the coalition has some sorcery speed burn... so the totem is better on any turn but the first. Idk, not like it matters that much if you do lose swamps later on; its what the risk is all about.
Etregan
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(7 votes)
I really like this card. Granted against burn, it loses its appeal really fast, but most of the time its only being dealt damage by the fodder blocking it.
With great power comes great sacrifice.
Wraique
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This card is on the reserved list (not supposed to be reprinted ever again). A card that is printed outside of a 'real' set doesn't count? The art is different, so the one from Urza's Destiny should still retain whatever value it had, but it still feels a little odd (if this is par for the course and a precedent has already been set, someone let me know please).
Not that I'd be opposed to owning a legitimate playset of Black Lotus ;)
Edit: Oh. Nevermind. Foil loophole. FOIL black lotus then.
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(5 votes)
I like the old artwork more, but that doesn't make this printing less awesome! You can definitely see that it's him nontheless. Glad they kept the old flavor text :D
Ezenthar
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Imagine hitting this with a kicked Urza's Rage in the new duel decks.
Having to sacrifice that many permanents would be more valuable to the Coalition player than doing 10 direct damage to the opposing player, depending on what permanents the Phyrexian player had out.
DirkMantooth
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Back when blue decks were king, this just crushed them. It's the ultimate sideboard card.
MaxFAn
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0)(30 votes)
Suicide Black - all about tearing off your own arm so you can beat your opponent over the head with it.
HairlessThoctar
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
@Tantallum because its a 5/5 for three. You're not supposed to play this maindeck. You keep it in your sideboard, and if you run up against any control or combo decks with limited blocking or burning capabilities, this just destroys them.
Raeoran
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Classic card, but I don't like the new art very much. Whereas the old Negator looked like he was prepared to rip the hearts out of every organic being in his path, this one looks like he just stepped outside after sleeping off a wild night and the sunlight is killing him.
He also looks way too fleshy and organic.
EvilCleavage
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm glad they reprinted this card. This is a classic, and I had been out of Magic for years. Actually I remember the last pack I bought was Urza's Legacy. I barely got back into Magic in January, and I was so stoked to see this at the shop. Being able to get my hands on a Phyrexian Negator was the sole reason I bought this box. The cool thing is that I just bought a huge collection off a guy recently and he had one from Urza block. Good stuff. Good Card. Good Times.
LeoKula
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(7 votes)
Did he came out of a Monsters Inc. sequel? Really bad art... first one was scary!
TheMoustacheCame
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(9 votes)
this wouldnt be a good card even if its mana cost were 0
AXER
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
If you get lucky, you can summon him on your 1st turn. Phyrexian Negator + 1 Swamp + Dark Ritual. Good stuff. Overall this guy is what Black is all about. Paying the cost for greatness!!
BlackAlbino
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(6 votes)
Honestly, terrible. I HAVE played it. You may get significant damage in but it puts you in such a bad position.
Going for 3-drop power? Wooly thoctar
Needs to be mono-black compatible? Phyrexian soulgourger (phylactery lich works too if it has to be T2 which this isn't)
Needs trample/evasion? Hypnotic specter
With today's options there is NO reason to run this
Swordfishtrombones
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
one of my favorite black cards to date. tough body. pure black. moar hurty. 5/5.
IshubarashI
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is really too much of a gamble to use in the main deck. I played with a friends phyrexian deck earlier (loved it by the way, I'm definitely a black mage) and I used the totem, in combination with the colossus and one other creature to put them at an ultimatum (they only had 3 creatures to block with), they decided to pump one of their 1/1s to a 4/4 and block the negator, i still connected with 9 total damage but ended up sacrificing the negator and 3 swamps which hurt me in the long run. I might have won if I hadn't lost those lands
I honestly like this card, and I imagine it was a powerhouse against control/combo decks back in the day. 10 total p/t for 3 mana, and in a color that can ritual the monstrosity out on the first turn. But this dude needs to stay in the sideboard until it's safe to come out. He's just too risky nowadays.
Sironos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Black is about power for a price. The price in this instance however, is too expensive compared to the power. If it had said "none-land permanents" I could understand it, but this is just too suicidal. Could maybe work in my sacrifice deck, but the risk of having to sac a lot of lands and creatures is just too great. I'm much more into abyssal persecutor than this. Maybe bazar trader and then nuke or something?
Richard_Hawk
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This card could make or break you, actually, it breaks you most of the time. The trample ability really does no good, let's say a 3/3 creature blocks. Great, your Negator survives, deals 2 damage...and let's get rid of 3 of your perms! Might as well use 3 red manas to hurl 3 Lightning Bolts at your opponent.
OutlawD1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The new art is lacking compared to the old version
Yoto32
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Why are they just reprinting any old cards to Mythic Rare status? Thank god they're not doing this for legitimate releases.
justicarphaeton
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy has won me so many games.
Unfortunately, he has lost me far more than he has won, so they hide in the sideboard now until i'm sure it's safe for them to come out ;p
ROBRAM89
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(7 votes)
I refuse to be part of the cult of this absolutely ridiculous card.
