Probably most controlling creature ever devised. You have to remove him or you can't remove anything else. Powerful
Gabriel422
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(5 votes)
Forget Melira, this card completely ruins the infect + pump strategy.
bigdeezy88
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
make him indestructable and he can be quite the nuisance
Mindbend
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
This card will see constructed play , even mainboard. Its stops splinter twin combo , infect pump, nearly all burn and is a wall. and it will do all this for free while being a wall. My faverite card of the set.
MasterOfEtherium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Eats Giant Growths
Mephastopheles
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(9 votes)
If Splinter Twin + Deceiver Exarch is going to become popular, which I think it could, this might be a very good card to invest in early...
Vividice
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Flagbearer that eats your heart out.
Too bad that paying the life cost is most critical vs. Red decks where the abillity really could shine. Hardly usable outside of Tempered Steel Decks. Would have been great with 1P/ mana coast! That way it would be awesome in Grand Architect Decks.
This card has quite a bit of potential. Like many have already said, it eats lightning bolts, pings, threatening abilities and annoying spot removal. But this card will really shine when people start to analyze its fun and long-term tactical applications. Indestructibility is an obvious choice, and shroud might have the ability of creating an illegal target for everything you don't agree with (I have no clue if this is a viable option). Slap a Leyline of Anticipation on the field at the beginning of the game and you have a turn-two creature-redirect, great for grabbing those pesky enemy auras you really want!
The art is very powerful. Just from the amazing imagery, I can imagine an equally powerful sound emanating from the horror; something similar to the HYPNOTOAD (Futurama reference) or a Slave I Sonic Mine Explosion (Star Wars reference). The vivid light creates a wonderfully dynamic composition and a sinister silhouette. Chippy has created an excellent and contrasting image once again.
Azrael1911
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
did someone just play an eldrazi con***ion?
nerach
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Oops.. I was wrong. Found my answer on the forum about Spellskite's ability and counterspells (or any other spell where Spellskite would be an illegal target). I think that the card itself is worded poorly and should have been something along the lines of "Change a target of target spell or ability from target creature to Spellskite."
Polychromatic
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
This guy is REALLY, REALLY good. Much better than too many people think.
This is the kind of card that sets Standard on fire.
CallmeMerry
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Why hello there Mr. Spellskite. Have you met my good friend Livewire Lash? No? I think you will like him very much. He also brought his good friend Batterskull. Oh, and this is his cousin Grafted Exoskeleton, we just don't talk about him too much.
shadmed
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@FelixCarter You can't change the target to an illegal target. That happens to any redirect spell.
Studoku
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Very good card. It's good in Spinter Exarch and Kiln fiend combo for protecting their bomb. It also hoses those two decks, infect-pump and shape anew/polymorph.
That's before you factor in combos with Livewire Lash or darksteel plate.
chaotickittycat
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This and Phyrexian Metamorph can be used as jace protection(liquimetal coating with metamorph). But it will be very annying to come across a deck using hex parasite, this, jtms, and batterskull.
HairlessThoctar
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
I have the feeling a lot of players are seriously overvaluing Spellskite due to not understanding what it can and cannot redirect.
If Skite is not a legal target of that spell or ability at the time of the activation, you can't redirect said spell or ability.
Wraique
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Man, I wish you could equip to opponent's creatures. Stupid Cawblade >.<
aba1
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(4 votes)
wall of tanglecord is better it can block obliterator and is alot better against caw-go
SereneChaos
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I want to play this while my opponent has a Tezz 2.0.
And I want my opponent to forget it's on the field when he uses Tezz's -1.
blindthrall
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Why is it better than Flagbearer? Simple. The ability is optional.
saphireblade
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Yeah, that was disheartening for sure about the whole equipment thing. That kinda made me see this as wasted potential which is absurd because by itself it's a control card for any color and has pretty good defense for a 2 drop. It still is a solid card though and it is better planes walker hate than that hex parasite in my opinion. It will see play with Phyrexian Revoker, riddlesmith, and bonehoard in my newer artifact deck.
