn 5 with it, because youd need 9 mana to play the djinn and use his ability.
But I do like the idea of using him with Liliana.
GrimGorgonBC
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I say the best Djinn made yet(maybe illuminatis is better) But it plays really good with scry. This card plus the Capracious efreet(which is the best efreet made yet) are pure gold flavor for me.
darkerthought7
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I play blue and have a fairly weak set of creatures to play with for reasonable costs. This guy's just awesome. Sure, his ability is a bit pricy, but a flying 4/4 for 5 mana puts the hurt on most people just fine, with or without the ability to make wishes.
Iiory
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
it`s my little nauthy djinn
the_keeper
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
He's one of favorite cards in the new set. My favorite Combo with him is to use up my wish counters, then Unsummon him for three more. Along with Sage owl and other library searching cards he's kinda hard to fail with. I never use a wish counter unless I'm absolutely sure the card I get is worth it though. For example using a wish to get a couple of Nemesis of Reasons or Traumatize isn't a half bad thing.
No X spells do not count. It can only play the converted mana cost. "IF" you were to play an X burn for example you could deal infinite damage. But clearly the card makers thought of this so you cannot play X burns or even if you did you would deal or gain zero life for example-note(you would only be able to pay the cost of the non X cost.)
JarathWulfenstein
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
This guy has been a staple in my deck since I started playing. Combined with Ponder, if you've saved mana then being able to play a Mirror Sigil Sergeant for 4 on my opponent's turn and having 2 of him on my upkeep is a lovely, lovely thing.
mordecai17
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
this guy works well with Liliana's second ability.
i just wish his ability costed less, even 1 less would be ok.
turn 5 this, turn 6, sage owl then the ability, set up for awesome things like, Iona, Darksteel, basicly anything with a good thud as it is played, time warp perhaps, nicol bolas, whatever you need
this also combos very well with sphinx of jwar isle, look at top card any time you want
makes this one of 3 creatures in a control deck, other 2 are the sphinx and the owl already mentioned
U-caster
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Personally I love this card. Its currently my favorite, at least until I find something that I like better. For now though, he's a staple.
Grimn777
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
strictly better than air elemental, so already solid. As has been mentioned, great synergy with Sphinx of jwar isle, as well as ponder. with enough control and big bomb spells, could be a feasible strategy.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Kind of out there, but if you use djinn of wishes with djinn illuminatus you can play a spell for free then copy it multiple times. Use magus of the future to find out what you have on top of your deck and thereby not waste wish counters.
MetalFreekz13
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Easy way to cut his ability cost in half for my black & blue bruiser deck: bring out two Nightscape Familiars. Done. I can now bring him out for three and activate his ability for two isles =) works great with my sage owls and ponder, and i can bring out my Nightmare for free on turn four, bring out Sanguine Bond on turn five, and at turn 6, equip him with Vampire's Bite and smack you in the face with a 15/12 flying horsie with lifelink (yes, it will be 15/12 because i will make sure Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is one of my lands, which makes all my lands double as swamps ;D) for DOUBLE DAMAGE (thanks to Sanguine Bond ;D). Hell. Yea.
DrPompousMD
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My blue deck's got five kinds of djinn in it and this is my favorite (this and the Illuminatus, of course). Not only is it stylish but the whole "wish-granting" mechanic makes sense.
I suppose you could use Mystic Speculation to cycle your top card, or Clockspinning to put wish counters on it.
I use Braids, Conjurer Adept to put it in for free on the 5th turn, then spend the 4 mana to play my top card (hopefully a Djinn Illuminatus or a Deep-Sea Kraken).
With the revelation of the new Jace, this card just became disgusting. You brainstorm to set up your top deck and can perfectly control your wishes.
thezanet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is an Air Elemental on roids, man!
ClowWizardEriol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wish this ability would allow you to play a land on your opponent's turn. That would drive this card's utility up overall, so that even if you don't have a way to peek at your library, your card is less likely to be wasted.
Also, considering the number of rulings on this card, I find the card text Wizards used to be insufficient. Wizards always stated that they wanted to attract new players with M10, but cards like this do not help with that. They should have probably decreased the text size and put in some reminder text.
lukemol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
zpfriem: Whispersilk Cloak is much better for protecting him. It also makes him unblockable. And it's in the same set.
With Halimar Depths, he's a whole lot better because you can save yourself from using other search/scry spells and can save that mana for his ability.
Also, to make him even more useful than his bad self already is, have things that can return creatures or permanents to their owners' hands so that he can get even more counters on him by being played again. Whiplash Trap could be a good one. Or just an Unsummon.
Can imagine it working well with Bringer of the Black Dawn. Interesting card. Haven't tried it out yet.
EvilCleavage
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh man this goes great with sphinx of jwar isle! Throw two of each in your mono blue, or blue/whatever and the sphinx will cover your back for the last quarter or half of the game, while the djinn will be playing any more of your expensive cards and you can always choose to wait for the right one, with the sphinx's future sight ability. Definitely can finish the game with this duo delight!
Uhhsam
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
how does the ruling work on cards with an X? on this page it only mentions conspire and kicker costs being available. if the top card of your library is a fireball, do you still get to pay X or does the djinn basically say 'your fireball does 0 damage, a ha!'
Good with Ponder, and with creatures that average a higher maner cost than the effect itself, its a bit of a risk in most cases, but if your not in the liking of taking risks, i think you should really consider why you decided to play blue...
Lord_Ascapelion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Whenever my friend plays this card, I start singing the Robot Unicorn Attack theme song. Make your wishes come true indeed.
I've made a deck comboing this and Liliana Vess. Fetch Eldrazi titans and wreak havoc!
faisjdas
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(7 votes)
Insane story with this guy:
I was in topdeck mode and was about to die next turn. My opp was playing suicede black, and had a Shade, a Hippy, and a Tombstalker out.
