This is awesome card! As said already, counterspell is probably the most annoying choice to imprint. Other ones I like are lightning helix and terminate.
Kamidii
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lightning Bolt
FragNutMK1
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Hate this thing sooooo much
dberry02
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I don't know about you guys, but I like this art better than the origional. It's very elegant.
Daikoru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Atali: Imprinting a Split card works. A Split card has two CMC everywhere except when on the stack. So, you can choose a Split card that has a CMC of 2 and another of 5. Since it's the card that is exiled and not a spell, you can cast both sides, his second ability doesn't look for CMC anymore. Thus, I feel Odds // Ends is a great choice.
VoidedNote
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For the panzies in the crowd: Holy Day.
auriscope
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Atali: I believe the CMC of a split card is the higher CMC of the two.
SweetZombiJesus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Lateralis0ne: Brainfreeze, Dark Ritual, seriously?
Brainfreeze is most effective as a one-shot spell, not being used repeatedly. And Activating 2 mana to use the Scepter to make a 3-mana dark ritual isn't that impressive.
Your other examples were ok.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(14 votes)
Man chippy, you just never get tired of these amazing card/artwork combos, don't you?
Oooh. New art for stick. Almost as good as the promo art. This is the reason why people hate my control deck. Counterspell? Memory Lapse with this is a PAINFUL locklown.
Longshanks126
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
@Sironos: Time Stop can't be put on this, it has to be an instant with CMC 2 or less...
NecroticNobody
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
If the copied card is a split card, you may choose to cast either side of the split card, but not both. The split cards Fire/Ice, Illusion/Reality, Night/Day, Stand/Deliver, and Wax/Wane all have at least one side with converted mana cost 2 or less.)
This explains the split card conundrum. I realy wish I had one of these and not Panoptic Mirror, because I enjoy EDH. My Teysa deck would love this scepter with Silence or Diabolic Eddict on it.
D0UBLE_A
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
This + Time Walk = your opponent cries.
I just wish I had a Time Walk... and this, for that matter.
Does not work with Time Walk since it isn't an instant. Does not work with Time Stop since that costs 6.
Folesauce
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
I don't know why people are asking about split cards, because the notes here in gatherer explain it. The shenanigans work. Research//Development is absolutely insane with this, as a result.
I think a lot of you are getting ahead of yourself and not paying attention to the obvious flaws with imprinting an artifact. Artifacts are fragile, every color (with the exception of black) has something it can do to this card (and even black can toss out a 1 casting cost @Pithing Needle can pretty much mean they get rid of two cards with only one). That's called card advantage, when two threats are neutralized with one card.
How this thing got rated so high based on that, I'll never know, as it's rated even higher than the Morphling right now.
Now, it is a fun card, and it has power to keep pouring on those two casting cost instants, but if you're going to imprint, imprint wisely, because while tossing down a Mana Drain imprinted scepter on your second turn might seem like an advantage, a Shatter, Disenchant, Naturalize, Boomerang, or Needle will pretty much mean they just removed that card from the game without much chance of you seeing it again. In this respect, the Isochron Scepter is little better than most Aura enchantments.
GrimjawxRULES
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
@Cloworora: Dude, don't go there. You cannot and should never judge a card based on which cards are able to deal with it. By that very same logic, cards like Baneslayer Angel, Jace the Mind Sculptor, heck, even Black Lotus and Time Walk would be bad because you can answer them with Doomblade/Boomerang/Force of Will herp 'a derp. No, what you should be judging a card on is much they help you win the game, and how much they demand answers. (And Isochron Scepter is a card that demands answers)
land_comment for two reasons 1.people hate Jace for coasting to much money. 2. This is better. GrimjawxRULES you completely ignored what he said he said it the thing is if some kills your baneslayer big deal you both lose one card but if someone kills this right away they lose one card you lose two. He didnt say this is a bad card what he did say is you should probably imprint something that can protect it and wait tell the forth turn to play it.
