French vanillas seldom impress me. But I like this one.
Vividice
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
A great common. Gives green actually some nice tricks and is allmost some kind of removal.
TherealphatMatt
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(7 votes)
@Eved: "French" vanilla means a vanilla creature with one or two keyword abilities.
That said, I love this card. He's functionally at least an instant that destroys a non-evasive attacking creature. He can also double as a reasonably scary attacker on the battlefield. That, and he fits the flavor perfectly. Not to mention: green doesn't usually get creature removal (Beast Within kind of has us spoiled, I'll admit).
5/5
ThisisSakon
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(9 votes)
Surprise! It's death!
puresightmerrow
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
reminiscent of winged coatl. maybe we'll see more flash deathtouch snakes in the future?
When I started playing, green couldn't touch creatures outside of combat. And I started playing 8 months ago.
@Atogatogatogatogatogatog: Sure, but Bramblecrush is much more in line with what green usually gets to kill.
Aun
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I actually like this better than winged coatl. It´s more versatile since it is double as helpful for killing your opponent if he has no or few creatures. Also it is green which is the colour of flying removal anyway. In the end it does cost U less.
kiseki
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Will work really well with werewolves. You can cast your spells on your opponent's turn!
HuntingDrake
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This could have easily been a 1/1, and no one would have complained. That it's a 2-power for 2-mana threat is fantastic. I bet its playtest name was Pit Viper, given its similarity to Pit Trap and Pitfall Trap. This snake is gonna ensure many a Sharpened Pitchfork a slot in Limited decks in the coming year.
chinkeeyong
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Why did it have to be snakes..?
JU4
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
This card and Prey Upon are the reason that I decided to splash green in my otherwise red/black aggro vampire deck at the prerelease. I felt nervous about splashing a third color, given that there were very few mana fixers in my card pool. There were a few times when I drew a Forest when I needed a Swamp, on the whole, however, I feel it was a worthwhile investment. After all, it did kill my opponent's Essence of the Wild before the Avatar got out of control.
TrueKitsonga
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
It's basically the ONLY green card from Innistrad I'm really excited about. I'm not keen on werewolves and their fickle unreliable transform mechanic, Bramblecrush comes at a wrong time with all of the leftover artifact creatures from Scars block, and Essence of the Wild requires you to build around it, as does Parallel Lives.
It's been a long time since my favorite green card from a set was a COMMON. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but there ya go...
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not bad. Can be aggressive in the early game and late game it can kill creatures.
Fat_Corgi
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(6 votes)
Green removal spells rarely impress me. But I like this one.
wadprime
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Flash AND deathtouch? heh, this card's just mean....
Yes. It's the ability to kill any attacking, non-evasive creature for 2. Flash and deathtouch (no pun originally intended, but now 100% intended) is a killer combination. No one doubts the power of the cards you mentioned, but any of those cards let your opponent have a chance to play around them. Flash allows for the element of surprise that can catch your opponent's best creatures. Deadly Recluse might keep your opponent from attacking with that big hitter. Ambush Viper will kill it.
Most likely, you aren't using this turn 2, your saving it for the big kill with your opponent tapped out. As for the 2 power... why not? If it somehow can block two creatures, or if your opponent for whatever reason blocks it with two, or if they can prevent 1 damage, or just plain ol' this is the only creature you have and your opponent has nothing you can lay it out there and swing for 2 until he answers... two is better than one, if only marginally in this case.
Garcy21
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A green doomblade against a non-evasive creature attacking. Instant speed, deathtouch and 2 power for 2 mana? and one of them is colorless? haha, this is my removal in my G deck
TheSwarm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its a potential removal spell that can carry a sword.
4.5/5
NoobOfLore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A nice cousin to Winged Coatl. This one is more likely to be blocked when it attacks, and it makes up for that with the added power.
It blows up attacking creature without first strike, and if you really need a 2/1, you can drop it during your opponent's end step to swing with the following turn.
