At worst, it's a hasty Merfolk Looter, at best, it's a hasty Archivist at common rarity. What's not to love?
MojoVince
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.6/5.0)(7 votes)
Yes but you may spend 7 mana to get it ... Levelling is quite bad except when it cost 1 .
kitsunewarlock
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
You gotta love people rating and discussing cards before they are even released...
dudecow
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
@ Mojovince: Yes, but 7 mana that you can spend in chunks. Decks that play Merfolk Looter tend not to have 1-drops, so spending one mana up front sure won't hurt. And when you have spare mana, you can turn it into an Archivist!
xhillx
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Did the pre-release today without a doubt this single card was the reason for me winning absolutely amazing in sealed/draft in standard she will need some shroud but she is beautiful!
EternalLurker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@Pramxnim: You mean a slow Merfolk Looter, not a hasty one, I assume? It costs 1 more (and can be killed in the process) for 1 less power.
Shell_shockkun
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
The idea is to play it turn one...
then turn two you pay the level up, which allows you to use the tap ability
hence the "Hasty Merfolk Looter" references
Looks like they're taking the complaints about blue to heart, the new counterspells and throwback to Ancestral Recall makes creature based blue decks attractive
guess time and metagame will tell o.0
True_Mumin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.9/5.0)(11 votes)
Merfolk Looter rips this ***'s hand off and beats her to death with it. Put more simply: it's yet another pathetically weak disgrace of a blue card.
True_Smog
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Merfolk Looter is so much better than this, because He is 1/1 and he's a common.
hexaetherion
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Goes from mediocre to great with Training Grounds, especially in monoblue. With Training Grounds in a best case scenario, this will run faster than both Merfolk Looter or Archivist on your initial turns.
So long as you have Training Grounds, the worst you can do in a monoblue deck is pay the same amount of mana as you would for the others...
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(8 votes)
Shes Got The Same Colors As Greedo From Star Wars LOL Good Card To By The Way Like It More Than Looter Actually Because Its A One Drop And The Art Is Spectacular
Latronis
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
hawtest merfolk
Dr.Pingas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kinda bothered that she doesn't at least get +0/+1 at max level, if only because I can see her dying on accident to any crowd control. +1 toughness per rank would have been sweet, make her resist Volcanic Fallout/Pyroclasm. I'd still run it over most draw/discard guys though, because the discard can seriously add up if you find a way to untap her often; she can at least overcome that.
Lateralis0ne
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I don't know why people complain about the level up mechanic. Not all cards are meant for tournament play, and I think that the levelers bring an interesting variant to casual. I built my brother a {W}{U} leveler deck that he runs rather well and really likes. This card is the forerunner of the deck, drawing the card needed the second turn, and leveling later on in the game when one comes into play and hits 3 right away, a Lightning Greaves will ensure she stays around for quite awhile.
This card isn't going to win you a tournament, but that's no reason to play it. With the proper support (which EVERY CARD NEEDS), it does rather well.
ZombieSnail
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Really good at all points in the game, not mentioning dredge. She's just so efficient and sexy, bathing and decrypting at the same time. Her, Student of Warfare and Kargan Dragonlord are probably the best levelers. She's also similar to Joraga Treespeaker, who's just as good 4.5/5
Tsuichoi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@mojovince are you kidding? there is a HUGE difference of playing an archivist which costs 4 mana THAT turn, then the gradual progress of lvling up per turn while still being able to play other spells that turn. That is the very essence of lvling up- its not something you have to do every turn, its just a boost to a decent card you already have in play.
I dont see what all the hate is over this card- At worst, its a one-time wall block that can save you some damage, at best it has an activated ability that allows you to draw cards without allowing your opponent to draw a card, or pay further mana to draw a card, or have to discard a card then draw a card (like Mikokoro, center of the sea, or merfolk looter
4.5/5
CerealBoxOfDoom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use this with azami, lady of scrolls and sea gate oracle The fact this thing is a wizard and I have the option of not discarding makes it hard to compare to the looter. Whats even better is saving her so I can drop her with azami if she comes out late or having a more convenient chump blocker than a two drop.
