Works for Illusion tribal I guess (if such a thing exists). Not sure if it'll be any good in Limited, though. I'll have to count the Illusions in M12.
Edit: Looks like there's 3. Phantasmal Bear, Phantasmal Dragon, and Phantasmal Image. Hmm, I guess this guy prevents enemies from taking advantage of those cards' main weak spot. Still seems odd I guess.
KikiJikiTiki
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(7 votes)
A phantastic lord with a particularly relevant ability. Hopefully Innistrad will provide him with some more creatures to support.
OmegaSerris
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(8 votes)
THANK GOD they aren't shoving more merfolk lords down our throats. I pulled like 5 of those cursed things.
Joking aside, this guy seems like a lot of fun with a powerful ability compensating for a limited number of subjects. The trick is to use this guy, Phantasmal Image, Krovikan mist and changelings to boost their numbers if you do not have access to a lot of illusions that work. I bet that would be a fun deck.
qwertycrap
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I like him. An effective protector of creatures that are low-cost for what you get and won't be worth much cos illusions are unusual in standard play.
Frozenwings
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Great art and effect. And Xenograft doesn't look bad now.
Bass1987
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
His gloves remind me of something in world of warcraft
he prefers hexproof rather than shroud just in the case you want to cast a giant growth on your phantasmal dragon or something lol
blindthrall
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
I wish this was printed years ago. I tried to make a phantasm deck, there's more of them than you think.
Kirbster
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Something like Mistform Mutant or Mask is an easy way to turn him into an illusion and thus protect himself, too. The new Phantasmal Bear and Dragon are obvious creatures to use, but the Krovikan Mist and Aether Figment have renewed use. Meloku can also serve as an even more deadly finisher with this guy as well. From there, Summoner's Bane is probably worth using to round out a counterspell defense.
Leonin_Kha_Cameron
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
hey, Chronozoa is an illusion.
Huffytreefolkman
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
artificial evolution
DeathDark
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
BREAK ME!
BREAK MEEEE!!!
tcollins
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Hmmm.....he'd be REALLY good if he had hexproof. Hey! Phyrexian Metamorph! Get your flexible butt over here and copy him!
Also I want a pet of the creature in the background of the art.
Gabriel422
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
It's two mana where most lords are three, and it also gives perhaps the most needed keyword to Illusions. I can see the potential of this guy.
Deepfried-Owls
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(9 votes)
My dreams of blue aggro are possible without infect.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
At only , this guy is amazing. Granting hexproof is perfect for his phantasms. Combined with Phantasmal Image, you get a clone which is +1+1 higher than the original creature. Fantastic.
Welcome, contestant, to "Effeminate Male Showdown!"
Askthespartan
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
It may as well have given Shroud rather than Hexproof.
Anggul
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've always loved the illusion cards, and while it's a shame phantom warrior and especially the ever-awesome phantom beast are no longer around, this could still work very well.
Mode
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
You guys probably haven't noticed this yet because you were too attracted by the nice design of this guy. But that's not the only thing nicely designed on this card. Ii find this guy to have a really neat looking outfit :D Looks like an armor from an RPG. (If anybody of you played Guild Wars, you probably agree that this could as well be a Mesmer prestige armor :P)
This list only covers standard, but that is a LOT of playable illusions.
HitTheGoat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@don_miguel You can't cast giant growth on your own illusions (the bear, dragon, etc), whenever they are the target of a spell or ability, you sacrifice them... ANY spell or ability, even your own
MindAblaze
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Can I use this guy with xenograft to make spellskite an invulnerable lightning rod? No, because he'd be an illegal target? Like trying to change the target of an equip ability?
igniteice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Run with Imagecrafter to turn Lord of the Unreal into an Illusion if it gets targeted.
OnceBlackNeverBack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Illusion Cards: Cheap mana cost, lots of power, and combined with this guy makes the other player miserable. Throw Xenograft in there and he becomes an illusion himself.
PcvsApple
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I thought this card was great. Then I decided to read it, and it said "Illusion creatures...". There's no "other". Phantasmal image of this card gives itself hexproof, +1/+1, plus the actual Lord sitting there going "what up Mr. 4/4 with hexproof"
Just won 3rd at Game Day with this card. I hope Innistrad brings more illusions and cards like this.
KrosanPeacekeeper
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When playing only using cards from M12, this guy makes mono-blue become much more versatile. It gives play to beatdown style, while retaining the control elements. The illusions is very efficient attacker when this guy around. I play with White, with relatively same speed, I lost in power. And the Day of Judgment keep getting Mana Leaked.
Remember that gaping weakness that all of your illusions had? Me neither.
Macsen
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
So weird, I just realized that the guy who kicked my ass with his illusion deck the other week actually looked like this wizard! He was even wearing a cool outfit that seemed natural, but now that I noticed it fit this card as well. It makes being beaten by cheese so much better when your opponent has class.
