In my opinion, this creature was created primarily to give necrotic ooze a purpose in limited/sealed infect decks. It is also the only infect creature cheaper than two mana, at the cost of not triggering Hand of the Praetor's second effect.
After he has outlived his usefulness, sac him with throne of geth for even more poison-y goodness.
Sir_Kaeru
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I feel that this guys ability could somehow be used to tricked your opponent but I cant think of anyway that would do this effectivly, other than possibly prevent them from attacking with this guy untapped and a black mana open, but that idea is just stupid. other than that, hes decent because hes the only 1 drop with infect (in some form) and can be sacked for Throne of Geth
Chrome_Coyote
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
One of the few 1 drop creatures with a poison counter mechanic, I needed this!
ihatecardio
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This is like the black inverse of Llanowar Elves, with infect. Always gonna be worth it, especially when you can suprise buff with Hand of the Praetors ;)
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I don't like it that much. Why? In short: he is onl good in an infect deck, if you draw him early, and if you keep activating his ability early on. And paying one mana each turn early on basically sets you back a full turn, for a single poison counter each turn. And that is if your opponent doesn't just block or kill it.
Beastlygreen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
One of the few overvalued cards. Not really a good card under any circumstances. Look at memnite, then look at http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ld/111. There's an interesting tidbit the shows that THIS CARD SUCKS!!!!!!
ZenSpider
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card does indeed suck asp, but I'm still putting it in my Fauna Shaman/Necrotic Ooze deck for surprise value.
tazman321
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Only way to swing poison on turn 2, and makes good Throne fuel. I like it.
brownkidd
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
These work nice in a black/green deck with a few Painsmith's.
LeafWheels
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I hated this card when I first saw it; pay to infect on a 1/1?! BAH!!
But really it's a nifty little snake. I can swing on turn 2 in poison decks, it's the only infect card that can be used to deal regular damage (albet not very much), it gives Necrotic Ooze the ability to gain infect itself (a huge enabler for an Ooze win condition), and it's an artifact that's 1 mana (an important number for Trinket Mage and other cog cards) that you don't mind sacrificing! Casual will like him and he may be a narrow sideboard to speed up poison/proliferate decks.
Test-Subject_217601
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At least the art is cool.
Sorxores
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
sorry but this creature is awefull.
Turn 1 swamp : Vector wasp Turn 2 swamp + oh wait I only have 1 mana to cast a creature because I need to pay 1 mana for my vector vasp, otherwise he's a useless 1/1.
instead I prefer : turn 1 forest : Llanowar elf/bird of paradise turn 2 swamp : Cystbearer or ichor rat Turn 3 forest : cystbearer or ichor rat and buff him with 3 giant growth (or any other buff that give +3 to power like vampire bite) or even 2 groundswell or vine of vastwood kicked. for a total of 10 counter
Luke_BPC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The good thing about him is you can choose to cause normal damage instead of poison damage, when it's relevant. (Also good with Necrotic Ooze, who's also good with Skitty.)
nimzo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I desagree with maj inara. It can fit in a Proliferate deck, not only in a Infect deck. Turn two, attack to put a poison counter on your opponent. Then, you can use it to deal "normal" damage to your opponent if it's your main goal, or to put a -1/-1 to a creature blocking it. Then your other proliferate card will put additional poison counter on your opponent or -1/-1 counter... Late in the game, a good target for Throne of Geth.
It's a very decent blocker too (not like "B: regenerate", ok...).
Further more, it's the only 1CMC artifact creature in standard (November 2010), and the only common artifact creature card in standard below 2CMC (Memnite and Ornithopter are uncommon). So he can fit in a 3-4 colors deck... It's also the only permanent with infect at 1CMC, and the other card with infect at 1CMC is black too - Tainted Strike.
Well... Turn one, Vector Asp. Turn two: Demonic Appetite if your opponent doesn't play a creature. He starts his second or third turn with 4 poison counters (like "8 normal damage")... Ohh!...
4/5...