@HairlessThoctar Yeah, I know what you mean about that. Basically though it allows you to play targeted removal counterspells and forces the opponent to deal with this before a threat so its good for that ability alone but the added defense of 4 makes it a higher priority good. In summary it's a great stall card that doubles as protection for your win conditions. Not obviously overpowered or broken like jace, the mindsculptor, batterskull, or stoneforge mystic but it is a great card none the less. And really if it did work on opponents equipment this would be the best card of this block hands down.
mikekuczyns
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I don't suppose I could use it to redirect a counterspell, forcing the spell to fizzle without a legal target?
Splizer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Hate targeted artifact destruction? Pair this with Asceticism.
UlyVanHammer
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So if I have a Livewire Lash equiped, and play a giant growth, can I trigger him multiple times to trigger the lash over and over?
blink182zombies
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I wish this had defender so it could interact better with Overgrown Battlement. Great card to protect your combo though. Doesn't stop Go for the Throat sadly. Also it's kind of ironic how this thing stops the Twin Exarch combo, but will likely be used by it.
krauser-gogetthegirl
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
I severely underestimated this card. its really amazing. probably my favorite card in the set.
JuzamDjimmy
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
You cat this spell, I KILL you with my Mindslaver!
Mattmedia
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
4.5, the Absolute best things about this card is the fact that it is shaped like a wall, but not actually a wall, he can wear swords, and protect from most burn, all for a 2 mana artifact that can go in every colour.
DerFuhrer111
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Can you steal an equipment with him because equipping is an ability?
Deepfried-Owls
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Great card for any deck that can take advantage of this redirect but now I've got an excuse to play aggro blue with all those "when this is the target of spell or ability, destroy blah blah blah" stuff.
c :
guardianbeastbreeder
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
If this card isn't a 5/5 in standard, NOTHING is!!!
Mavlis
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
This card, Phyrexian Metamorph and Dismember are probably the three strongest contenders for best card in this set. The prevalence of this card will really see to hold a lot of other decks in check - particularly great is getting out TWO of these guys - because the odds that someone will be able to remove both of them in order to get something off on them is very slim - unless they're using a board wipe. And, honestly, forcing your opponent to use a board wipe on creatures that aren't actually threatening them is very strong itself - and is more or less the point of Spellskite anyways.
tcollins
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Redirect someone activating Tezzeret's -1 ability, or use him to protect yourself or your own creatures / artifacts. Also as a 0/4 he can also block pretty effectively. Lastly, Livewire Lash has excellent synergy with this guy.
rinoh20
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
soooooo annoying.
Vakyoom
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Ok so just to clarify and with no run-around/in complete lamans terms, because this card is so awfully vague... this is what this card can do.
1) it CAN take any instant or sorcery that would normally target a creature as long as it's legal to normally target the spellskite in the first place. (i.e. go for the throat can not target artifacts so you can NOT change the target from your grand architect to your spellskite) 2) You may also redirect if the spell/ability says target permanent, as permanent is also a very broad term. 3) it CAN take a legal rebounded spell as it is technically cast again and goes on the stack, so you can take those distortion strikes and staggershocks as they rebound from exile. 4) things it can NOT alter or change are listed as follows: Counterspells, Target players spells/abilities, global spells/abilities, draw card spells/abilities, target graveyard spells/abilities, target non-artifact spells/abilities, target land things, target enchantment things, target planeswalker things and also you can't change the target of target spell spell/abilities (as it's already a permanent of course) 5) any permanent-altering effect that makes the spellskite unable to be targeted by spells or abilities(shroud) makes his activated essentially useless, since all targets are now illegal. 6) any permanent-altering effect that makes the spellskite into another kind of permanent (say it's now a land in addition to being an artifact creature thanks to some enchantment), the spellskite may now take legal targets to itself when they appear on the stack. (So in our example, you may now transfer "target land" spells over to the skite)
A random list of things spellskite can NOT effect: Mindslaver, surgical extraction, go for the throat, birthing pod, judgement day, Karn's +4 ability, archive trap, mana leak, noxious revival, Big Jace (0) ability, despise, geth's verdict.
