If the mana cost was {{3G}} i could get the reason for the drawback, but like that?
BorosRecruit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Cytoplasm Manipulator absolutely loves this guy.
rubber
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
People, please.... This is Mercaidian Masques. It's not awesome, but it's not that terrible. It's not a one star card. It's great when they have no creatures, and it blocks just fine.
GruesomeGoo
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Should've been two mana.
Dr.Pingas
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Honestly, kinda interesting guy, but I'd swing the cost or P/T, a 4/4 for 4, especially as a beast in green, doesn't need a drawback that's only exploitable under cirtain conditions.
scumbling1
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(6 votes)
I have to wonder what the mentality was during the making of Mercadian Masques block. This, Pangosaur, and Megatherium were all printed, as rares, in the same set. They are terrible by any standard (even back then, they were bad) and fill the same design space. I don't accept that they were following Urza's block as an excuse for low power level; there is plenty of room between broken and MM block! Besides, that wouldn't account for such overlap in aggressively-costed green rare creatures with downsides.
jfre81
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
One person in these comments has the right idea. Great to see some creativity.
With some good old green mana ramp you can have this and Cytoplasm Manipulator out by turn four. I'd even consider putting a Gaseous Form type effect on the Erithizon so you can keep attacking with this guy without having him killed by combat damage.
There are things in the Mercadian Masques block that work well with cards from later, more powerful blocks. Sometimes a drawback can be a benefit. Just think and know what's out there. You're on the best resource possible for it.
tavaritz
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
And for a further thought: WotC has acknowledged that MM was designed lower than it should have been as a backlash to Urza's block.
But then again: Homelands is universally thought as the worst expansion ever, but 39 of Homelands 115 new cards have been reprinted (that's 34%) where as Alliances has 29/144 (20%).
tankthebest
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I agree with BorosRecruit and jfre81, this card could be effective with Cytoplast Manipulator or even Experiment Kraj. Get this guy out and let your opponent think you're giving him an advantage with those +1/+1 counters, then steal their creatures with the Manipulator or use their activated abilities against them with Kraj, or both.
kajillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Black is the one who supposed to get creatures this horrible, not green.
LegoLeonidas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I kinda like it with Hunter of Eyeblights! Force your opponent to either pump one of your creatures, or lose one of their own!
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
.5/5 We get 4/4 for 4 at common rarity now, and this has a drawback for the same price, while destroying a rare slot. Sorry this thing has not aged well at all.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Viewed as a drawback, his ability makes him worse than a lot of things. However, there are some cards that can turn it into an advantage:
"I'm sorry for sending a large beast to attack you. Here, have a spear." - Phelddagrif
omni8000
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I agree, costing a mana or 2 less or having another power or 2 would have made him lovable
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It should be noted; if he's the only guy on the field; they have to choose him. GB control can have access to a budget friendly 5/5 for 4 that continues growing.
He's a 4-turn clock if you play a heavy-handed control deck or are simply crafty. A RG deck with Volcanic Fallout can clear the board during the end step, then run this guy out there for a good bit of damage (and probably with haste!)
He's hardly "awesome", but fun casual decks can be had with him and again; if you're playing a brutal RG or BG control variant, he grows without any assistance; allowing you to Infest, Toxic Deluge, anger of the gods, etc; everyone else, while you get a growing creature.
With the number of boardwipes in EDH; I would've thought this would be a more popular card.
N03y3D33R
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Masques was slow and political, sort of like EDH. Cards like this aren't good as beatsticks, but they do have interesting roles to play. Look at the cycle of Mongers from Masques for another example of treacherous cards.
Kirbster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Comboing him with Cytoplast Manipulator is the new favourite trick, but this guy has more uses than you'd expect. If your opponent has no creatures, since Erithizon's ability is not optional, they have to put the counter on one of your guys. Since the ability targets, though, your opponent will also not be able to put the counter on any of their guys with Shroud. Heck, since you own Erithizon, they can't even choose their own creatures with Hexproof! Not a bad jab at those hexproof decks.
Erithizon also combos with Hunter of Eyeblights and/or Kulrath Knight, and since black is good at keeping your opponent's board clear, there's a good chance you'll get a fair number of free counters on your own guys.
jonrds
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At 2 mana this would have been broken. Attacking turn 3 with an unbuffed 4/4 is too good, even if you are giving their blocker a boost (its probably only going to be a 2/2 before the boost if you are going first). Just look at tarmogoyf. There's a reason its one of the best cards ever printed.
Fanaticmogg
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The ability is not optional, and it can target any creature. If your opponent has no creatures, they have to target one of your creatures. If you can get into a position where only you control creatures, your opponent will be forced to pump your dudes instead.
He's still not very good, but it might be worth trying just to see the look on your friend's face when they realize you've turned a junk rare into a pretty good beatstick.
Comments (21)
If the mana cost was {{3G}} i could get the reason for the drawback, but like that?
With some good old green mana ramp you can have this and Cytoplasm Manipulator out by turn four.
I'd even consider putting a Gaseous Form type effect on the Erithizon so you can keep attacking with this guy without having him killed by combat damage.
There are things in the Mercadian Masques block that work well with cards from later, more powerful blocks. Sometimes a drawback can be a benefit. Just think and know what's out there. You're on the best resource possible for it.
But then again: Homelands is universally thought as the worst expansion ever, but 39 of Homelands 115 new cards have been reprinted (that's 34%) where as Alliances has 29/144 (20%).
We get 4/4 for 4 at common rarity now, and this has a drawback for the same price, while destroying a rare slot. Sorry this thing has not aged well at all.
Cytoplast Manipulator
Kulrath Knight
Experiment Kraj
And a few others.
- Phelddagrif
He's a 4-turn clock if you play a heavy-handed control deck or are simply crafty. A RG deck with Volcanic Fallout can clear the board during the end step, then run this guy out there for a good bit of damage (and probably with haste!)
He's hardly "awesome", but fun casual decks can be had with him and again; if you're playing a brutal RG or BG control variant, he grows without any assistance; allowing you to Infest, Toxic Deluge, anger of the gods, etc; everyone else, while you get a growing creature.
With the number of boardwipes in EDH; I would've thought this would be a more popular card.
Erithizon also combos with Hunter of Eyeblights and/or Kulrath Knight, and since black is good at keeping your opponent's board clear, there's a good chance you'll get a fair number of free counters on your own guys.
He's still not very good, but it might be worth trying just to see the look on your friend's face when they realize you've turned a junk rare into a pretty good beatstick.