Dicedragons
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Is it just me or is Phyrexian Negator female? It does have a pair of rather round-looking lumps on its chest.
count_dorku
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
AXER: Even better with two Priests of Gix. That way you have something to feed to the inevitable Shock.
Orza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
3.5/5
It's a decent sideboard card with good flavor.
Shame it doesn't have Shadow or Shroud by itself. Then it would be really good.
Aun
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
recent power creep made it worthless. Damn Wizards, what you doing?
Chamale
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card might work in a deck that's built around keeping it safe, but I like to use it in my black/red deck. I give away the Negator with Bazaar Trader and start casting burn spells.
ToAsTy42o
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I fuxing hate this card. Every player I talk to says this card is awesome, except when I get it out turn 1 via dark ritual, players usually respond with a bolt or something, not only getting rid of itself, but also my land.
even if this gets chump blocked by say, bears, you are having to get rid of too many of your own things for only 3 damage that gets through. I will sell my foil one to a shop or for trade fodder, I can't wait to get rid of this a.sshole.
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Phyrexian Canceller seems to do it better in New Phyrexia.
TPmanW
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Back in the day he may have ran roughshod over the metagame but I don't know if that's enough to really qualify him as a mythic for his reprint, not to mention being on the front of a duel deck's packaging.
tantallum99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I agree with @moustache and @blackalbino. essentially running annhilator on yourself is SO not worth it. Abyssal Persecutor is infiintely better and only costs one more.
Episode 1 of the best card game based cartoon ever:
Yugi: Phyrexia, OBLITERATE!
Kaiba: FUUUUUU-!
Aldonius
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After reading all the comments, i'm going to assume that some of you have not been playing him in the right deck. I run him in a black/white deck that also includes: Vindicate, Cruel Edict, Swords to Plowshares and the very powerful (if not super unfair) Balance . the Negator is powerful you just have to give him the right support and play on his weakness. I feed mine Phyrexian Walker's he just loves the crunch and if you get tired of the pain just Culling The Weak him to somthing like Desolation Angel.
(yeah burn decks can cause problems) + I hate this art version
Gaffy00
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Should've been "Whenever Phyrexian Negator is dealt combat damage, sacrifice that many permanents." I remember the bad memories with this thinking I'm gonna win with a 5/5 black trampler turn 3. And then he gets burned twice and I sac my entire board and get my face pounded in.
TheWrathofShane
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
Run sacrifice creatures to counter burn spells.
Dont attack if they have 2 or more power on the board.
Possible to give him cheap flying/unblockable to bypass blockers.
This is the kind of drawback that makes you think how to wield the power. Baneslayer and Obliterator take the thinking out of the equation.
SkyknightXi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I was wondering how this got promoted to mythic. Apparently being a (once) reserved helps. So if there's a foil loophole, I wonder if we can somehow get other cards out this way (even if the card I'm eyeing is, of all things, Scarwood Bandits).
adrian.malacoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@skyknightXi
There was once such a loophole, but it's been closed since.
bansheemane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For love of god, this guy is promo card, which means he does NOT have to actually be Mythic. Not that rarities matter in set like this.
Subtle_Kay
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can't see any way in which this card can even compare to Phyrexian Obliterator. Even if that didn't exist I'd say that this is too bad to put in a deck, let alone to be a mythic rare. It reminds me of Blind Creeper, a card I cut up when I was younger.
KnexWiz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this is why we cant have nice things in FTV
El_Pared
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
great card, but I hate the new art. I think I still prefer Negator to Obliterator if only because Negator is more splashable. Although I'd likely use Phyrexian Totem over this card most of the time unless I was going for speed.
Say what you want, this thing still makes people not attack out of fear.
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You know, the only reason I can see this card being reserved now (which is kind of said, as it is kinda broken) is that there isn't a proper place to print it now with obliterator out there.
How sad would you be if you played this card, and the next turn, your opponent plays Shivan meteor
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I realized that this guy is hideously effective with double-strike. in R/B you can do the standard Dark Rit play T1, then if they block T2 you drop a double cleave => 7-9 damage to their face, no loss of permanents for you, and they lost a creature in the process. Assault Strobe gives you a 1-mana (and thus less risky for permanents) way to do the same thing if you have a blood crypt out.
Ran next to unearth, dark rit, dakmor salvage, and some other "3 cmc matters" cards, this may be a neat archtype. Hypnotic Specter fits with the double-strike as well; I'm sure there are other neat 3 CMC or less cards that fit with this as well, such as skittering horror.
SnackyNorph
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
What are you doing, people? He's a 5/5 for three. Quit being dumb and give him the rating he deserves.
3.6? Stupid kids only seeing a drawback and not a turn 1 5/5 trampler.
"but what about blockers? if they drop an early creature you end up clearing your board." THAT'S WHY YOU ARE IN BLACK. YOU KILL ANY BLOCKERS WITH KILL SPELLS.
Even if you don't Dark ritual him on turn 1, HE'S A 5/5 TRAMPLER FOR 3 IN BLACK. without a drawback, he'd be Moss Kami Cost wise.
Lifegainwithbite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@ultratog1028: Sure. I always love losing all my lands to a random Lightning Bolt that they have four turns to draw and then I immediately lose the game. Magic is such fun when that happens.