A random list of things spellskite CAN effect: Giant growth, lightning bolt, Venser's +2, Karn's -3, Glimmerpoint stag's ETB effect, Deceiver exarch ETB effect if they choose to tap your permanent (untap isn't legal since it's not something they control), Doomblade, into the roil, dismember, glistening oil.
Anyways, wizards you guys should be more clear with these kinds of cards. All that extra room for flavor text and a bad explanation of the ability? no good.
this card is sick however, i run 3-4 in my grand architect/blightsteel/forgemaster deck. saves my ass all the time. 4.5/5 cuz you can't take absolutely any spell you want lol. that'd be op. this is still a top 5 card of the whole block.
EleshBlade
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This and Batterskull are best cards in the set!
A3Kitsune
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Vakyoom: You missed one. Spellskite CAN also redirect to itself any spell or ability that targets an artifact as long as it's legal to normally target the Spellskite in the first place (ie; it can NOT redirect a spell or ability that says "target non-creature artifact").
Paleopaladin
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(11 votes)
Since, for some reason, gatherer doesn't want to list the rulings, here are the pertinent bits about this card from the New Phyrexia FAQ:
•You can activate Spellskite's ability even if Spellskite wouldn't be a legal target for the spell or ability. However, the target of that spell or ability will remain unchanged.
•If changing one target of a spell or ability to Spellskite would make other targets of that spell or ability illegal, the targets remain unchanged.
•If the spell or ability has multiple instances of the word "target," you choose which target you're changing to Spellskite when Spellskite's ability resolves.
•By activating Spellskite's ability multiple times, you can change each target of a spell or ability with multiple instances of the word "target" to Spellskite, one at a time.
•The target of the spell or ability won't change unless Spellskite fulfills all the targeting criteria, even if multiple instances of the word "target" are used. For example, you can't change both targets of Arc Trail to Spellskite.
•If a spell or ability has multiple targets but doesn't use the word "target" multiple times, such as Fulgent Distraction, you can only successfully change one of the targets to Spellskite.
•If a spell or ability has a variable number of targets, you can't change the number of targets.
•If Spellskite leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, the targets remain unchanged.
Endomarru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Take that go for the throat
Nightphoenixbcp
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Had something come up while play testing at home. How does this interact with Precursor Golem and its tokens being targeted with Distortion Strike? Does it eat the original spell or does it have to be activated 3 times?
WateryMind
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
All I can think of is making it a 5/5 with Tezzeret. xD
Guest2103034515
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
While playing this card with friends, we argued the whether Spellskite will be able to redirect Blightning.
Reason being the first target from player to creature can be resolved, hence the target is legal.
Comments please. Need to know....urgently
thanks
sniper_ix
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Great card, too bad go for the throat cannot be redirected to it, but then there is always trusty Vines of Vastwood :3
Ridiculously powerful card, goes in any deck, wrecks havoc on any strategy that relies on targeting anything, only 2 mana for a durable 0/4 body.
SarpNasty
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ Guest
Spellskite's ability can target Blightning, but since Spellskite itself is an illegal target, the target of blighting will remain unchanged. Basically, you can pay the {U} or the 2 life, but once it targets Blightning, nothing will happen.
Gelzo
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I don't think you can really tell from this picture, but if you look at the art on one of these cards in person, you can notice that the creature has both teeth and claws, making the flavor text ironic.
Maybe it just doesn't need them?
Cvaeo
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Would the ability save illusion creatures or would changing the target of a spell not change the fact that initially the illusion was the target?
Zoltantf
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0)(25 votes)
"I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive."
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
at the very worst, it's a 0/4 wall. at it's best, it's practically a gleemax. and all for TWO MANA.
Kiefdaddy89
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This wouldn't do anything against a Power Sink would it lol
tworainclouds
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(4 votes)
dies to doomblade
Jesseman
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
If I had a Livewire Lash attached to a Glistener Elf and I casted Unsummon targeting Glistener Elf, If I changed the target to Spellskite would I still get to have my 2 infect damage from the targetting trigger on Glistener elf without him getting bounced back to my hand?