Anathame
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like it.
TDL
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Steinhauser: Would your mind be blown if I showed you Desert Twister?
10Fold
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Arachobia
2 mana creature =/= turn 2 drop. It's a green combat trick to knock out a fatty late game when you have spare/saved mana... Maybe not good enough for a 4 of in constructed, but I really like it.
AncientTimer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is just a limited play trick which will not work in constructed. It's not even near the current rating of 4,5/5. 2,5/5.
WateryMind
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
*Snakes on A Plane joke here*
Salient
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Oh come on. This belonged in Zendikar. It's not even trying to fit the Innistrad theme. :)
Oh well, I'll scrub out the Innistrad symbol, draw in a Zendikar symbol, and play four of 'em. One of the most fun sniping cards ever, second only to Harm's Way.
Arachobia
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I don't like it...
I'm sorry but 2 damage deathtouch on turn two, even with flash, seems silly outside limited.
Why are you being attacked by 2 creatures THAT SIMPLY MUST DIE on turn 2? The snake isn't going to survive the blocking. Deadly recluse may only have been able to block one at a time but it would survive small flier. Oh, and it can block fliers. Thornweald Archer is the same stats minus the flash for reach. Wren's Run Vanquisher is a better attacker and blocker with deathtouch but minus the reach with elves. And if you wait one more turn you get much more durable deathtouches. Is flash really that worth it? Outside of limited I just don't see this as going in any deck I'd make when in mono-green their more durable deathtouches and in B/G W/G R/G etc, there are better turn 2 instant speed kills.
If someone wants to explain why I should not not like it, please do. I really am more confused about the 2 damage then anything else...
EDIT: Well thanks for giving perspectives guys, without biting my head off. You raise valid points but still... *Pokes Ambush Viper* ...I just don't like you...
It's... ok. It's not the green Doom Blade, or even the green Rebuke. I've seen people get blown out by a Geistflame or Harvest Pyre a little too often. Sometimes you'll nab something big with it, and there are worse cards than a 2/1 flash for two, but it's not quite as great as it looks.
SarpNasty
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Without this, green would have nothing against hexproof creatures.
It would be perfect if it were a 1/1 deathtouch with the ability "When ambush Viper enters the battlefield, it gains first strike until the end of the turn." It is an ambush viper after all. It will normally bite you first. I guess that would make it an uncommon though and it wouldn't serve it's purpose in limited. Still a great card. 4.5/5
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like making black/green limited decks with this, Typhoid Rats, and First Strike equipment.
superjohn57
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
excellent card for gettign rid of those big attackers
AvatarofBro
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
IT'S A TRAP!
sarroth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Steinhauser: Your only valid example there is Beast Within. Prey Upon and Garruk Relentless's fight ability are two creatures fighting each other; while this doesn't happen during combat, it fits Green's part of the color pie perfectly. Arachnus Web might have an ability that is more White and Blue, but it's also perfectly flavored for a spider web.
Then there's Ambush Viper, which destroys creatures inside combat, which is again perfectly in flavor for Green.
Yes, this is a great card. Yes, it's a mono-Green card that kills creatures. Yes, Green has been getting better at this lately. However, aside from Beast Within, all of Green's fancy new toys have been perfectly in line with the color.
Eved
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I have a feeling this will act as a sort of Doom Blade more often than a 2/1 Deathtoucher. I'm not saying this is a Doom Blade, just that it will fill a similar role for . I like this card because it acts as (somewhat limited) removal for green or something to dissuade people (like most Deathtouchers) from attacking you or blocking it.
@JFM2796 Vanilla refers to plain cards. Having two abilities doesn't fit the general use of the word vanilla. Especially when those two abilities work together to do something extra that is beneficial.
