Good old Hyppie. Always playable, but probably doesn't have a home in Standard right now.
goldbones
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(8 votes)
This guy is a Lightning Bolt magnet. Too much potential to ignore, but not enough to win the game on his own.
God_of_Destruction
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Great card in any discarder deck...
spoonish
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
looks a bit dragon-like...
h4mx0r
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(8 votes)
If Dark Ritual ever got reprinted, this is your best friend for mono-black aggro.
MidnightsMystique
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I totally agree back in the day this card ruled in my "Death walker" deck. I sure miss those days. I am still trying to figure out since they reprinted Lightning bolt, and fog, Why didn't they reprint Black's and blue's power cards; Dark Ritual, and Counterspell. But I can't remember what White's power card was.
thelittleupsman
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
swords to plowshares?
Plantboy81
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
This guy was a staple back in the old days of Magic. It was so fun to drop him on turn 1 and listen to your opponent groan if she/he didn't have a bolt or a swords in hand. You could almost always count on gaining card advantage with this guy. The old artwork was cool too.
Dimastator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Please Reprint Dark ritual so that Underworld dreams will have the price rise again ^^P
mkniffen
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
The actual specter seems to be the tiny knight riding the dragon, I assume they just added the dragon to better explain why he has flying. This card is an all time favorite of mine
inmypants22
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(6 votes)
I like Hypnotic Specter, Old art is way better.
Laguz
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(16 votes)
I sure do miss the old days. Turn one dark ritual + this guy, turn two sinkhole or hymn to tourach, turn three mind twist...man, that stuff was fun. Modern M:TG doesn't even compare.
It needs the ritual to be in its full glory, but ol' hippie is still good nonetheless. The old artwork was better though...why are specters just ringwraiths?
PaladinOfSunhome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card, but he dies to easy o his own. You need to back him up. Giving him Shroud would be a great advantage.
4.0
ALL or almost all specters in magic are related to discard abilities, search in the gatherer for the word specter (with names, types and text), seriously they all are related to discard, this one being one of the best along with needle specter, and shimian specter.
fantastic art by one of my fav artists
i ran 4 of these on my black deck, really wish to put them on my mono black vamp deck just for saying "here is the hyppie MOFO" but they just don't fit in a vamp deck, too many good vamps to put on the deck
what happens if hypnotic specter and, say, Guul Draz Specter attacks together? Will the first card be discarded at random or by choice? The damage from both creatures will hit the opponent simultaneously?
raptorjesus69
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A fairly inexpensive soft-lock would be this plus Power of Fire to make your opponents discard cards right after they draw them.
Not that the hyppie isn't an amazing card by itself. Nearly every black discard deck that's worth a toot runs 4 of these.
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Turn One Hippie Love Both The Arts. & Random Random Random
BloodJunkie
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(6 votes)
@Doom_Lich and MidnightMystique :
Wow... I cannot believe you guys have never heard of Swords to Plowshares (That was white's power card). Lol... Don't even talk about old-school power cards without mentioning that one. And it was reprinted... in duel decks.
This card gets 5/5 though... I don't understand why it's rated 4.6, clearly some noob couldn't understand the sheer awesomeness of this card.
Lyoncet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think the art on Hyppie really illustrates (pun unintentional) my feelings on new vs. old art in general. The newer art seems to be very vivid, very realistic, and very visually pleasing. However, I tend to prefer the old art on a lot of cards regardless, since their beauty tends to lie in their conception and vision more than execution. See also Sol Ring.
I just took apart and traded my mono-black discard with The Rack, Underworld Dreams and Liliana Vess and a bunch of other cards to a friend of mine who is building his own discard deck.
I actually KEPT this card though because of the art and the flavor... that even though I really wasn't using it in any of my decks, I just couldn't part with it.
I have nothing but absolute LOVE for this classic. 5/5 even to this day.
divine_exodus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Good ol' hippie.
scumbling1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
All these years, I never once suspected Hippie was a ring wraith.