If you have 2 of these out and you're playing white. Just use one to imprint Silence and the other one to imprint Holy day
Dennoire
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone know how this works with burst cards? eg I have 2 life bursts in my graveyard at the time of imprinting the scepter with a 3rd life burst. Does that mean all future activations will recognise just these 2 graveyard bursts, or will it also accept any others cast from the scepter?
An_thrax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think, if u have 'silence' on it and play it on opponents turn they can still destroy it, due to priority rules. I could be wrong.
Cast Battle of Wits, the two Palladium Myrs and the Galvanizer. Go infinite with the Myrs and cast the Talisman and then the Scepter exiling Research. Pay from the infinite mana and tap the Scepter to cast a Research copy, pay to activate the Talisman's ability and untap the Scepter, rinse and repeat. Keep doing that until you have 200 or more cards in your library, then wait a turn to win the game. Or, if your impatient, use Time Warp.
The_Trendkill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It seems odd to me that there are so many comments about trying to find ways to break the scepter. That's already been done. The correct card to imprint on this is Orim's Chant. See the old extended archetype "Scepter-Chant" for further explanation.
zenuedite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ah yes, I can see this + Silence + Grand Abolisher getting out of hand. But really, what doesn't get out of hand with this card?
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
combos with every single 2 mana instant ever made!!
they could've made it fair by forcing you to pay it's mana cost (so it would virtually cost 4)
Dr_Fletchers
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Greatest card ever made.....end of story.
NoobOfLore
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The card. The rod. The legend.
You might note that this pretty little number is the highest rated card on the gatherer. Better than all the Moxes, Black Lotus, Sensei's Divining Top, Sol Ring...
I seem to remember a deck that used this and Shrapnel Blast, ultimately killing off the opponent by sacking the scepter to the shrapnel blast. Well, at least that's how i'd use this
drpvfx
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
One of the most amazing, creative, powerful, and fun cards they've ever printed.
This card (and its soul brother Panoptic Mirror) brought me back into the M:tG fold after a ten year absence- I just love it so.
Also... Brainstorm? Seriously?! I mean, don't get me wrong- it's a great spell, but if you're aiming big, why not just go for Ancestral Recall, and skip that whole messy "putting two cards back" business?
And on that note- why would one choose Silence or Festival, when a kicked Orim's Chant has both effects? Granted, you'd have to pay an extra W every time you want the Kicker, but it's still superior to Silence (though admittedly much pricier).
Secksee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Used these with boomerang and counterspell. Counter Counter Counter Counter Whoops, one get through. Boomerang Counter So oppressive. :)
luca_barelli
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This was originally...AN UNCOMMON?!?!
Jesus, what was R&D smoking during mirrodin block?
Lateralis0ne
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
"I cast my--" WHACK "Ow! What the hell was that!?"
Listen to the cries of your enemies as you farm nearly endless mana and mill their deck into dust.
1. Tap Scepter for High Tide (double U output of islands). 2. Pay U to Trigger Drowner Initiate Ability (mill two of a opponent's cards) for casting High Tide Copy. 2. Tap all Ilands in your possession. 3. Tap Fatestitcher to Untap Isochron Scepter. 4. Pay U to Untap Fatestitcher via Pemmin's Aura. 5. Tap Fatestitcher to Untap an Island 6. Pay U to Untap Fatestitcher via Pemmin's Aura. 7. Repeat Steps 5-6 as required to untap all islands 8. Repeat from Step 1 (yes recasting High Tide Copy). 9. Win Game when opponent is unable to draw a card.
Phanthomas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"You cast the copy while this ability is resolving, and still on the stack. Normally, you're not allowed to cast spells or activate abilities at this time. Isochron Scepter's ability provides an exception."
I read this as though spells cast with Isochron Scepter can't be countered, since you cast the spell while Isochrons ability resolves and thus people can't can't a spell to counter the spell cas't by isochron.
Only was would be to counter the Isochrons ability it self?
steez4days
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This plus platinum angel and final fortune, though that's far from the easiest way to break this. Ridiculous.