NuckChorris
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Tired of people saying he doesn't stop the Phyrexian Metamorph/Soul Sisters combo for Infinite life. Even if they get to chose what the Metamorph copies, this ability changes the target of the Leonin Relic Warder ability. This card itself is outstanding, and is often a behind the scenes key to victory to whoever gets it out.I'll give it a 5.
Artan
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I hate you and hope you die.
-Red mages from around the world.
Tempted_Johnny
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Runs perfectly with Soul Sisters (or against it, as NuckChorris pointed out). To run it with Soul Sisters, it would be ideal to drop this before Phyrexian Metamorph, so the last time it enters the battlefield, it can copy this. Then, follow it up with a Livewire Lash, and any targeting spell. Spellskites play pass the spell around for awhile... GG.
Also, it took me awhile to figure this out, but this does indeed stop Exarch Twin, but ONLY by redirecting Splinter Twin while it's on the stack, because it can't redirect Deceiver Exarch's etb ability.
Anathame
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Dies to removal.
God_Of_The_Smurfs
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It looks like he's stepping over little mountains. Just how big is this little 0/4?
Lyoncet
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0)(21 votes)
Man, this guy is going to be frustrating as hell for anyone who's trying to flip their Garruk Relentless. I just have this image of him going out, choosing a target, meticulously tracking and stalking his prey, jumping down to fight it... and then he realizes at the last second that it's a Spellskite. For like the seventh time that day.
Seems like that would be infuriating enough to just flip him to his cursed form regardless of his loyalty counters.
SgtSwaggr
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Can Spellskite redirect Auras to itself? If so, my Aura deck is screwed.
sloth22
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Question...I used the -6 with Chandra the Firebrand against a friend who had Spellskite out...is spellskite able to take all the damage? I was targeting the player, and 3 of his creatures...he payed mana and took it all with the skite and saved himself!
Arachnos
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I can't believe something that powerful only costs .
If you slap some sort of indescructibility on it, it can even eat Doomblades for dinner.
Just don't Shroud/Hexproof it. XD
rtaylor187
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I play a modern Soul Sisters deck and I'm reading the comments and I see that Phyrexian Metamorph/Soul Sisters combo for Infinite life is talked about. Can someone explain how this combo work? I don't see it and I looked up Phyrexian Metamorph to see if it's talked about and I didn't see anything. Thanks!
LordRandomness
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I need to get some of these, badly. Also, Shimmer Myr, anyone?
Can this redirect a shrine of burning rage sac and burn ability if they targeted a player for the damage? The Shrine says Creature or Player, so Spellskite can be a legal target for the Shrine.
OM NOM NOM MORE LIGHTNING BOLTS PLEASE OMM NOM NOM
rprice12741
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Situation: spellskite is on the field equiped with Livewire Lash. Apposal's Blessing is cast targeting Spellskite. The judge ruled that while Apposal's Blessing was on the stack, Spellskite's controller could pay 2 repeatedly targeting Spellskite until life or mana were exhausted, doing 2 damage to target player or creature its time. Thoughts and comments on this?
hoffmkr
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
FNM this week
Spellskite turn 2
Wild Definance turn 3 (creature gets 3/3 each time targeted)
Mutagenic Growth for 2 life targeting Spellskite
Redirect Mutagenic Growth back to Spellskite 5 times paying 10 more life
Spellskite swings for 20....GG
JaxsonBateman
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
@Hoffmkr, your opponent was robbed in that situation. If Spellskite is already targetted by Mutagenic Growth, and you activate its ability targetting that same Mutagenic Growth - Spellskite isn't 'becoming' targetted by an instant or sorcery, it's remaining targetted by it, so Wild Defiance won't trigger off of the Spellskite ability activations.