Artscrafter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Cybed: If this and a Guul Draz Specter both deal damage to your opponent in the same combat, then they will both trigger their abilities at the same time (provided neither of them has been given first strike without the other also getting it.) You get to choose in what order they are put on the stack. I would recommend ordering them so the non-random discard happens first; that way, the opponent pitches their least valuable card and makes it more likely that the random one will hit something good.
tantallum99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
2/2 flyer with random discard. you will either empty your opponent's hand or they will use a removal spell on it, paving the way for one of your bigger creatures. either way it is very effective
BlackAlbino
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(7 votes)
this shreds your opponents hand much faster than expected... just love this guy and the old artwork was not better IMO, it just looked... like some out of proportion toy armor floating there with a tail and eyes. oh wait, thats what it is ill take ring wraith guy over that. especially when it looks this awesome
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
nice with Fire Whip, too. Not only for aggro decks!
SirMalkin
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
The new art is so stupid. You don't give a 2/2 a friggin' dragon to ride on.
EGarrett01
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's creature type should be changed to Legendary Troll.
Anathame
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(10 votes)
the best creature ever printed.
Prove me wrong.
Paladin85
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Clearly a staple in almost any black deck, though cards released that use the graveyard could work against you if they happen to be the one discarded eg: (Anger, Haakon, Stromgald Scourge, Basking Rootwalla)
Zoltantf
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Greg Staples is the man, but this is not his best in my option. Still good, but the dragon is a little off of the theme. He draws better angels, baneslayer angel, for example. Anyways, this guy is a sacred cow of magic. He sets a power and ability curve on his own, and he is an O-G. Classic black power. Art work 3/5 card is 5+/5.
Stumbler
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The new art is so stupid. You don't give a 2/2 a friggin' dragon to ride on.
It is not stupid, simply because all the specters ride dragon (or other flying stuff), maybe?
Now wizard follow flavor, wich give magic a soul.
Stop complaining when they are creating a more complete world even by reprinting something older!
This was a pretty popular card in discard decks back in the day. However, I play mostly with old cards, and I don't find this card to be that effective. Thinking in terms of 4th Edition era Magic, this can be easily bolted, killed by a relatively small Hurricane, and blocked by Wall of Air or Serra Angel. Terror, on the other hand, is not a response to this card. With the power creep these days, in terms of creatures at least, this card is not very playable at 3cc. Speaking of power creep, Liliana's Caress makes this a little better in that you could play the Caress the turn before you play the Hyppie. Back in the day, you would have played Hyppie on turn 3 and not played Megrim until turn 4 (barring a dark ritual of course). Either way, they're not discarding from Hyppie until turn 4. In a discard deck, you want to be on the verge of winning by turn 4.
NinjaShadow
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This is how I know Vampire Nighthawk isn't as big of a powerleap as everyone thinks... including me. I'm totally giving this Basilisk Collar just to give nighthawk the finger. 5/5 You just can't beat Hypnotic Specter.
There's nothing more satisfying that Dark Ritualing this out turn 1
Except, you know, having friends
Nemo1342
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
I signed up for an account just to add my 5/5 on this car and reminisce about how awesome it is. Waaaay back in the day, when Antiquities was a new thing, this was one of the columns of my blue/black control deck. Dark Ritual to Hypie specter first turn is my benchmark for devastating opening plays. I know Dark Ritual isn't making a comeback, but I'd love to see my ole Hypie Specter make a comeback.
RunedServitor
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
@SirMalkin: That's actually a drake (it has 2 legs, not 4) and drakes are generally pretty puny.
Specter_Fanatic13
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Favorite card of all time. I'm never unhappy to see you, hippie!
Two words change this card's effectiveness entirely. Two simple words change this from good to phenomenal. "At random."
I couldn't see how this card was good..... until I read it again and saw that. Now I'm grabbing all the ones I can find.
TheManakinTransfer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Anathame
I'm not sure if I want to. The only other black creature i'd even put near this level of power would be Dark Confidant
TastetheJace
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fantastic flavor text that works so well with the name and art. This is a great card.
ThatStunna
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you played Shandalar, you'd know how many one mana counters there are to this card... Lightning Bolt, Swords to Plowshares, Immolation, Weakness, Paralyze (mostly), Unsummon (kinda). It (when played with dark ritual) actually gets quite a bit better against people with better decks, who are only likely to have Swords to Plowshares or Lightning Bolt; most creature removal is not one mana.