Run some red mana accel instants and Lotus Petals and it's an easy win in legacy on turn 2.
Tiggurix
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@DarthParallax: I think Go for the Throat is a better stand-in for the Death Curse than Doom Blade, as we have no indication from the books that the Curse works on non-living creatures.
KokoshoForPresident
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is there anything more broken than imprinting an ancestral recall on this?
kiseki
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Even things as simple as To Arms are amazing. I have imprinted inside out in my tim deck for card advantage AND being able to deal with low power/high toughness creatures. If you use any can trip, and they cast a spell to kill this, you are still up the minor effect.
Dream_Twist
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Besides your Orim's Chant, Abbeyance, Lightning Helix, Counterspell etc.,
the ugliest thing I've seen is the stick comboed with a WordofCommand
Sloppy card design at its most extreme. Throughout my history as a Magic player, I've ususally noticed right away what cards were unbalanced and "broken". High Tide, Force of Will, Contamination - I could tell instantly that the Wizards hadn't done proper playtesting. A few sleepers did evade me, such as Zuran Orb. With others, though, like this Isochron Scepter, it's hard to imagine just how WotC could have dropped the ball like that, especially this late in their history of card designing.
Seriously, Isochron Scepter? A card that allows you to cast a Lightning Bolt or Counter Spell again and again, for a rather modest initial investment and very little subsequent cost? What the HELL were they thinking? This would have been unthinkable even in the days of Alpha.
This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time - in a tie with Price of Progress (1R: You win the game). Oh... should I mention that Price of Progress is an instant, that costs two mana?
What if. . . I exiled this and Panoptic Mirror from my yard with Myr Welder, granting it the activated ability to imprint instants and Sorceries of any size from my hand and the ability to "copy the exiled card and cast tge copy without paying its mana cost?"
Could I pay {7}, imprint Cruel Ultimatum, and then get it for {2} every turn off the Isochron Mirror Myr?
Remember, the imprint by mana cost and card type restriction is only worded int the triggered ability of the Scepter. Myr Welder is capable of imprinting Creatures via Deathmask Duplicant, artifacts via its own abilities, and instants and sorceries via Mirror, as an activated ability.
talcumpowder0046
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Highest rated artifact, higher than the moxen and the lotus! Ill take 4 please.
Negated
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I have a dream. A dream where I build a modern deck that has 4x this, 4x Voltaic Key, 4x Liquimetal Coating, and a whole bunch of "Destroy Target Artifact" spells, that naturally all cost 1-2 mana. Smelt and Glissa's Scorn come to mind.
I'll let you know how this works after I win several major Modern tournaments with the deck.
BongRipper420
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've never used this card before, but when I first saw it, it was completely obvious to me that it can become very broken way too easily. Not even discussing Silence, Orim's Chant, Counterspell, Mana Drain, Swords to Plowshares, Ancestral Recall, Stifle or any Fog effect, you can pretty much place anything on this and it becomes extremely powerful.
I'm not one to complain, but it's obvious to me this card is overpowered and should have garnered more playtesting.
Dabok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is gonna come alongside the Izzet vs Golgari duel decks. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to make this available for casual tables again...I mean it can ruin some fun (not the one that uses it of course...)
Why do you guys complain that its broken and then rate it a 5/5? BROKEN CARDS DONT NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
Hey, how about you guys stop making the vintage//legacy comparisons? That format is so old and full of so many restricted mistakes, it really does not matter whether is card is played there or not. Games will end before you have 4 lands... All I can remember is I made it to the finals at my local card shop, with a mono black deck. Joker dropped this on turn 2, and turn 3+ I couldn't play spells or attack.... Happened on both games. This was when the mirrdon block first came out... that was my first and last tourney ever. What option did mono black have??? Duress? Maybe I didn't see that many years ago, but still that wouldn't be good enough. You need instant speed artifact removal, unless they stick a counterspell on this..
.5/5 for serious lack of development on this card.