Kura-san
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turn 1: Phantasmal Bear Turn 2: Lord of the Unreal Turn 3: Either use Phantasmal Image and target your Lord, and send out another Phantasmal Bear, or Swiftfoot Boots and equip your Lord Turn 4: Phantasmal Dragon
By this point, I don't think your opponent's future looks too bright.
Dr_Fletchers
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card has only one sole purpose....To make for some epic bear bashings.
TherealphatMatt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It helps that he looks like a total badass.
RJDroid
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I would make an Unreal Tournament joke, but the only thing I know about that game is that it exists.
This card also begs for an Inception joke, based upon the flavor text, but I'm lazy.
As for the card, he's awesome. I'll wait for him to rotate out, grab him for cheap, and slap him in an Illusion deck using all the illusions from Time Spiral and Coldsnap. Why? CASUAL!
This really crowns the broken Blue phantom creatures. Nice idea, design and result. Only problem is that undercosted creatures in Blue are very much out of color pie.
Daedalus3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Illusions: MTG's new Tribal Jerkfaces. Pounding butts at your local card shops, everywhere.
RikerBlake
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
*Plays Lord of the Unreal* My opponent smirks. "Seriously?" Me: "We have to go deeper" *Plays Phantasmal Image copying LotU* Opponent: "That's nice..." *Reads the card more* "What the FU-"
OneFishTwoFish
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(17 votes)
Shit just got unreal.
ddv03
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why do i keep thinking he looks like Shang Tsung
MagnaLynx21
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Jace's Deck in DoTP 2012 is a hint that this guy helps make a casual Illusion deck incredibly fun.
Hugo1
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Phantasmal Image this guy. Your friends will never want to play magic again.
Mike-C
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone who doubts this guy obviously never sat across or in front of him yet. Watch as a bunch of 1 drop 2/2's that are easily disposed of w/a cheap targeting effect become 3/3's, 4/4's, 5/5's and untouchable. It gets ugly.. FAST.
SweatyMess
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I feel as though Blue shouldn't have gotten Hexproof; First, because it means they've effectively decided to phase out Shroud (evidence of Powercreep in my opinion) not that I believe that that's necessarily a bad thing but it also means Green was robbed of exclusive rights (give or take) to an ability just because they decided to make it a keyword. It would have been nice and sensible if they decided to keep them distinct abilities. I understand that this is from the set of Hexproof's introduction and they're trying to showcase its versatility but would giving the Illusions Shroud not have highlighted the same fact? Simply put, doesn't displaying Shroud's inferiority emphasize Hexproof's superiority just as well? Abilities bleed from color to color all the time, but this and the subsequent additions from Innistrad were hemorrhagic.
Maybe using the Illusions is a bad example because Hexproof and Shroud interact a bit differently with the subtype when compared to say Sacred Wolf but either way. Sweet card, it just bums me out a litte. 4/5
iMarcus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It was stupid to print a Lord replacing Merfolk and then not give them any support in the following set. They should have left Merfolk or just made a spirit lord in m12. I hope to see Merfolk again in M13.
Nightwisher92
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Use this to empower your Illusions, Then thtow in a couple of Spirit Mantles to protect him from creatures and a couple of instants wich gives you protection from ex. black or making him indestructable to prevent him from being killed AND being destroyed by ex. Doom Blade
Now your three Islands tap for each. Tap them all and grab Blightsteel Colossus...
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
EDIT: I reposted this with the links.
POSSIBLE mana curve?
1st turn: Island, Phantasmal Bear 2nd turn: Island, this card 3rd turn: Island, another Bear and a Phantasmal Image targeting this 4th turn: Island, Phantasmal Dragon You can attack 5th turn for 20 damage. Pretty sweet.
Cybertronian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Mode Considering I once had a conversation with a player named "Kitsune Blademaster" (and that I run a Factions W/A called "Kit Blademaster"), the Guild Wars connection doesn't surprise me. (My E/D is also a bit Jace-like, except he wears orange.)
For RJDroid: Clearly someone at WotC loved Inception. If a Phantasmal Image copies him, does that make him Lord of the "Lord of the Unreal"?
Now someone make a Ghostbusters II homage and print "Phantasmal Train"! Turn your opponent into Winston!
Osprey_93
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Runed Stalactite, or Amoeba Changeling to protect your lord early game, then proceed to Call to the Kindred either the Amoeba or Lord to play any creature in your library likely every turn for free... if you negate board wipes you are basically home free
Hercynian
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Hexproof...because I definitely want to target those illusions.
@OsricStark: ...What does Lord of the Unreal have to do with that strategy? There are plenty of other blue creatures for 1 and 2 mana you know.
Traius
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lord for 2 mana is good. Too bad he isn't an illusion himself.
