This card is very easy to kill. But if you fail to kill it, it will thwack you upside the head. So I'd say...mid-pack, mainly because the UU isn't worth going that far out of your way for.
I like the improved design from those cards back in Weatherlight; these don't make you choose between damage and effect.
It also totally reminds me of those birds from Bionicle.
Tommy9898
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(6 votes)
I don't like this cycle of cards that can be sacrificed for effect if they hit someone. It just leads to unfun decisions. If you can hit someone with it, you are winning and should continue to attack with it. If you can't hit someone with it, than you want the card draw so you can be winning. A very counter intuitive card.
MasterOfEtherium
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
ooooooooooooooooo SEXY
ThisisSakon
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Hey! Someone took Thieving Magpie apart, and put each piece back in a random order!
And, strangely, I like it...
ZEvilMustache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4 mana for three cards or three damage in blue is just fine. Maybe getting both just feels good.
Gabriel422
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Could've been draw 3 without sacrifice and it probably still won't replace Jace. Or maybe it might.
majinara
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(11 votes)
I agree with Tommy, this cycle sucks. Creatures you can only sac when you need them and don't want to sac are as fun and useful as a solar submarine. This set got a huge amount of crappy and unfun cards. Even though this is good in limited, I give it 0.5 of 5, because I despise this mechanic. Even the "sacrifice only during your upkeep" creatures are more useful, from Kamigawa.
auriscope
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
It's really powerful in limited infect, especially at common. If it doesn't die or trade with something they threw down, it's a common Concentrate.
ElMikkino
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card was pretty awesome in Sealed Deck. Whenever I played him, I treated him like something that next turn would get me 3 damage and a Concentrate. That strategy worked pretty well, especially since my opponents had a lack of flyers. One time I sacced him, and I was like "Draw...Plains, Island...oh, Venser, the Sojourner. Nice."
DeathDark
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kind of Jace's Ingenuity (aka, prerigged Mind Spring) with strange restrictions. I'd kind of rather play the Ingenuity for more.
danth78
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This on a Mimic Vat. 3 mana for 3 damage and 3 cards per turn.
Biggles
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
in fairness, it might be best to use the ability against black or red decks to avoid it getting zapped or sliced.
nonetheless, still a bit counter-intuitive.
Necrokeryx
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
People that call this cycle counter-intuitive have no idea what they're talking about.
Impaler Shrike can be one of three things:
1. A 3/1 flier until you need to draw cards. 2. A concentrate at common rarity, that takes a turn to get going and deals three evasive damage to an opponent. 3. A high-powered flier that can trade with anything less than four toughness. This is probably the worst case scenario, which in blue is not bad at all.
If you think this card is bad, you are a fool.
Hell, Blind Zealot is almost a Hideous End without the 'nonblack' clause. Hideous End has seen constructed, and if people actually muster enough creativity and originality to play something outside of Cawblade, Blind Zealot could see constructed, too.
Deepfried-Owls
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
I like this card because it feels like a Specter turned on it's head. It's clearly remniscent of Thieving Magpie, but it brings a player card advantage without having to make the enemy discard their cards.
It's fun and flavorful, although the card isn't the best thing since sliced bread.
A great Phyrexian spin on Skywinder Drake style blue flyers. Getting a three damage gut-punch and watching them draw three is just the right kind of pain.
SeiberTross
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I love the idea of this with Nim Deathmantle, not that you NEED to do this more than once to win usually.
The thing not to miss is that you are drawing 3 cards for free the turn he hits. While you may eat a turn for 4 mana, it can be what puts you over the top at the end. Even if your opponent smacks you for 7 with a Hero of Bladehold that turn, it can be worth it since you'll be drawing 3 cards for free when this hits. Its an interesting card. It may be very good in a Grand Architect build that can get around the mana curve a bit easier.
DoragonShinzui
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ThisisSakon: Yeah, that's Phyrexia for you.
That being said, I love this card. Concentrate on legs. Or, rather, wings.
TheMonsterClips
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a great card for {U}, damage/blocker, and if it didn't block/get blocked it allows for card advantage.
Comments (22)
I like the improved design from those cards back in Weatherlight; these don't make you choose between damage and effect.
It also totally reminds me of those birds from Bionicle.
And, strangely, I like it...
Even though this is good in limited, I give it 0.5 of 5, because I despise this mechanic. Even the "sacrifice only during your upkeep" creatures are more useful, from Kamigawa.
nonetheless, still a bit counter-intuitive.
Impaler Shrike can be one of three things:
1. A 3/1 flier until you need to draw cards.
2. A concentrate at common rarity, that takes a turn to get going and deals three evasive damage to an opponent.
3. A high-powered flier that can trade with anything less than four toughness. This is probably the worst case scenario, which in blue is not bad at all.
If you think this card is bad, you are a fool.
Hell, Blind Zealot is almost a Hideous End without the 'nonblack' clause. Hideous End has seen constructed, and if people actually muster enough creativity and originality to play something outside of Cawblade, Blind Zealot could see constructed, too.
It's fun and flavorful, although the card isn't the best thing since sliced bread.
The thing not to miss is that you are drawing 3 cards for free the turn he hits. While you may eat a turn for 4 mana, it can be what puts you over the top at the end. Even if your opponent smacks you for 7 with a Hero of Bladehold that turn, it can be worth it since you'll be drawing 3 cards for free when this hits. Its an interesting card. It may be very good in a Grand Architect build that can get around the mana curve a bit easier.
That being said, I love this card. Concentrate on legs. Or, rather, wings.