Lord_Seth_02
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(5 votes)
@ TheWrathofShane
Why do you guys complain that its broken and then rate it a 5/5? BROKEN CARDS DONT NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
The ratings are (presumably) how strong the card is. If a card is broken, it getting a 5/5 (which this card does NOT deserve, by the way) is accurate because it's obviously a strong card if it's broken. Now, I think this card is neither broken nor deserving of a 5/5, but from that viewpoint it makes sense.
Hey, how about you guys stop making the vintage//legacy comparisons? That format is so old and full of so many restricted mistakes, it really does not matter whether is card is played there or not.
It does matter. Remember the claim that I was responding to, and I quote: "This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time". Note what's being claimed. Not just that the card is overpowered. Not even just that the card is a broken card. No, what was claimed was that it was THE most broken card. Which, by the simple fact you don't see it in Vintage or Legacy, is false. If it were in fact THE most broken card, it would see play (or be so strong it would have to be banned). It doesn't. Therefore, the claim that it is the most broken card ever is blatantly false.
And again, even setting aside Legacy and Vintage, what about Modern? It gets played some there, but is mostly a bit player. The card doesn't put up the results to justify the hype people here are giving it.
Games will end before you have 4 lands...
Do you play Legacy? I've played many a Legacy game where I or my opponent had 4 lands in play.
All I can remember is I made it to the finals at my local card shop, with a mono black deck. Joker dropped this on turn 2, and turn 3+ I couldn't play spells or attack.... Happened on both games. This was when the mirrdon block first came out... that was my first and last tourney ever. What option did mono black have??? Duress? Maybe I didn't see that many years ago, but still that wouldn't be good enough.<
Cast Duress, choose Isochron Scepter or Orim's Chant. How is that not good enough? Mono-Black does have a weakness to noncreature artifacts, but it's hardly incapable of dealing with them or that combo. And there's even more cards nowadays to help it do that.
@ Arachnos
Oh by the way. Scepter + Silence + Voltaic Key = complete lock.
Not at all. Any Instant speed removal that can hit an artifact--ANY--takes care of it.
Counterbalance+Sensei's Divining Top is a better lock and requires fewer cards.
ORIGINAL POST: @ DrJack
This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time - in a tie with Price of Progress (1R: You win the game). Oh... should I mention that Price of Progress is an instant, that costs two mana?
Indeed! It's the most broken Magic card of all time. That's why you see it in all the top Legacy decks, and...oh, wait, the card is almost never played in Legacy. Doesn't seem to have a Vintage presence either from what I can tell. So much for it being the most broken Magic card of all time. It's not even the most broken card in its own set (unlike, say, Disciple of the Vault or the artifact lands, it never got banned).
To be fair, it is played some in Modern. But if you have to get rid of everything before 8th Edition and ban a bunch of cards on top of that to make this playable (not even broken--just playable), then it's certainly not the most unbalanced/broken Magic card of all time. People need to stop throwing around terms like that when they're clearly not true. There's plenty of ways to deal with this card, and if someone isn't capable of using any of them, that says more about them than it does about the card.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is a decent card, and it can certainly be annoying to be on the receiving end of. But to call it the most broken Magic card of all time is ridiculous even if you are using hyperbole. I actually find it a little depressing this is rated higher on Gatherer than actually legitimately broken cards like the Moxen.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@Lord_Seth: that's because it's probably not overpowered enough to get bombarded with 0.5 hateratings from people raging at how broken it is, and probably not expensive enough to get bombarded with 0.5 ratings from people who are jelly that they'll never be able to own one.
As broken as it is, I do really like the design of it. Had there been some other form of balancing feature (Perhaps requiring a discard in the cost to make this the "Spellshaper Stick," of sorts) would've helped, but I doubt it. Truly, the almighty stick deserves it's position as the game's best artifact.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
There are unlimited Stick/DeathSTICK jokes for Harry Potter fans who have this card with this art.
