Seriously? If this is your problem, you are totally playing the wrong game.
It is GOOD that they make functional reprints (which this isn't, seeing as "zombie" has a ton of positive tribal interactions out there. This is functionally worse). I'm not going to waste my time presenting you with an argument, but consider that Nantuko Husk itself is a reprint of Phyrexian Ghoul.
That said, I still prefer Nantuko Husk (LOVE that card).
True_Mumin
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(6 votes)
My problem is, why did they choose to (re)print this? To show how much weaker it got under the new and "improved" rules?
RobinHood3000
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
I think the reason they changed it would be because having the Zombie Nantuko Husk in the same set as Cemetery Reaper would completely throw Limited out of balance, and with the Undead Slayer in this set, the power of this guy's ability is evened out.
ESUpin
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Vampires are supposed to be a part of the next set coming out, so I think that's why they didn't reprint Nantuko Husk.
vinkel
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
esupin has the right idea, i mean, just look at the spoilers, Blade of the bloodchief has aristocrats written all over it
sir_dwar
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
In limited, Quest for the gravelord just made this a whole lot better...
bhunji42
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Maybe Vampire Hounds will make a return and Vampires will receive new tribal stuff.
Cryonic
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Excellent combined with Bloodghast, even when your opponent is above 10 life. You can give Aristocrat +4/+4 by sacrificing Bloodghast, then playing your land, then sacrificing Bloodghast again. Now with Blade of the Bloodchief...
AXER
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
STFU with your arguing. You're supposed to say why this card is good not get offended because someone else doesn't think so. I like the fact you can sacrifice any creature with this card, which gives him a boost and then you can combine that with some Blade of the Bloodchief.
Demonic_Angel13
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
I love both Nantuko Husk and Vampire Aristocrat. The husk goes in my Zombie deck and the aritocrat goes in my vampire deck. I don't see why people complain about this. Wizards reprinted it to fit in standard with all the new Zendikar Vampires, though I wish they reprinted Nantuko Husk also.
TheTraitorKing
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
so it's Nantuko Husk disguised as Edward Cullen from Twilight.
A3Kitsune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As far as reprinting creatures with new names and new creature types goes, this is a very not-bad example. No-one's gunna play Nantuko Husk and Vamp Aristo in the same deck, so they don't imbalance the Extended enviroment. Aristo meshes with Zendakar's vamps, and even without tribal support, its a damn good creature. There are a handful of remade reprints in 2010 that should not have been printed, this is not one of them.
daekoaram
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
this card is good :) , you can sacrifice ur creature with pacifisms hehehe :D
ComradeZhukov
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
For my vampire/Abyssal Persecutor deck, this card words very very nicely...
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Very nice, Husky for vamps. Kalastria Highborn's boyfriend is of course a free sac engine.
Vedalken_Arbiter
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Now how to decide between this and bloodthrone vapmire?
Norro
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Sorry dude, but youve been replaced... Yes, it was your sister, Bloodthrone Vampire... sorry man, time to find a new job XD
SoulsDescend
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
This card can be great when used with Butcher of Malakir. Sac a creature to pump this guy up and force your opponent to sac one as well.
TheSwarm
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
With all the new eldrazi token cards this thing gets nuts
Lateralis0ne
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
The deal with functional reprints as far as I can tell is not just for limited or standard. Wizards takes into account eternal formats as well, and functional reprints (Evolving Wilds and Terramorphic Expanse, this, Phyrexian Ghoul and Nantuko Husk, Fyndhorn Elves and Llanowar Elves, etc. etc. etc.) really help out there. Think about it: you now have 8 basic land tutors, 2 in EDH. 12 creature sac effects (3 in EDH), 8 mana source elves (again, EDH has 2). It allows for larger numbers of a certain card that can make the deck run smoother, allows the Elder Dragon Highlander archtype and other Singleton archtypes to play with more than one of a certain card mechanic, and it also can help with the current flavor setting of the block or set where they want to redo the mechanic, in the case of the Aristocrat (Vampires are big recently) and the Husk (flavor-wise, it fit with the other Nantuko of that block).
