Pointed Discussion

If this card was never banned, then why is it in "From the Vault: Exiled". It's not even that good.

It's blue beatdown, something you won't see these days that won't ever get reprinted nonetheless.
And if Kird Ape was for some strange reason also included, Serendib Efreet is with ease.

On top of that, the new artwork made him definitely worth including to this set. Simply amazing, suits great to that card.

It's a blue beatdown and it doesn't die to teh bolt

Amazing art!!
Are you kidding, Laguz? To make that kind of statement is to completely disregard the fact that the nightmare creature champions something. Admittedly, that is a lot better than Serendib Efreet's drawback, but it is not better in "every way, shape, and form."
The reason this is in the From the Vault:Exiled set is because people were splashing blue just for this card. Seeing as blue shouldn't be the color people splash for for beaters, it was banned (I'm pretty sure, but if not the reason is mentioned in the article on the FtV:Exiled).
Mode, have you realized that Kird Ape IS included in FtV:Exiled? Or did you just phrase that sentence wrong?

The original art for him is the best. The Revised art is also cool, in an 'odd missprint' way.

Strictly worse than Wormfang Drake

Wormfang Drake has a beneficial ability (so long as you're playing it right). Serendib Efreet has a drawback. A beneficial ability is better than a drawback, and they both have the same cc, p/t and flying, so Wormfang Drake is better than Serendib Efreet.

One of the more underpriced creatures of all time. The point damage is not an issue at all if the deck is efficient (fast).

Doesn't feel like a mythic to me at all, but it is a great card.

Strong blue beatstick. Very efficient. It's easy to see how it is good.

I can see the uses of it, but mythic rare is a bit much. Rare would have fitted better.

People, listen. IT'S A PROMO CARD. It's in From the Vault. Don't regard it as mythic rare; regard it as a special promotional edition of the card. It may look like it's mythic, and it may seem like it's not good enough to be mythic (which it is, stop being ignorant new players), but it's in a set of cards that are mythic by definition of their iconic impact on the game from the beginning. Sheesh.

Wow That Art Is Wicked I Want 4 Badly. A Great Sun Titan Target If You Ask Me. : )

@LateralisOne
"Stop being ignorant new players"
Seriously? Do you realize how dumb that sounds? your asking them to stop being ignorant, however in order to stop being ignorant they need to learn something, gain knowledge. The only way to gain knowledge is through experience and reason or a teacher, and since experience comes slowly they need a teacher to give them that knowledge, which coould be you. Instead of helping solve your problem in an effective way you literally told them "Spontaneously gain knowledge."
I'm sorry, ignorance condemning ignorance bothers me.

"Sheesh."

I hope some of you are kidding, this card is spectacular.

The fact that this is a creature from back in the day when creatures weren't good overall, and a blue creature at that, and is still above the curve even by modern standards is astonishing.

Much better than Wormfang Drake (though less combo-able); an opponent can kill the Drake's pray in response to it being played, 2 birds for one stone.

As for all of you decrying its Mythic status: You're all daft.
It's only a mythic card due to its promo status. This card isn't actually mythic rare, because it's in a strictly limited print run. You know exactly what you're going to get when you get a FTV set.

Even the 20-turn clock on this guy wasn't much of a threat back in the day. A 3/4 flier for 3 mana is significant board advantage by itself, plus players could both make it hurt that much more and put a stop to the clock by slapping an Unstable Mutation (from the same originating set) on it. Outside of monoblue you could always block the damage via a Circle of Protection: Blue if you're playing white, or eat it with any number of sacrifice effects (like Sacrifice) if you're playing black. This is all assuming your opponent isn't doing something to kill off the Efreet, given that it's most likely beating in their face for 3 damage per turn if they don't.

These days there are lots of other options to offset this guy's cost: Lifelink, Vampiric Link or Spirit Link (both of which can be "doubled up" to turn the upkeep damage into net lifegain), Sphere of Reason, Urza's Armor, even something as lowly as a Samite Healer, or just pumping the hell out of the Efreet and attacking.

All in all, I'd play this over Wormfang Drake since this guy can come out with nobody else on my side of the table, and doesn't put me at creature disadvantage when he does. Yes, you can make the Drake work to your advantage, but you have to carefully construct the deck that way. The Efreet you can pretty much just throw in any blue deck involving creatures and make the deck better.

BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

REPRINT! (just not as a lame ass MYTHIC RARE >:(

I wish they had printed this version with the Revised, Ifh Biff art. Then there would be no doubt about its "mythic" status.

"Gentlemen... BEHOLD!
I have grafted a lightning tornado to my butt!"

Big for a blue flyer. I don't see this doing much in today's game but it is pretty good for blue.

The card feels black!

The biggest thing this guy has going for him is that 4 toughness that prevents him from being a Lightning Bolt target. Yes, he has a drawback, but the style of deck that would play him probably doesn't want the game to last that long anyways. Flying makes sure he gets in to beat face.

Good card and awesome art!

Probably the most sensible of the FTV:E series. Not that that's saying much.

Given that he's color light and may be in a U/B suicide deck (like mine!), consider Nameless Inversion as your removal spell of choice. While it can't kill everything and normally black creatures are too small to use it as a buff, this guy is just the right size; allowing a T4 6 damage attack or a T2 kill of some creature. 6 damage T4 after 3 delver of secrets attacks and a countersquall is 17 damage; making that mind bomb in your hand lethal damage T4 in *blue*.

One of my favorite cards of all time. I wish he'd be reprinted so that he's Modern-legal. An absolute powerhouse.

I have to say, Arabian Nights was an incredible set. It introduced the first lands that did something besides produce mana. And it introduced creatures (or other cards) with drawbacks to allow for a more competitively pushed card. Serendib Efreet perfectly represents this idea, and it's become a staple of the game since.

5/5 for power.
5/5 for nostalgia.
5/5 for art.
5/5 for impact on the game.

3 drop 3/4. so far under the curve. just look at mana leak