@Arachnos Pretty sure having a "complete lock" centered around Silence is a terrible idea, since people can just cast spells right as it's played and they'll still work just fine. Hell, you could play a copy of Silence and they could just respond with Naturalize and there goes the complete lock.
Comments (105)
And counterspell is probably my favorite one for here, because orim's chant will get you beaten up.
Counterspell on a stick is just disgusting.
This is awesome card! As said already, counterspell is probably the most annoying choice to imprint. Other ones I like are lightning helix and terminate.
Brainfreeze is most effective as a one-shot spell, not being used repeatedly. And Activating 2 mana to use the Scepter to make a 3-mana dark ritual isn't that impressive.
Your other examples were ok.
This is the reason why people hate my control deck. Counterspell? Memory Lapse with this is a PAINFUL locklown.
This explains the split card conundrum. I realy wish I had one of these and not Panoptic Mirror, because I enjoy EDH. My Teysa deck would love this scepter with Silence or Diabolic Eddict on it.
I just wish I had a Time Walk... and this, for that matter.
Does not work with Time Walk since it isn't an instant. Does not work with Time Stop since that costs 6.
How this thing got rated so high based on that, I'll never know, as it's rated even higher than the Morphling right now.
Now, it is a fun card, and it has power to keep pouring on those two casting cost instants, but if you're going to imprint, imprint wisely, because while tossing down a Mana Drain imprinted scepter on your second turn might seem like an advantage, a Shatter, Disenchant, Naturalize, Boomerang, or Needle will pretty much mean they just removed that card from the game without much chance of you seeing it again. In this respect, the Isochron Scepter is little better than most Aura enchantments.
No, what you should be judging a card on is much they help you win the game, and how much they demand answers. (And Isochron Scepter is a card that demands answers)
I know it says Instant and all, but..
Proceed to make "dead stick" jokes.
1.people hate Jace for coasting to much money.
2. This is better.
GrimjawxRULES
you completely ignored what he said he said it the thing is if some kills your baneslayer big deal you both lose one card but if someone kills this right away they lose one card you lose two. He didnt say this is a bad card what he did say is you should probably imprint something that can protect it and wait tell the forth turn to play it.
Add Voltaic Key for added iChumps, and maybe blast em all with Hellion Eruption?
Balance, burning wish, pyroclasm, demonic tutor, even saw someone try to imprint Wrath of God once.
And just from comments posted here...
dragon fodder = no
time walk = no
wrench mind, duress, rampant growth, rite of flame, shahrazad = no no no no no
day of the dragons ??? = squirrelbeary has a sense of humor ;)
I still love this card, even after living through the decks of a number of friends who take devilish delight in puttling counterspell under the stick.
btw, for whoever said Glimpse the Unthinkable and was corrected, Vision Charm is an excellent consolation prize, no?
Imprint Silence or Orim's Chant on the Scepter.
Practical upshot in a regular 1 v 1 game?
Your opponent cannot cast spells on your turn or his turn. On your turn, you can play anything in his hand, including lands.
Social upshot?
Your opponent will never speak to you again.
Vocal upshot?
MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
Cast Battle of Wits, the two Palladium Myrs and the Galvanizer. Go infinite with the Myrs and cast the Talisman and then the Scepter exiling Research. Pay
they could've made it fair by forcing you to pay it's mana cost (so it would virtually cost 4)
You might note that this pretty little number is the highest rated card on the gatherer.
Better than all the Moxes, Black Lotus, Sensei's Divining Top, Sol Ring...
This card (and its soul brother Panoptic Mirror) brought me back into the M:tG fold after a ten year absence-
I just love it so.
Also... Brainstorm? Seriously?!
I mean, don't get me wrong- it's a great spell,
but if you're aiming big, why not just go for Ancestral Recall,
and skip that whole messy "putting two cards back" business?
And on that note- why would one choose Silence or Festival,
when a kicked Orim's Chant has both effects?
Granted, you'd have to pay an extra W every time you want the Kicker,
but it's still superior to Silence (though admittedly much pricier).
Counter
Counter
Counter
Counter
Whoops, one get through.