It's not Wizards running out of ideas, guys. It's to help expand the game while keeping consistency and allowing further growth in deck building.
d-101
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The one extra mana over Bloodthrone Vampire's CMC for a higher starting power and toughness isn't really worth it; this guy comes out a tad too late to begin a decent sac engine (Bloodthrone benefits from combos on turn 3, while this guy has to wait a turn beyond that). However, he is a decent card in his own right. Still, more decks will likely find use out of Bloodthrone Vampire than this Aristocrat, if they have use for cards like this at all. 3/5
Arthindole
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(3 votes)
How is this 3.6 and nantuko is 4.5??! It's the same F'kn card!
bijart_dauth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
bloodthrone vampire is almost always better, that 1 less pt is worth getting it out a turn earlyer IMO. Expecially if the point is to be able to sac many things, that one mana is just another card to sac.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
"Won't you come in for a little bite?"
Magnor_Criol
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
@Arthindole: Because "Zombie Insect" > "Vampire".
ErikLauer
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(13 votes)
Erik's Random card 6/7/2011 Magic 2010 was the first core set in a long time to have new cards. Some of the new cards were mechanically old cards with a new creative treatment. This is one of them.
10th edition had Nantuko Husk. Why? Because the card made a lot of sense in Onslaught, which was printed five years before 10th edition. Since we didn't put new cards in the core set, the set was made of favorite cards from other sets. This makes a lot of sense, except that core sets are supposed to be the best sets for new players. A zombie insect is cool, but it does't tend excite people who don't yet know how to play Magic as much as a Vampire.
Meanwhile Vampires in popular culture had changed a bit. When Magic started, vampires were more of the singular, nearly-invincible monsters. So Vampires in Magic weren't tribes so much as singular powerful creatures. Aaron decided to change this towards something more tribal, where they "walk amoung us", and are closer to enhanced humans. Some developers were surprised that we were going to have Vampires that did not fly; this card helped me get it.
At the time, I wondered how this was going to turn out. I really haven't thought about it since; it feels natural to me, and I forgot that this really was a change.
Salient
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I admit, I am a creature of the city. The sights, the nightly excitement, the abundance of fine drink . . .
@Arthindole Nantuko Husk is better because it can combo with Gravecrawler and nearly go infinite. This can't because it's a vampire. The Zombie Insect thing actually counts in this case. It's not just flavor, but, Nantuko Husk has that as well IMO. You will have to use Reassembling Skeleton which makes it half as efficient, still a great combo in it's own right though.
Kirbster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Compare the pictures. There's no way this goof is a fair match for Phyrexian Ghoul.
XaiviarNightwing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What a rogue! With a build tin combat trick? In black, using a sac outlet! Sign me up for a play set. I will take 4 blade of the bloodchiefs and any number of the nasty rogue abilities!
jonrds
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
To everyone saying Bloodthrone Vampire is better, go actually rate it. Its currently sitting pretty low, which is sad, especially considering Blade of the Bloodchief exists.
Comments (33)
It is GOOD that they make functional reprints (which this isn't, seeing as "zombie" has a ton of positive tribal interactions out there. This is functionally worse). I'm not going to waste my time presenting you with an argument, but consider that Nantuko Husk itself is a reprint of Phyrexian Ghoul.
That said, I still prefer Nantuko Husk (LOVE that card).
Kalastria Highborn's boyfriend is of course a free sac engine.
It's not Wizards running out of ideas, guys. It's to help expand the game while keeping consistency and allowing further growth in deck building.
3/5
Magic 2010 was the first core set in a long time to have new cards. Some of the new cards were mechanically old cards with a new creative treatment. This is one of them.
10th edition had Nantuko Husk. Why? Because the card made a lot of sense in Onslaught, which was printed five years before 10th edition. Since we didn't put new cards in the core set, the set was made of favorite cards from other sets. This makes a lot of sense, except that core sets are supposed to be the best sets for new players. A zombie insect is cool, but it does't tend excite people who don't yet know how to play Magic as much as a Vampire.
Meanwhile Vampires in popular culture had changed a bit. When Magic started, vampires were more of the singular, nearly-invincible monsters. So Vampires in Magic weren't tribes so much as singular powerful creatures. Aaron decided to change this towards something more tribal, where they "walk amoung us", and are closer to enhanced humans. Some developers were surprised that we were going to have Vampires that did not fly; this card helped me get it.
At the time, I wondered how this was going to turn out. I really haven't thought about it since; it feels natural to me, and I forgot that this really was a change.
I can hear Christopher Walken intoning this