Also Merfolk looter doesnt get to tap till turn three. On turn three with help from venerated teacher she can already draw for free and you've still got a blocker for early attacks.
I'm going to go look at looters score and add 1 star for cryptologist.
cloneffect
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Personally, I don't know what some people are smoking. This is so much better than merfolk looter it's not funny. You cast it turn 1 and it's ready to go on turn two - merfolk looter doesn't do anything until turn 3. At the very worst, this kind of cards always takes burn away from your face, because a red mage sure as hell can't let this beauty live; drawing and discarding is mega-powerful - simply drawing one even better. Cryptologist is all that in one perfect package. Especially cute when you're digging for one particular piece of the puzzle, like (say) ravenous trap to turn off dredge combo.
The foil looks amazing, as well.
AvatarOfHOE
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
The amount of mana it takes to get him to level 3 totals 7. You could have played Arcanis, the Omnipotent for that. Ya I know that's not exactly how it works, 'cause you need 6 all at once for Arcanis. But still, I think blue has a few better ways to play two mana early on in the game than pouring it into this guy. Definitely viable in tribal though.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This, or Azure Mage, or Jace Beleren? Depends on your deck and preference. If your deck cares about counters, run this and a Jace or two. If your deck is a draw-go that cares about leaving mana open while also presenting a mild threat, run the Mage.
LordRandomness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I level it once, then let proliferate take over from there. That way I can level at instant speed with Clockspinning or Steady Progress if I didn't need the mana, or Fuel for the Cause if I did.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
See, this here is a decent leveller. Low casting cost, and the mana you need to spend to take her to her final stage curves pretty well. A nice alternative to the looter, and recurring card draw is always welcome in a merrow deck.
thevegetable
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
nobody seems to be mentioning that that her level cost (in a mono blue merdeck)is the same as lord of atlantis. you can cast her on turn one, and if he hasn't shown up by turn two, you can do something about it. if he and/or sovereign are plentifully around, you've got a one-drop that can benefit and grow over the next couple turns (although i tend to slightly favor skywatcher adept)
jfre81
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anything running a couple of these, Jace Beleren and the like should also consider making room for an Archmage Ascension as this is about the only build that card will work in. Do you like tutoring on every late-game card draw? I do.
Alienblaster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is your president John Henry Eden.
Burningsickle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Don't underestimate this card. Its steady nature causes this card to not be targeted by removal. Additionally, most people are not going to realistically need those draws right off the back, and even if they do, it can be managed by simply an additional 2 mana. Great ability to use after saving mana for counters, and the drawing should be right in line for when it actually matters: late game.
Comments (26)
then turn two you pay the level up, which allows you to use the tap ability
hence the "Hasty Merfolk Looter" references
This, Echo Mage, and the Lighthouse Chronologist become very interesting with Venerated Teacher...
Looks like they're taking the complaints about blue to heart, the new counterspells and throwback to Ancestral Recall makes creature based blue decks attractive
guess time and metagame will tell o.0
So long as you have Training Grounds, the worst you can do in a monoblue deck is pay the same amount of mana as you would for the others...
This card isn't going to win you a tournament, but that's no reason to play it. With the proper support (which EVERY CARD NEEDS), it does rather well.
She's just so efficient and sexy, bathing and decrypting at the same time.
Her, Student of Warfare and Kargan Dragonlord are probably the best levelers. She's also similar to Joraga Treespeaker, who's just as good
4.5/5
I dont see what all the hate is over this card- At worst, its a one-time wall block that can save you some damage, at best it has an activated ability that allows you to draw cards without allowing your opponent to draw a card, or pay further mana to draw a card, or have to discard a card then draw a card (like Mikokoro, center of the sea, or merfolk looter
4.5/5
Also Merfolk looter doesnt get to tap till turn three. On turn three with help from venerated teacher she can already draw for free and you've still got a blocker for early attacks.
I'm going to go look at looters score and add 1 star for cryptologist.
The foil looks amazing, as well.