Pointed Discussion

I'd give it a 4 just for the art. But the creature itself is meh. It'd have been better if you returned it to your hand instead of sacrifying it.

I really like it! You know it will be fragile, being an illusion. But I just did a search for creatures in M11 that have targeting abilities, and there are only TWO at common. Blinding Mage and Infantry Veteran. So, while this dies to every piece of creature removal (which isn't so shocking, as it is creature removal), aura, and pump spell, it is otherwise fairly sturdy in limited. Seriously, this isn't a piece of filler junk. I think this is actually playable!

Blue needs bigger creatures like this anyways. It should come with a side effect.

Hornet Sting!!

An opponent is going to waste a card to get rid of it.... and there are not that many abilities that target creatures.

Its really not as big as a drawback as it first appears

Solid card for limited.

3/5

Pulled three at the prerelease. This card alone made me play blue.

I like these illusion cards but I think they need haste, but then they won't be blue.

I think this is still a great card despite its drawback, especially if you can get Clout of the Dominus on it somehow, 5/6 untargetable for 3UU would be pretty sick. Plus the art is freaking awesome.

if i have a Tajuru Preserver out too, its drawback is reversed, right? but typical creature removal like Terminate will still kill it, correct?

@Guntz1092 : Tajuru Preserver won't save him, because you control the sacrifice ability. When he becomes the target of an opponent's spell or ability, his own ability triggers, and since it was generated by a permanent you control, you control the ability as well. Tajuru Preserver will still protect you from an effect like Diabolic Edict or Woebringer Demon's triggered ability.
This is a much-needed blue body with a significant drawback, but I still prefer Illusionary Servant. At least they both protect the player from Chandra's Outrage.

People will pass you this card in draft. I ran two and they kill your opponents fast. Oftentimes they'll waste a pump spell like Unholy Strength just to wipe him off the board. It's very color friendly. I would recomened this as a a semi-early pick.

Yeah it's fragile, but it's a blue fatty at common.

4/5

I would rather enjoyed a damage based restriction than a target-based one.
I want to play a Giant Growth or other enchantments to change the stats of my illusion.

This is to Erhnam Djinn as Illusionary Servant is to Serendib Efreet.

This is a great creature, for Blue and the drawback isn't as big of a downside as many people seem to think, but would its ability trigger when targets are declared, or could you counter the targeting spell and save the creature?

In theory, you could counter the targeting spell before its controller declares any targets, thus the ability wouldn't trigger, but if they have stated a target already (which is more than likely) would Phantom Beast's ability trigger, before you have the opportunity to counter?

EDIT: Never mind, I worked it out. Still good though

I was trying to pinpoint what drew me to these illusion cards, and I think I have it.

They are basically a lure. They combine an aggressive body with a fragile drawback, making your opponent very tempted to use targeted spells (remember he must be TARGETED by a spell to be removed -not just affected by one) or play creatures with targeted abilities. In a mono-blue deck, you can load up on counter-magic in preparation for just such an occasion, pop this guy down and lure out your opponent's spells. If they are playing red they will be tempted to cast a fireball just to put 1 damage onto the Phantom (and the rest on you or something). So then you bring out your bigger stuff or just swing through with the Phantom. Remember, you also have bounce and tap-out effects at your disposal to control creatures with targeted abilities, such as Blinding Mage and Prodigal Pyromancer.

So, in a way, the fact that it dies so easily is what makes it worthwhile, especially when combined with a threatening and efficiently-costed body.

I am pretty sure this guy is one of the reasons why Hornet's Sting was included in the set (other than certain mythics and rares, which I dont talk about because I cannot afford them).

Lastly, Ice Cage works as a lure in much the same way. Narcolepsy is not a strictly better card (the creature can be untapped), they both work in different ways.

Doom Blade Kills Him No Matter What And Thats What I'm Gonna Run So I Think He's Pretty GOOD. Art = Spectacular 4.5/5

Although it would be a terribly inefficient application of two awesome cards, you can get auras and equipment on this guy, or counter an otherwise nonlethal 'kill' spell, if you're also running Trickbind or Stifle. "Thanks for the Giant Growth, guy who thought it would kill my soon-to-be 7/8 big blue beatstick!" Simic Guildmage can do it for auras, which is awesome for the dozen or so blue ones that grant Shroud. Zephid's Embrace comes to mind. 6/7 Flying Shroud? Really not that bad for blue's version of Leatherback Baloth. Too bad it can't be done in pauper.

@Demonic_Angel13: They could have Flash instead. How does that sound? That way it can have pseudo-haste and still be blue.

I like Illusionary Servant better than this, but it's still an efficient fighter for blue. I wouldn't mind seeing more of these in the future; hopefully even with abilities such as the aforementioned flash, which would allow you to safely summon it end turn after your opponent has tapped out.

Love everything about this guy, even his fragility (I use my illusions with Fecundity; they waste a spell, I draw a card, it's all good), and especially the artwork. Simic Guildmage for fun.

/shroud

AWWWWW YEAH.

I like this card, it's fun stuff. It's nice to have a strong blue card with a drawback one can actually work around rather than some lame bounce after attacking/blocking or something.

Lord of the Unreal/autocard says hi!

I just wish this was 5/5 like M12's Phantasmal Dragon.
But they probably just did not want to do that with a single- costed creature.

It would have been more interesting then with Lord of the Unreal then. Then again an illusion tribal deck most likely is mono-blue anyways and you don't really need eight 5/5 four-drops in the first place.

Almost strictly worse than phantasmal dragon
And yes even if you counter the spell the creature dies, since it has been targeted. Targets are declared when spells are cast.

You know, for an illusion, it really hurts as hell...