Boomerang
Counter
So oppressive. :)
Jesus, what was R&D smoking during mirrodin block?
"Counterspelling your titan. Why?"
Naturalize.
Titanic Growth.
You have yourself a rollface werewolf deck.
Listen to the cries of your enemies as you farm nearly endless mana and mill their deck into dust.
1. Tap Scepter for High Tide (double U output of islands).
2. Pay U to Trigger Drowner Initiate Ability (mill two of a opponent's cards) for casting High Tide Copy.
2. Tap all Ilands in your possession.
3. Tap Fatestitcher to Untap Isochron Scepter.
4. Pay U to Untap Fatestitcher via Pemmin's Aura.
5. Tap Fatestitcher to Untap an Island
6. Pay U to Untap Fatestitcher via Pemmin's Aura.
7. Repeat Steps 5-6 as required to untap all islands
8. Repeat from Step 1 (yes recasting High Tide Copy).
9. Win Game when opponent is unable to draw a card.
I read this as though spells cast with Isochron Scepter can't be countered, since you cast the spell while Isochrons ability resolves and thus people can't can't a spell to counter the spell cas't by isochron.
Only was would be to counter the Isochrons ability it self?
Back in the day I used it with Terror and Reknit.
You can also Imprint Research on it and then copy Development for
Johnny's favorite card.
edit: I do believe this says that the copy is "cast" which would mean you could copy it again using Mirari or Riku of Two Reflections? Same goes for Panoptic Mirror
Don't mind me, I'll just tutor ever single piece of my sinsiter combo.
Run some red mana accel instants and Lotus Petals and it's an easy win in legacy on turn 2.
I have imprinted inside out in my tim deck for card advantage AND being able to deal with low power/high toughness creatures.
If you use any can trip, and they cast a spell to kill this, you are still up the minor effect.
the ugliest thing I've seen is the stick comboed with a WordofCommand
Seriously, Isochron Scepter? A card that allows you to cast a Lightning Bolt or Counter Spell again and again, for a rather modest initial investment and very little subsequent cost? What the HELL were they thinking? This would have been unthinkable even in the days of Alpha.
This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time - in a tie with Price of Progress (1R: You win the game). Oh... should I mention that Price of Progress is an instant, that costs two mana?
Wow.
I exiled this and Panoptic Mirror from my yard with Myr Welder, granting it the activated ability to imprint instants and Sorceries of any size from my hand and the ability to "copy the exiled card and cast tge copy without paying its mana cost?"
Could I pay {7}, imprint Cruel Ultimatum, and then get it for {2} every turn off the Isochron Mirror Myr?
Remember, the imprint by mana cost and card type restriction is only worded int the triggered ability of the Scepter. Myr Welder is capable of imprinting Creatures via Deathmask Duplicant, artifacts via its own abilities, and instants and sorceries via Mirror, as an activated ability.
I'll let you know how this works after I win several major Modern tournaments with the deck.
I'm not one to complain, but it's obvious to me this card is overpowered and should have garnered more playtesting.
BROKEN CARDS DONT NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
Hey, how about you guys stop making the vintage//legacy comparisons? That format is so old and full of so many restricted mistakes, it really does not matter whether is card is played there or not. Games will end before you have 4 lands... All I can remember is I made it to the finals at my local card shop, with a mono black deck. Joker dropped this on turn 2, and turn 3+ I couldn't play spells or attack.... Happened on both games. This was when the mirrdon block first came out... that was my first and last tourney ever. What option did mono black have??? Duress? Maybe I didn't see that many years ago, but still that wouldn't be good enough. You need instant speed artifact removal, unless they stick a counterspell on this..
.5/5 for serious lack of development on this card.
Why do you guys complain that its broken and then rate it a 5/5?
BROKEN CARDS DONT NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
The ratings are (presumably) how strong the card is. If a card is broken, it getting a 5/5 (which this card does NOT deserve, by the way) is accurate because it's obviously a strong card if it's broken. Now, I think this card is neither broken nor deserving of a 5/5, but from that viewpoint it makes sense.
