Pointed Discussion

Wonderful representation of the unmasking action.

Decent in its time I am sure, but these days cards like Thoughtseize put it to shame. Id rather pay a single black mana, then get -1 card disadvantage.

Hmm. Decent. Doesn't work on a reanimator since the card is exiled.

Reasonable in a Reanimator if you need something in your graveyard in a hurry. Got a fatty in your hand first turn and have the resources to get it from graveyard to play, but not enough to get something from your library to graveyard to play?

Or, you know, use it like how it was supposed to be used. The cantrip bit was cool enough to work in my reanimator deck, card advantage seems less important to me for a deck like that, who's main goal is to get a beat stick out as fast as possible, damn the consequences.

I'll give it a good 4 for the flexibility of it.

@Sugga
You exile a chump card like a festering goblin, then target yourself with the discard ability to get a fatty in your grave. Admittedly this hurts you on card advantage, but the point of reanimator is to get a big threat out fast enough the opponent cant deal with it.

Pitch spells are good. Hand-neutering spells are good, especially early. The ability to force a discard of any card on turn 1 is great, especially when you're facing combo.

As for the art, it's a great storyline piece: This is the card that reveals that "Takara" is actually Volrath in disguise! For all the flaws of the attempt, I did like how the story was told on the cards in Tempest and Masques sometimes.

The art is very nice and has a delightful macabre feeling to it, but it doesn't make much sense, story-wise.... Takara is Volrath in disguise, so... I'm not sure why it's showing Volrath being unmasked to reveal Takara beneath. It's all backwards.

Also, free discard alongside your one-drop can never be bad.

SlickDragon:

The thing this, this potentially nets you control first turn on the play, while leaving your land to cast spells as well. Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather be able to dump a card to this, grab the opponent's Force, and be able to still use my land drop to ramp out into a turn one or (if unavoidable) turn two Tendrils win. Which was the last use I saw for this card.

Turn 1 - This and a thoughtseize, or something easier to come by, like a duress

turn 2 - Hymn to Tourach, or something easier to come by, like a distress

turn 3 - Mind Rot or Hymn to Tourach

Turn 4 - ???

Turn 5 - PROFIT!

Huh. I like this card. Unmask:Castigate as Force of Will:Counterspell.

If a card has an alternate cost that allows you to play it for free, it probably has a strong enough effect to justify its high default mana cost. I've gotten value off of the Coldsnap cycle of pitch cards. A Commandeer can be backbreaking vs. Cruel Ultimatum. With enough black card draw, Soul Spike is a win condition.

Powerful, not broken. Self 2-for-1 can often be worth it in the decks in which this is run. Great with Necropotence (what isn't?).

"And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."

Pitch duress to this. Because that land, creature card is gonna be a mother to deal with later. Then play a swamp and duress the hell out of 'em! :)

Turns out this Volrath character is pretty hot.

Free discard is good.

I foresee this seeing alot more play in the future. Incredibly strong potential. A pro-active "Force of Will", very unlikely to see a reprint. Along w Inquisition of Kozilek (and of course Thoughtseize) the strength/value of this card will only increase. Although unlike IoK, this IS rare in addition to being much, much older. Grab some now.

Dear Wizards,

Please bring back alternate cost cards.

Sees vintage play. IMO, the second best of the ditch-cards. Duress early game lets you know if you should use this early or later. However.. this can allow you to put down a tempo creature and still disrupt the opponent. If you draw out their Force of Will; then you've lost no card advantage and you've dropped them a counterspell.

Using this alongside jagged poppet helps reduce your hand size, protect him, and get in for the quick "you have no hand" plays he allows.

@Mrpk1: No... just no. Alternate cost cards are ridiculously powerful and break the game unless they have huge costs (like discard your hand). Just look at Force of Will.

And I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling alternative costs!

Unmask, you literally saved my marraige.

Unmask rules the world.
Unmask for President.
Thank you Wizards.
Thank God.