Of course, it does work with 2x Spellskite, though you'll be giving each Spellskite half the buffs each.
adrian.malacoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Pemmin's aura doesn't work with Spellskite, nor does anything that give it shroud/hexproof. A shrouded Spellskite isn't a legal target for any spell, meaning that you can't redirect anything to it.
I gave my Spellskite a Pemmin's Aura. Spellskites love Pemmin's Auras.
@adrian.malacoda: Depends on the order that you redirect the spell/ability and activate Pemmin's Aura. You activate Pemmin's Aura giving Spellskite shroud, then on the stack you redirect the spell/ability to Spellskite. Spellskite's ability resolves first and redirects the spell/ability, then Pemmin's Aura's ability resolves and gives Spellskite shroud, then the spell/ability tries to resolve but can't, and the spell/ability fizzles.
MojoVince
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If you want to play pemmin on this you should better run Neurok stealthsuit as it's one card that do the same : Two U counter target spells targeting a creature you control . I think this card is for stealing that's all .
Still, Spellskite is an amazing creature to play in any blue EDH deck. Who knows what you'll save yourself from.
demidracolich
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Worst enemy of modern infect decks, played against a guy running them maindeck and was basically screwed game 1.
Pick15
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Whenever someone casts a spell with a target other than Spellskite, I respond "that's not how you pronounce Spellskite."
azure_drake222222
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Spellskite
Verb: To activate this card's ability.
You just got spellskited.
jonrds
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
pemmin's aura does work, since you activate the shroud after redirecting the spell (causing it to fizzle). You can't redirect a second spell, however, and as others have pointed out Neurok stealthsuit is a better choice to fizzle your opponents spells.
This card is still very good though, it just might not be the prime target for pemmin's.
Philbo_the_Happy_Halfling
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm trying to break Goblin Test Pilot. I think this is the first piece of the puzzle.
atemu1234
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@MojoVince Nope, check the rulings. He would be an illegal target, and thus the target would remain unchanged.
Fiery_Artificer
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
To Answer Philbo_the_Happy_Halfling's Desire I did a bit of digging, and here was the best that I found. I also posted it on Goblin Test Pilot
There is a way to INSTANTLY KILL an opponent with one of these. Practical? No, but neither is this.
Equip Spellskite with Darksteel Plate. Enchant Spellskite with Druids Call and Soul Link You now have a spellskite that you can pay 2 life, redirect a shock to, and you gain 2 life, and put two 1/1 squirrel tokens down.
Add Intruder Alarm Tap Goblin Test Pilot to deal 2 damage to a target something Pay 2 life, gain 2 life, put two tokens down, untap all creatures you control. Infinite Squirrel tokens(:
Add pretty much any source of multi haste, or Sanguine Bond.
volkiteSerpenta
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Nice job on the tricksiness, Malacator, but if that's the point you were tryin to make maybe you should have made it without teeth and claws?
The_AC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
(That moment you realize that this can not only redirect kill spells from your creatures, but can also redirect buffs from your opponent's creatures.)
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@nightphoenix When u cast it you choose the target first before your opponent has a chance to change it. It would duplicate first, and then if your opponent wishes he can pay {U}{U}{U}, 6 life, or anything inbetween to steal all 3 distortion strikes.
Kodanshi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I remember pre-ordering this and getting a playset for $6.
Mike-C
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nearly doubled in estimated value! So just about anything good you try to do to your guy, I can steal for my guy at instant speed as long as I have one untapped or at least 3 life?? And then after he's beefed up, or before for that matter, I can do the same to protect my other guys from a LOT of bad stuff you'd try n pull?? Holy moly. This guys a Whitney STALKER! Hahaha.. You get it? Cause he's The Bodyguard.. lol
@Paleopaladin: It's cause Spellskite follows just one set of rules.. Spellskite's. ;)
Pongdok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love it with Pemmin's Aura. I normally don't like control, but that's just gangster, as some kids may or may not ever say. Hoovers most kinds of hate, costs only 2, and pulls duty as a wall if you have nothing better for him to do. Beautiful art to cap it off and you have an easy 5/5.