OstravaBoletaria
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
for those who say that the obliterator is better either don't know what dark ritual is or what suicide black is. sure, the obliterator is awesome, but this is a 5/5 trampler on turn 1, and it only requires a 2-card combo. that's insane. i can only imagine the badassery if you gave him first strike... 4/5 for being the icon of SuiBlack.
oh yeah, another thing to mention... dont use him against burn. also, i love the flavor text for some reason.
I don't know, think about this: Say you have Pyrexian Ob;iterator , and say, Courtly Provocateur out. You got this and switcheroo or donate in your hand. Next turn, play negator, use sqitcheroo to swap monsters, or donate, give them the negator, use Provocateur to force it to attack, block with Obliterator, and you just forced your opponent to sacrifice 10 perma's.
Bbone37
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kids these days......
GrimjawxRULES
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At 5/5 trample for 3 mana, you should have mana left over to blast whatever blockers your opponent might have to pieces with a slew of spot removal and sacrifice effects. Turn 1: Dark Ritual -> This -> Turn 2: Doomblade -> Turn 3: Gatekeeper of Malakir is an example of how you could make this thing work. Of course, burn screws you hard, but you're winning vs. creature-based decks most of the time.
Comments (64)
Idk, not like it matters that much if you do lose swamps later on; its what the risk is all about.
With great power comes great sacrifice.
Not that I'd be opposed to owning a legitimate playset of Black Lotus ;)
Edit: Oh. Nevermind. Foil loophole. FOIL black lotus then.
You can definitely see that it's him nontheless. Glad they kept the old flavor text :D
Having to sacrifice that many permanents would be more valuable to the Coalition player than doing 10 direct damage to the opposing player, depending on what permanents the Phyrexian player had out.
because its a 5/5 for three.
You're not supposed to play this maindeck.
You keep it in your sideboard, and if you run up against any control or combo decks with limited blocking or burning capabilities, this just destroys them.
He also looks way too fleshy and organic.
Phyrexian Negator + 1 Swamp + Dark Ritual.
Good stuff.
Overall this guy is what Black is all about. Paying the cost for greatness!!
I HAVE played it.
You may get significant damage in but it puts you in such a bad position.
Going for 3-drop power?
Wooly thoctar
Needs to be mono-black compatible?
Phyrexian soulgourger
(phylactery lich works too if it has to be T2 which this isn't)
Needs trample/evasion?
Hypnotic specter
With today's options there is NO reason to run this
I honestly like this card, and I imagine it was a powerhouse against control/combo decks back in the day. 10 total p/t for 3 mana, and in a color that can ritual the monstrosity out on the first turn. But this dude needs to stay in the sideboard until it's safe to come out. He's just too risky nowadays.
Unfortunately, he has lost me far more than he has won, so they hide in the sideboard now until i'm sure it's safe for them to come out ;p
It does have a pair of rather round-looking lumps on its chest.
It's a decent sideboard card with good flavor.
Shame it doesn't have Shadow or Shroud by itself.
Then it would be really good.
even if this gets chump blocked by say, bears, you are having to get rid of too many of your own things for only 3 damage that gets through. I will sell my foil one to a shop or for trade fodder, I can't wait to get rid of this a.sshole.
The cost may be very color intensive,
Same body, but move the sacrifice effect from you to your opponent.
This guy precedes a Phyrexian Obliterator.
And let me tell you, it's worth the wait.
"Dr. Octo-gona-m***r-F***K'N OCTOPUS, BLAAAARRGGHHH!!!!!!!!''
Episode 1 of the best card game based cartoon ever:
Yugi: Phyrexia, OBLITERATE!
Kaiba: FUUUUUU-!
Dark Ritual/Balance for the win 4.5/5 stars
(yeah burn decks can cause problems)
+ I hate this art version
Dont attack if they have 2 or more power on the board.
Possible to give him cheap flying/unblockable to bypass blockers.
This is the kind of drawback that makes you think how to wield the power. Baneslayer and Obliterator take the thinking out of the equation.
There was once such a loophole, but it's been closed since.
Ran next to unearth, dark rit, dakmor salvage, and some other "3 cmc matters" cards, this may be a neat archtype. Hypnotic Specter fits with the double-strike as well; I'm sure there are other neat 3 CMC or less cards that fit with this as well, such as skittering horror.
"but what about blockers? if they drop an early creature you end up clearing your board." THAT'S WHY YOU ARE IN BLACK. YOU KILL ANY BLOCKERS WITH KILL SPELLS.
Even if you don't Dark ritual him on turn 1, HE'S A 5/5 TRAMPLER FOR 3 IN BLACK. without a drawback, he'd be Moss Kami Cost wise.
oh yeah, another thing to mention... dont use him against burn. also, i love the flavor text for some reason.
Say you have Pyrexian Ob;iterator , and say, Courtly Provocateur out. You got this and switcheroo or donate in your hand. Next turn, play negator, use sqitcheroo to swap monsters, or donate, give them the negator, use Provocateur to force it to attack, block with Obliterator, and you just forced your opponent to sacrifice 10 perma's.