TurboBaby
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
come on people, use some "imagination" with this guy =P
changelings get the boosts and you can target them with items!!
iADSuprenant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play with Mirror Entity and pay 0 as often as you want for hexproof creatures with no deaths.
Kariuko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
From a flavour point-of-view, i don't understand why something like this isn't legendary, since he is suppose to be THE lord of the unreal, so that's a downside right there, 4/5
Can get rude in a wizard deck with Artificial Evolution. Choose Wizard and he gives hexproof to not only himself, but to a very well supported tribe as well.
Works with anything, but Wizards are the most obvious choice since that simultaneously gives HIM hexproof without any additional shenanigans.
Comments (68)
Edit:
Looks like there's 3. Phantasmal Bear, Phantasmal Dragon, and Phantasmal Image. Hmm, I guess this guy prevents enemies from taking advantage of those cards' main weak spot. Still seems odd I guess.
Zendikar offers some nice additions:
Phantasmal Abomination
Æther Figment
Even Summoner's Bane helps.
Gets 4/5 for that alone.
T1: Island, Phantasmal Bear
T2: Island, This dude
T3: Island, Grand Architect, tap all 3 for a Wurmcoil Engine
T4: Island, Phantasmal Image your lord to have hexproof everything or your engine.
Throw in some of dem Phyrexian Metamorphs and you can have some real fun.
Think outside the box!
Joking aside, this guy seems like a lot of fun with a powerful ability compensating for a limited number of subjects. The trick is to use this guy, Phantasmal Image, Krovikan mist and changelings to boost their numbers if you do not have access to a lot of illusions that work. I bet that would be a fun deck.
he prefers hexproof rather than shroud just in the case you want to cast a giant growth on your phantasmal dragon or something lol
BREAK MEEEE!!!
Also I want a pet of the creature in the background of the art.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
Welcome, contestant, to "Effeminate Male Showdown!"
But that's not the only thing nicely designed on this card. Ii find this guy to have a really neat looking outfit :D
Looks like an armor from an RPG.
(If anybody of you played Guild Wars, you probably agree that this could as well be a Mesmer prestige armor :P)
Phantasmal Bear
Phantasmal Image
Phantasmal Abomination
Phantasmal Dragon
AEther Figment
Summoner's Bane
This list only covers standard, but that is a LOT of playable illusions.
No lord, you are the illusions.
That's five words!
I'm a heavy tipper. :P
Turn 2: Lord of the Unreal
Turn 3: Either use Phantasmal Image and target your Lord, and send out another Phantasmal Bear, or Swiftfoot Boots and equip your Lord
Turn 4: Phantasmal Dragon
By this point, I don't think your opponent's future looks too bright.
This card also begs for an Inception joke, based upon the flavor text, but I'm lazy.
As for the card, he's awesome. I'll wait for him to rotate out, grab him for cheap, and slap him in an Illusion deck using all the illusions from Time Spiral and Coldsnap. Why? CASUAL!
http://www.mspaintadventures.com/scratch.php?s=6&p=004959
My opponent smirks. "Seriously?"
Me: "We have to go deeper" *Plays Phantasmal Image copying LotU*
Opponent: "That's nice..." *Reads the card more* "What the FU-"
Maybe using the Illusions is a bad example because Hexproof and Shroud interact a bit differently with the subtype when compared to say Sacred Wolf but either way. Sweet card, it just bums me out a litte. 4/5
T2: Island, Lord of the Unreal
T3: Island, Grand Architect, tap all 3 for Caged Sun
T4: Tap all 3 creatures and pay 4 life to play 2x Phyrexian Metamorph copying Caged Sun
Now your three Islands tap for
POSSIBLE mana curve?
1st turn: Island, Phantasmal Bear
2nd turn: Island, this card
3rd turn: Island, another Bear and a Phantasmal Image targeting this
4th turn: Island, Phantasmal Dragon
You can attack 5th turn for 20 damage. Pretty sweet.
For RJDroid: Clearly someone at WotC loved Inception. If a Phantasmal Image copies him, does that make him Lord of the "Lord of the Unreal"?
Now someone make a Ghostbusters II homage and print "Phantasmal Train"! Turn your opponent into Winston!
1st turn Island: Phantasmal bear
2nd turn island: Gossamer phantasm
3rd turn island: this plus Robe of Mirrors
4th go island and any illusion for the wreck phantasmal dragon is probably the best, an alternative cost counter such as force of will or even daze keep you out of WOG troubles.
changelings get the boosts and you can target them with items!!
Can get rude in a wizard deck with Artificial Evolution. Choose Wizard and he gives hexproof to not only himself, but to a very well supported tribe as well.
Works with anything, but Wizards are the most obvious choice since that simultaneously gives HIM hexproof without any additional shenanigans.