Edit: Pemmin's Aura tip (since some folks appear to be getting it wrong, or merely communicating it poorly) - Step 1 -> See a spell you don't like that can target a creature or an artifact - Step 2 -> Activate shroud ability - Step 3 -> Activate redirect ability while the shroud ability is still on the stack - Step 4 -> Om nom nom! (Profit?)
This way, the redirect resolves first, the shroud second, and then the target spell, which fizzles since its target is no longer legal. If you do it backwards, the redirect ability fizzles and the spell hits its original target.
Comments (95)
Too bad that paying the life cost is most critical vs. Red decks where the abillity really could shine.
Hardly usable outside of Tempered Steel Decks. Would have been great with 1P/
The art is very powerful. Just from the amazing imagery, I can imagine an equally powerful sound emanating from the horror; something similar to the HYPNOTOAD (Futurama reference) or a Slave I Sonic Mine Explosion (Star Wars reference). The vivid light creates a wonderfully dynamic composition and a sinister silhouette. Chippy has created an excellent and contrasting image once again.
This is the kind of card that sets Standard on fire.
That's before you factor in combos with Livewire Lash or darksteel plate.
If Skite is not a legal target of that spell or ability at the time of the activation, you can't redirect said spell or ability.
And I want my opponent to forget it's on the field when he uses Tezz's -1.
@HairlessThoctar Yeah, I know what you mean about that. Basically though it allows you to play targeted removal counterspells and forces the opponent to deal with this before a threat so its good for that ability alone but the added defense of 4 makes it a higher priority good. In summary it's a great stall card that doubles as protection for your win conditions. Not obviously overpowered or broken like jace, the mindsculptor, batterskull, or stoneforge mystic but it is a great card none the less. And really if it did work on opponents equipment this would be the best card of this block hands down.
c :
1) it CAN take any instant or sorcery that would normally target a creature as long as it's legal to normally target the spellskite in the first place. (i.e. go for the throat can not target artifacts so you can NOT change the target from your grand architect to your spellskite)
2) You may also redirect if the spell/ability says target permanent, as permanent is also a very broad term.
3) it CAN take a legal rebounded spell as it is technically cast again and goes on the stack, so you can take those distortion strikes and staggershocks as they rebound from exile.
4) things it can NOT alter or change are listed as follows: Counterspells, Target players spells/abilities, global spells/abilities, draw card spells/abilities, target graveyard spells/abilities, target non-artifact spells/abilities, target land things, target enchantment things, target planeswalker things and also you can't change the target of target spell spell/abilities (as it's already a permanent of course)
5) any permanent-altering effect that makes the spellskite unable to be targeted by spells or abilities(shroud) makes his activated essentially useless, since all targets are now illegal.
6) any permanent-altering effect that makes the spellskite into another kind of permanent (say it's now a land in addition to being an artifact creature thanks to some enchantment), the spellskite may now take legal targets to itself when they appear on the stack. (So in our example, you may now transfer "target land" spells over to the skite)
A random list of things spellskite can NOT effect: Mindslaver, surgical extraction, go for the throat, birthing pod, judgement day, Karn's +4 ability, archive trap, mana leak, noxious revival, Big Jace (0) ability, despise, geth's verdict.
A random list of things spellskite CAN effect: Giant growth, lightning bolt, Venser's +2, Karn's -3, Glimmerpoint stag's ETB effect, Deceiver exarch ETB effect if they choose to tap your permanent (untap isn't legal since it's not something they control), Doomblade, into the roil, dismember, glistening oil.
Anyways, wizards you guys should be more clear with these kinds of cards. All that extra room for flavor text and a bad explanation of the ability? no good.
this card is sick however, i run 3-4 in my grand architect/blightsteel/forgemaster deck. saves my ass all the time. 4.5/5 cuz you can't take absolutely any spell you want lol. that'd be op. this is still a top 5 card of the whole block.
•You can activate Spellskite's ability even if Spellskite wouldn't be a legal target for the spell or ability. However, the target of that spell or ability will remain unchanged.