This card is still awesome.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
What I like so much about this card, is that it Dies to Serra Angel. But they are both cool. But sadly a bit powercreeped into obsoleteness. :'(
But they are WORTH playing against Each Other! :D
Duel Decks: Hypnotic Specter vs. Serra Angel. Make it happen Wizards. Use this as a sorry excuse to reprint HYMN TO TOURACH :D
BongRipper420
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
If you manage to give this guy double strike, he's a Hymn to Tourach on a flying stick! Ouch.
Technetium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card. I'm a bit surprised how many times they have reprinted it considering how good it is.
wideyes
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Was ever there a more boltable creature?
Demonic_Math_Tutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A true classic
5/5 just for the turn one Dark Ritual
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Without dark ritual its less scary. Still can turn 1 birds, turn 2 this.
MRK1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Beware the Jabberwocky.
CJOLL4
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like the old artwork so much better.
Babyjenks
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I want this thing in standard so bad.
Swag_Crow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Strictly worse than Isochron Specter.
-Swag_Crow
Ratazana
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is sick on the early game, when combined with Dark Ritual and/or Hymn to Tourach, but isn't a good Top Deck, because you need to expect a whole turn to start to disrupt your opponent's strategy.
Despite his "slowness" and weakness to removal, you will be surprised how many times this one will connect with opponent and, if not answered, it's Game Over!
SuicideBlackGuy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ah Hypnotic Specter, yes he has lost some of his umph when dark ritual faded into glory but I will always have a special place in my heart for this guy, he sits in black deck I have from the black summer that I just have not had the heart to break down. I also like the new art, some may cry blasphemy but this art is gorgeous and hippie deserved a nice piece of art
Comments (65)
It needs the ritual to be in its full glory, but ol' hippie is still good nonetheless. The old artwork was better though...why are specters just ringwraiths?
4.0
No luck for standard though.
fantastic art by one of my fav artists
i ran 4 of these on my black deck, really wish to put them on my mono black vamp deck just for saying "here is the hyppie MOFO" but they just don't fit in a vamp deck, too many good vamps to put on the deck
i will always love the playset of these.
Blues boon, or 'power card' wasn't counterspell, it was ancestral recall, and that's not being reprinted. WHites was pretty meh though, it was healing salve.
Not that the hyppie isn't an amazing card by itself. Nearly every black discard deck that's worth a toot runs 4 of these.
Wow... I cannot believe you guys have never heard of Swords to Plowshares (That was white's power card). Lol... Don't even talk about old-school power cards without mentioning that one. And it was reprinted... in duel decks.
This card gets 5/5 though... I don't understand why it's rated 4.6, clearly some noob couldn't understand the sheer awesomeness of this card.
@Doom_Lich: The Boon Cycle (also known as the 3-for-1s) are not the same as the power cards. The Boons are Dark Ritual, Healing Salve, Ancestral Recall, Lightning Bolt, and Giant Growth. The Power Cards are not always agreed upon, but a rough list would be Counterspell, Wrath of God or Swords to Plowshares, Berserk, Hymn to Tourach and possibly Lightning Bolt for red, but I'm not sure on that one.
I actually KEPT this card though because of the art and the flavor... that even though I really wasn't using it in any of my decks, I just couldn't part with it.
I have nothing but absolute LOVE for this classic. 5/5 even to this day.
just love this guy
and the old artwork was not better IMO, it just looked... like some out of proportion toy armor floating there with a tail and eyes. oh wait, thats what it is
ill take ring wraith guy over that. especially when it looks this awesome
Prove me wrong.
It is not stupid, simply because all the specters ride dragon (or other flying stuff), maybe?
Now wizard follow flavor, wich give magic a soul.
Stop complaining when they are creating a more complete world even by reprinting something older!
Lavamancer's Skill
Power of Fire
Psionic Gift
and of course...
Quicksilver Dagger
insult to injury!
Except, you know, having friends
I couldn't see how this card was good..... until I read it again and saw that. Now I'm grabbing all the ones I can find.
I'm not sure if I want to. The only other black creature i'd even put near this level of power would be Dark Confidant
This card is still awesome.
But they are WORTH playing against Each Other! :D
Duel Decks: Hypnotic Specter vs. Serra Angel. Make it happen Wizards. Use this as a sorry excuse to reprint HYMN TO TOURACH :D
5/5 just for the turn one Dark Ritual
-Swag_Crow
Despite his "slowness" and weakness to removal, you will be surprised how many times this one will connect with opponent and, if not answered, it's Game Over!