And how is this not 4/5 stars or better? It's a big butt that saves your other creatures.
DonRoyale
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Keep in mind, at level 5, this thing needs to take 7 damage from something to die.
Multiples of this being active is pretty much "kill me now...or just forefit."
statiefreez
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
So play this with some kind of pestilence effect and your opponent may as well say GG? Great card.
Mumba
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I'm definitely building a deck with four of these.
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I guess they didn't use the Absorb keyword since it also affects you, and Absorb only refers to creatures. They also could have changed the Absorb ruling, but then again Pacifism for instance doesn't say "Enchanted creature has Defender and can't block." either.
Since these guys get their final ability at level 5 at first with a leveling cost of three mana each, this card surely is intended to show its true potential in a leveler deck with Training Grounds and the like. Eighteen mana isn't worth it for sure if your opponent can still get rid of your toy easily by using removal that is not burn.
albinobrow03
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I played against one of these with a Splinter Twin attached to it at the prerelease. Even with all my big colorless eldrazi I could not win against it. Ended up milling myself. :-(
Definitely a good card
Vinifera7
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
@Vedalken_Arbiter You're probably just being facetious but according to the rules Absorb only works for creatures, while Purists also prevents damage to players.
KingKablamo
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Him at level 1 + Manabarbs = Your opponent taking damage, but not you.
Redigo
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Drop him turn three, level him once. The 3rd ability is nice, but costly. Preventing one damage is good enough for me.
ajpinton
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I try to like this card, in whole its not a bad card in the set, but when you look at standard it takes second place to Guardian Seraph. Tough in a combo this plus Training grounds would be killer, but that is the same for most of the levelers.
Belz_
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Nice ability, though you're unlikely to see it go past level 1. Combos nicely with Pyrohemia or Pestilence.
@albinobrow03 : How exactly did Twin interact with it ? It doesn't copy the counters and the creature only lasts for a turn.
Sironos
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
If you're white, black and blue, this one, venerated teacher and pestilence is a nasty combo.
But still, if you play against a black deck, he's got tons of removal for this thing.
Chosen_of_the_Dark_Sun
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Remember, it isn't that hard to get this guy max-leveled with Training Grounds, and if you do he's a best. Unlike Guardian Seraph, he prevents damage to creatures to, which basically means that Lightning Bolt is near useless, Staggershock does nothing, etc. Actually, it hoses Jund really well too, since Bloodbraid and Sprouting Thrinax are doing 1, tokens are doing nothing, Putrid Leech needs to sap the controller to do damage, etc. If you can keep him from being Terminated or Pulsed he'll completely neutralize half their stuff (though, admittedly that's a little hard to do).
Lord_Xelitoth
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Absorb only applies to creatures, this card protects the player as well. meaning if it only prevented damage to creatures it would be absorb, but as is absorb cant be used here
Gezus82
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
this card was made to be used with pyrohemia and manabarbs, or pestilence if ur old school, level cost doesn't matter that much as you don't need to get him past level 1
BetrayerKol
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
This makes my pestilence so much easier - I don't have to use protection from black creatures exclusively anymore!
TheSwarm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Oh.. My friend has this card and we've always understood it that you can't use more than once a turn, but it seems as though whenever you are dealt damage it prevents two of it.. Wow..... My elf deck's record just plummeted. And it can block too! That is just stupidgood
lol I have two of these in my level-up deck. Hilarious having both out and fully leveled against the opponent's weenie deck.
EvilCleavage
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My brother and one of my buddies saw something in this card, and tried to make it work, but, in all honesty it just didn't work. I think the best idea I heard on here was the idea with the Splinter Twin, and that's even hard because you have to level it up all the way first. Overall, eh, this chick just doesn't quite get there. Fun for casual though
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
How does this work in a Two-headed giant game?
beansnmelon
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
ok, so I have a hedron Field Purist in Play level 1. Then I throw down a pestilence. Can I pay 1 black, deal damage to creatures and players, use hedron to prevent all damage to me and my creatures, then repeat the process for as long as I have black mana? Effectively killing all my opponents creatures and none of mine?
Deadreject
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It works with Pestilence very well along with Basilisk Collar or Phyresis. I'm nearly finished with my Pestilence Prevention deck.
ilovelifegain28
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Resists lightning bolt at level 1.
Diab0l0
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
This looks like a cheap and improved Urza's armor on two legs. It probably needs some protection against black removal, but this is what Emerge Unscathed and Brave the Elements are for I guess.