I only had one copy of Wrath of God left in my deck, and I had about 20 cards left in my library.
I remove his last wish counter and . . . wrath of god.
Echoes_of_Deception
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why has no one yet mentioned the Gilder Bairn? Ouphes need love, too!
iondragonx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really wish they had left this card in standard! It combos so well with Training Ground and Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
Notoriety
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great flavor! Fun with Gilder Bairn (preferably equipped with a Paradise Mantle), though the prohibitively high ability costs of both this and Gilder Bairn obstructs that somewhat unless you have a Training Grounds. Besides, that breaks the "three wishes" flavor.
Blue seems to love representing cards as glowing dots, as in the new art for Fact or Fiction.
vomitron6000
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
my younger brother asked me and i'm not sure, as i am not a judge, if you reveal Emrakul, do you get the extra turn? it does say you may play it without paying it's mana cost. thanks.
Scry, Scry, and Scry some more! Then make a wish at instant speed. When they attack, EOT, whenever. 4/5, only because there are betterthings to spend your mana on in blue. Could be nice for combos.
Test-Subject_217601
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
"You can't wish for more wishes!" "Fine, I'll wish for more Genies."
I personally LOVE this card. It's incredibly easy for me to stack the top few cards, as I play with Mirri's Guile AND Sylvan Library a LOT, so, I can easily stack the next card or two, and then use this to get something really good out.
Eved
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I said this about Conundrum Sphinx and I'll say it about this guys too.
I've been playing this card longer then the sphinx, not sure why I never bothered to say anything like that here. I mean, I use them in the same deck even. Oh, and great idea RazzmatazzTheGreat about using Thrummingbird.
Dark_Raider
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Maybe people would start to like Air Elemental.... If it wasn't for the fact that wizard just loves to print something that is _absolutely_ better in nigh every set! Just look at the friggin' list:
Comments (66)
A good card as far as blue creatures though. I'm sure the more experienced players can cause massive havoc in casual play with this guy.
Also, to JonnyPhoenyx ,unless you had some random, nonsense mana-accel in a deck with blue and black, you wouldnt get Bolas out on Turn 5 with it, because youd need 9 mana to play the djinn and use his ability.
But I do like the idea of using him with Liliana.
i just wish his ability costed less, even 1 less would be ok.
still, 4/5 IMO
Library searching cards such as Sage Owl, Sensei's Divining Top, Diabolic Tutor (to get the Djinn if you don't have him), a single Ponder, and Fabricate (to get Sensei's Diving Top). These cards allow you to setup your library to get Darksteel Colossus, Inkwell Leviathan, Sphinx Sovereign, and Devouring Strossus out much earlier than their mana cost allows. I also have Clone is there as well, and a few Oona, Queen of the Fae. Defense is in cards like Cancel, Essence Scatter, and Negate.
Fun deck to play.
this also combos very well with sphinx of jwar isle, look at top card any time you want
makes this one of 3 creatures in a control deck, other 2 are the sphinx and the owl already mentioned
I suppose you could use Mystic Speculation to cycle your top card, or Clockspinning to put wish counters on it.
I use Braids, Conjurer Adept to put it in for free on the 5th turn, then spend the 4 mana to play my top card (hopefully a Djinn Illuminatus or a Deep-Sea Kraken).
Also, considering the number of rulings on this card, I find the card text Wizards used to be insufficient. Wizards always stated that they wanted to attract new players with M10, but cards like this do not help with that. They should have probably decreased the text size and put in some reminder text.
With Halimar Depths, he's a whole lot better because you can save yourself from using other search/scry spells and can save that mana for his ability.
Also, to make him even more useful than his bad self already is, have things that can return creatures or permanents to their owners' hands so that he can get even more counters on him by being played again. Whiplash Trap could be a good one. Or just an Unsummon.
I'm making a deck for multiplayer based around him and Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir. With Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, Sorin Markov, Leyline of Singularity....Oh man, this is gonna be a fun deck. :)
Edit: So here is my game plan for Rise of the Eldrazi...
Jace, the Mind Sculptor+Halimar Depths+Djinn of Wishes+beefy Eldrazi= Win
Really want to try this with some scry.
I was in topdeck mode and was about to die next turn. My opp was playing suicede black, and had a Shade, a Hippy, and a Tombstalker out.
I only had one copy of Wrath of God left in my deck, and I had about 20 cards left in my library.
I remove his last wish counter and . . . wrath of god.
Blue seems to love representing cards as glowing dots, as in the new art for Fact or Fiction.
4/5, only because there are better things to spend your mana on in blue. Could be nice for combos.
"Fine, I'll wish for more Genies."
Inexorable Tide says you can wish for more wishes.
training grounds
inexorable tide
.....
use with
sphinx of jwar isle
so you know when to use it...
...
I keep telling people I'm not a fan of air elemental & that it's over-costed
Because blue has no way of knowing what is going to be on top.
Ponder
Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sage Owl
Augury Owl
Foresee
Preordain
Halimar Depths
No way at all.
I've been playing this card longer then the sphinx, not sure why I never bothered to say anything like that here. I mean, I use them in the same deck even. Oh, and great idea RazzmatazzTheGreat about using Thrummingbird.
Just look at the friggin' list:
Cloudhoof Kirin
Conundrum Sphinx (especially insulting since it's a mana less and actually has an added effect too)
Ethersworn Adjudicator (blue less, engine of infinite destruction, whut?)
Mistbind Clique
Serra Sphinx
And that's just everything that's absolutely better. Not even the ones that are /probably/ better.
Poor, poor air elemental :(
Seeing reprint in M12 :). So that combo's going to be in standard for a while buddy.