Hey, how about you guys stop making the vintage//legacy comparisons? That format is so old and full of so many restricted mistakes, it really does not matter whether is card is played there or not.
It does matter. Remember the claim that I was responding to, and I quote: "This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time". Note what's being claimed. Not just that the card is overpowered. Not even just that the card is a broken card. No, what was claimed was that it was THE most broken card. Which, by the simple fact you don't see it in Vintage or Legacy, is false. If it were in fact THE most broken card, it would see play (or be so strong it would have to be banned). It doesn't. Therefore, the claim that it is the most broken card ever is blatantly false.
And again, even setting aside Legacy and Vintage, what about Modern? It gets played some there, but is mostly a bit player. The card doesn't put up the results to justify the hype people here are giving it.
Games will end before you have 4 lands...
Do you play Legacy? I've played many a Legacy game where I or my opponent had 4 lands in play.
All I can remember is I made it to the finals at my local card shop, with a mono black deck. Joker dropped this on turn 2, and turn 3+ I couldn't play spells or attack.... Happened on both games. This was when the mirrdon block first came out... that was my first and last tourney ever. What option did mono black have??? Duress? Maybe I didn't see that many years ago, but still that wouldn't be good enough.<
Cast Duress, choose Isochron Scepter or Orim's Chant. How is that not good enough? Mono-Black does have a weakness to noncreature artifacts, but it's hardly incapable of dealing with them or that combo. And there's even more cards nowadays to help it do that.
@ Arachnos
Oh by the way. Scepter + Silence + Voltaic Key = complete lock.
Not at all. Any Instant speed removal that can hit an artifact--ANY--takes care of it.
Counterbalance+Sensei's Divining Top is a better lock and requires fewer cards.
ORIGINAL POST:
@ DrJack
This just about qualifies as the most unbalanced, "broken" Magic card of all time - in a tie with Price of Progress (1R: You win the game). Oh... should I mention that Price of Progress is an instant, that costs two mana?
Indeed! It's the most broken Magic card of all time. That's why you see it in all the top Legacy decks, and...oh, wait, the card is almost never played in Legacy. Doesn't seem to have a Vintage presence either from what I can tell. So much for it being the most broken Magic card of all time. It's not even the most broken card in its own set (unlike, say, Disciple of the Vault or the artifact lands, it never got banned).
To be fair, it is played some in Modern. But if you have to get rid of everything before 8th Edition and ban a bunch of cards on top of that to make this playable (not even broken--just playable), then it's certainly not the most unbalanced/broken Magic card of all time. People need to stop throwing around terms like that when they're clearly not true. There's plenty of ways to deal with this card, and if someone isn't capable of using any of them, that says more about them than it does about the card.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is a decent card, and it can certainly be annoying to be on the receiving end of. But to call it the most broken Magic card of all time is ridiculous even if you are using hyperbole. I actually find it a little depressing this is rated higher on Gatherer than actually legitimately broken cards like the Moxen.
Oh by the way. Scepter + Silence + Voltaic Key = complete lock.
Swords to plowshares. the beta one.
-Combine with Whispersilk Cloak and Moratorium Stone and attempt to claim an automatic victory.
-Imprint with Lightning Bolt for the Cruciatus Curse, Doom Blade for Avada Kedavra, or Ray of Command for the Imperius!
EDIT Ummmm........guys? Vampiric Tutor. o.O
EDIT 2: I admit Ray of Command doesn't work :(
EDIT 3: OK. You people weren't impressed the first time I posted a Death Stick comment.
FINE.
Abrupt Decay. AVADA KEDAVRA!
If you think this card is "broken", I have two words for you: Krosan Grip
Krosan Grip? Is 3 mana.
Pretty sure having a "complete lock" centered around Silence is a terrible idea, since people can just cast spells right as it's played and they'll still work just fine. Hell, you could play a copy of Silence and they could just respond with Naturalize and there goes the complete lock.