•If changing one target of a spell or ability to Spellskite would make other targets of that spell or ability illegal, the targets remain unchanged.
•If the spell or ability has multiple instances of the word "target," you choose which target you're changing to Spellskite when Spellskite's ability resolves.
•By activating Spellskite's ability multiple times, you can change each target of a spell or ability with multiple instances of the word "target" to Spellskite, one at a time.
•The target of the spell or ability won't change unless Spellskite fulfills all the targeting criteria, even if multiple instances of the word "target" are used. For example, you can't change both targets of Arc Trail to Spellskite.
•If a spell or ability has multiple targets but doesn't use the word "target" multiple times, such as Fulgent Distraction, you can only successfully change one of the targets to Spellskite.
•If a spell or ability has a variable number of targets, you can't change the number of targets.
•If Spellskite leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, the targets remain unchanged.
Reason being the first target from player to creature can be resolved, hence the target is legal.
Comments please. Need to know....urgently
thanks
Spellskite's ability can target Blightning, but since Spellskite itself is an illegal target, the target of blighting will remain unchanged. Basically, you can pay the {U} or the 2 life, but once it targets Blightning, nothing will happen.
Maybe it just doesn't need them?
-Red mages from around the world.
Also, it took me awhile to figure this out, but this does indeed stop Exarch Twin, but ONLY by redirecting Splinter Twin while it's on the stack, because it can't redirect Deceiver Exarch's etb ability.
Seems like that would be infuriating enough to just flip him to his cursed form regardless of his loyalty counters.
If you slap some sort of indescructibility on it, it can even eat Doomblades for dinner.
Just don't Shroud/Hexproof it. XD
Spellskite turn 2
Wild Definance turn 3 (creature gets 3/3 each time targeted)
Mutagenic Growth for 2 life targeting Spellskite
Redirect Mutagenic Growth back to Spellskite 5 times paying 10 more life
Spellskite swings for 20....GG
Of course, it does work with 2x Spellskite, though you'll be giving each Spellskite half the buffs each.
@adrian.malacoda: Depends on the order that you redirect the spell/ability and activate Pemmin's Aura. You activate Pemmin's Aura giving Spellskite shroud, then on the stack you redirect the spell/ability to Spellskite. Spellskite's ability resolves first and redirects the spell/ability, then Pemmin's Aura's ability resolves and gives Spellskite shroud, then the spell/ability tries to resolve but can't, and the spell/ability fizzles.
I think this card is for stealing that's all .
"AHA!!! Spellskite!"
"Then I'll play Might of Oaks on my general."
"AHA! Spe-- oh..."
Still, Spellskite is an amazing creature to play in any blue EDH deck. Who knows what you'll save yourself from.
Verb: To activate this card's ability.
You just got spellskited.
This card is still very good though, it just might not be the prime target for pemmin's.
There is a way to INSTANTLY KILL an opponent with one of these. Practical? No, but neither is this.
Equip Spellskite with Darksteel Plate.
Enchant Spellskite with Druids Call and Soul Link
You now have a spellskite that you can pay 2 life, redirect a shock to, and you gain 2 life, and put two 1/1 squirrel tokens down.
Add Intruder Alarm
Tap Goblin Test Pilot to deal 2 damage to a target something
Pay 2 life, gain 2 life, put two tokens down, untap all creatures you control.
Infinite Squirrel tokens(:
Add pretty much any source of multi haste, or Sanguine Bond.
@Paleopaladin: It's cause Spellskite follows just one set of rules.. Spellskite's. ;)
Edit: Pemmin's Aura tip (since some folks appear to be getting it wrong, or merely communicating it poorly)
- Step 1 -> See a spell you don't like that can target a creature or an artifact
- Step 2 -> Activate shroud ability
- Step 3 -> Activate redirect ability while the shroud ability is still on the stack
- Step 4 -> Om nom nom! (Profit?)
This way, the redirect resolves first, the shroud second, and then the target spell, which fizzles since its target is no longer legal. If you do it backwards, the redirect ability fizzles and the spell hits its original target.