It could be very interesting to see if this guy would work well in a Luminarch Ascension deck. You'd have to focus on preventing all damage and proliferating a bit to get this guy leveled up and the ascension charged. And then you get a source of cheap 4/4 flying angels that receive some damage prevention.
kiseki
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Urza's armor is expensive for the effect. But it has it's uses. If your deck has white in it, these Purists are probably better. It is still 6 mana for the first damage prevention, but it also applies to your creatures. Cards like this and Lord of Shatterskull Pass are playable because the first level up gives you a solid creature for a reasonable total price. I don't expect either to reach their pinnacle, but it is great if they do.
Antares2
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Against a red aggro deck, you can't possibly loose anymore, if you have two of these guys out, leveled up at least once, or one leveled up to max.
5/5
Wynzerman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This one's kind of subtle, but the effect can be an absolute shutout to Vampires, burn and the like because of how damage is assigned, and suddenly that 1 or 2 starts adding up VERY quickly. Or to put it rather blunt "Nice Arc Trail bro, you mad?"
umumwhatshisname
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After that sliver in future sight shouldn't this read "You and creatures you control have absorb 1" and absorb 2 for the second one.
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
as with most levelers, I'm just fine getting him up to level 1. no need to spend 12 more mana just to buff his ability up a bit when you could just play two.
Tynansdtm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Splinter Twin doesn't interact well with this card. The copy would have zero Level Up counters on it, because it's not a copyable trait.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Urza's Armor seems like a really, really underpowered ability. Can anyone tell me of a time they actually played a deck with a miniature Armor theme in it, that performed well?
The only way I see myself playing this is with both Contagion Clasp and Training Grounds...
This plus Gisela, Blade of Goldnight could get you up to ignoring the first 5 points of damage per instance.
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When people rate this by comparing it to Urza's Armor, they forget that A) This is more color restricting, costing {4}{W}{W} to protect you instead of {6}. Given, this protects your creatures as well, but requiring you play white isn't always gonna be worth that. B) Creatures are much, much easier to get rid of than artifacts. Removal for creatures is printed in almost every set, and played in most decks in Modern. Removal for other card types, excluding general permanent removal, is printed in most sets too, but it isn't played nearly as much, and when it is played, it's almost always sideboard material. C) The level 5 ability is almost never going to happen, unless you have infinite mana to use. It costs a total of {12}{W}{W}{W}{W}{W}{W} to get online to begin with, and by the time you have that much mana, you want to be doing things other than preventing damage. Maybe casting Emrakul and whatever you want for {W}{W}{W}
Comments (36)
And how is this not 4/5 stars or better? It's a big butt that saves your other creatures.
Multiples of this being active is pretty much "kill me now...or just forefit."
Since these guys get their final ability at level 5 at first with a leveling cost of three mana each, this card surely is intended to show its true potential in a leveler deck with Training Grounds and the like.
Eighteen mana isn't worth it for sure if your opponent can still get rid of your toy easily by using removal that is not burn.
Definitely a good card
You're probably just being facetious but according to the rules Absorb only works for creatures, while Purists also prevents damage to players.
@albinobrow03 : How exactly did Twin interact with it ? It doesn't copy the counters and the creature only lasts for a turn.
But still, if you play against a black deck, he's got tons of removal for this thing.
It probably needs some protection against black removal, but this is what Emerge Unscathed and Brave the Elements are for I guess.
It could be very interesting to see if this guy would work well in a Luminarch Ascension deck. You'd have to focus on preventing all damage and proliferating a bit to get this guy leveled up and the ascension charged. And then you get a source of cheap 4/4 flying angels that receive some damage prevention.
Cards like this and Lord of Shatterskull Pass are playable because the first level up gives you a solid creature for a reasonable total price. I don't expect either to reach their pinnacle, but it is great if they do.
5/5
The only way I see myself playing this is with both Contagion Clasp and Training Grounds...
A) This is more color restricting, costing {4}{W}{W} to protect you instead of {6}. Given, this protects your creatures as well, but requiring you play white isn't always gonna be worth that.
B) Creatures are much, much easier to get rid of than artifacts. Removal for creatures is printed in almost every set, and played in most decks in Modern. Removal for other card types, excluding general permanent removal, is printed in most sets too, but it isn't played nearly as much, and when it is played, it's almost always sideboard material.
C) The level 5 ability is almost never going to happen, unless you have infinite mana to use. It costs a total of {12}{W}{W}{W}{W}{W}{W} to get online to begin with, and by the time you have that much mana, you want to be doing things other than preventing damage. Maybe casting Emrakul and whatever you want for {W}{W}{W}