ChampionofSquee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this card is good. he can kill ppl with either damage, or poison. He buffs necrotic ooze, is an artifact so he helps just about any card that interacts with them and can be a handy prototype portal target. with a few voltaic keys out, you can get an army of asps. also if you attack with say, 3 of the asps and they only block one or two, you don't have to pump the blocked ones, you can but you don't have to. If he had infect naturally he wouldn't cost 1 colorless, he'd cost more. he fits into the mana curve nicely so people should stop ripping on him just because memnite is the coolest card ever.
themlsna
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Since early infect damage is the most important, I'm in agreement with the players who support the asp.
tcollins
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Drop him first turn and swing fearlessly, if he gets through then activate his ability. If he gets Naturalized or blocked, so what? It means one of a few things: 1. Your opponent just wasted removal on your 1 drop common. 2. The blocking creature will likely have a -1/-1 counter on it now, subjecting it to the proliferate mechanic.
Sorry this card's pretty good guys. You can turn him into a 5/5 with Tezz and swing for poison or regular damage - it's your choice. Very smart design choice by Wizards.
jsttu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Who said you have to use his ability? a 1/1 artifact creature for can be useful in standard when you are already running four memnites alongside your tempered steels and pests. It's good for metalcraft as well. his infect ability is incidental.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
IMO use him as a 1/1 and just give him conditional wither. Fake like you'll use the infect and then just Blade something. Seems like a fine strategy if you're in aggro in order to give yourself options. By the time they realize it's not an infect deck it's probably not a problem... probably.
Mode
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Too bad this wasn't printed in New Phyrexia with a activation cost.
SkaerKrow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Usurped as a Infect One-Drop by Glistener Elf, but it still has its uses (see Necrotic Ooze if nothing else).
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
They say that this snake swings both ways.
Moldyapple
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its obvious that this card versus Glistener Elf is no match, but I still think that for early aggro this is a prime target for buffs. It works all the same with turn 2 wins like Glistener Elf in that you'll be using mostly 'free' buff cards such as; Invigorate and Mutagenic Growth. Being tied to a single mana isn't all that bad for a turn two swing for the win. I'd happily throw this in my deck simply for a second rate Glistener Elf, more chances of the turn two swing sounds good to me.
Hunter06
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy was on failblog with the caption, Dat Asp! 2/5 Stars
Comments (25)
After he has outlived his usefulness, sac him with throne of geth for even more poison-y goodness.
But really it's a nifty little snake. I can swing on turn 2 in poison decks, it's the only infect card that can be used to deal regular damage (albet not very much), it gives Necrotic Ooze the ability to gain infect itself (a huge enabler for an Ooze win condition), and it's an artifact that's 1 mana (an important number for Trinket Mage and other cog cards) that you don't mind sacrificing! Casual will like him and he may be a narrow sideboard to speed up poison/proliferate decks.
Turn 1 swamp : Vector wasp
Turn 2 swamp + oh wait I only have 1 mana to cast a creature because I need to pay 1 mana for my vector vasp, otherwise he's a useless 1/1.
instead I prefer :
turn 1 forest : Llanowar elf/bird of paradise
turn 2 swamp : Cystbearer or ichor rat
Turn 3 forest : cystbearer or ichor rat and buff him with 3 giant growth (or any other buff that give +3 to power like vampire bite) or even 2 groundswell or vine of vastwood kicked. for a total of 10 counter
It's a very decent blocker too (not like "B: regenerate", ok...).
Further more, it's the only 1CMC artifact creature in standard (November 2010), and the only common artifact creature card in standard below 2CMC (Memnite and Ornithopter are uncommon). So he can fit in a 3-4 colors deck... It's also the only permanent with infect at 1CMC, and the other card with infect at 1CMC is black too - Tainted Strike.
Well... Turn one, Vector Asp. Turn two: Demonic Appetite if your opponent doesn't play a creature. He starts his second or third turn with 4 poison counters (like "8 normal damage")... Ohh!...
4/5...
1. Your opponent just wasted removal on your 1 drop common.
2. The blocking creature will likely have a -1/-1 counter on it now, subjecting it to the proliferate mechanic.
I take Vector Asp over Fume Spitter and other one drops since Vector Asp can be used with Throne of Geth and to pay the equipping cost of Piston Sledge and as a colourless {1} cost artifact he is always easily playable in {B}{G} and can be fetched with cards like Ancient Stirrings.
2/5 Stars