@TherealphatMatt You'd really call Troll Ascetic any form of Vanilla? Seeing as Hexproof and Regeneration are both keywords now. Say what you want but both these abilities are fairly new as keywords (having been around long before thier keywords) to older players and making a word to shorten text doesn't make it any more vanilla in my mind. I'm sure there are others that view french vanilla meaning things like "flying, trample" not "annihilator, morbid" Jesus this makes me feel old.
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Most of the time, this is the equivalent of a dueling planeswalker defending themselves by pegging a snake at something.
Eddyrj
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
drafting this one is great fun, people never see these coming, would be nice with reach, but would then be way too good
Splizer
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
His idea of an ambush is to bite your privates. Now you fear 'im!
humor_love
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Yeah. Winged Coatl is better than Ambush Viper at doing what they both do. Obviously, though, you're not playing Winged Coatl unless you're playing both Green and Blue.
This card is cool, though, and I like using deathtouch creatures with Prey Upon, to which others have already referred. Ambush Viper is probably worthy of a 3 or a 3.5 on pure technicalities, but it has a fun factor of at least 4.
nessy_ydissac
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There is nothing more satifying during a match than watching your opponent coming in with a nasty monster, tapping two mana, and going, "SURPRISE!" XD
My only complaint is that he doesn't last very long depending on how you use him.
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd play this over Blight Mamba even in an infect deck.
At worst, this is "destroy target blockable attacking creature without flying".
In my mind, this deserves to be a 4/5 or higher.
For those people saying Winged Coatl is better, I disagree. 3-MANA for a flier-murderer that's MULTICOLORED. It's realistically costed, but if it were in Standard, I still wouldn't be about to play it.
Corey_bayoudragonfly
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Eved: Perhaps I didn't understand your point, but Regenerate is not a new keyword (although it is, and always has been, a keyword action, and not a static keyword): 15 cards in Alpha reference regeneration (on the card, not just oracle wording), of which 9 are creatures which regenerate.
jaguarkill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i agree it wasn't a 4 of before avacyn restored but when they drop revenge of the hunted this is gonna be the card you'll have the most fun using it with (in color). One sided board wipe for 2gg? yes please!
EDIT: well obviously minus tapped creatures or tappable creatures :/ but hey at least a bunch of damage will go through then.
edit again: and then they dropped the deathtouch/soulbond card. Alright, fine, maybe that'll have better synergy and it's in set.
KnexWiz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
if you play this as at sorcery speed, for whatever reason, your doing it wrong
Binaro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I absolutely love this card. A 2/1 flash with deathtouch! A surprise blocker to take out your opponent's Grave Titan! Even if you aren't in need of a surprise blocker, a 2/1 is always a good creature to eat away your opponent with.
CrimsonAssassin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card more like a trick up my sleeve. My opponent had casted Phyrexian Rebirth in our 3-player game, bringing in a 39/39 token creature. It had summoning sickness so I merely waited.
I cast a Boneyard Wurm (10/10) and equip bladed pinions to it so it can fly. I kept two mana left open because I knew what would happen next.
Opponent's turn came up...he swings at me with his 39/39. I cast Ambush Viper and have it bite his creature. I'm gonna have to say that this is a very good backup creature removal in green.
For added lolz, give this thing something like a Viridian Longbow and you have yourself a creature-killing combo!
HarlequinValentine
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The psychological effect this card has is amazing as well, if you play your opponent right you can hold off a 10/10 with nothing but a land card in your hand. :P
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use him for aggro as well, flash one or two at end of their turn, and you got allot of unplanned damage smashing face. Plus Rancor is pretty nice with this card, can deal 3 damage to their face + destroy the blocker.
It kinda funny to see that one of the best answer to GoST is a green card.
Well designed card. It act like a classic removal, but in a green flavor.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@WateryMind: Snakes In A Plane. And the plane is Innistrad.
TastetheJace
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I liked to use this little guy in my Splinterfright decks. Goes in quick, takes out a fatty, and later helps from the grave.
Great common card.
TheWaddleDeeKing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If this were a three drop, guarantee it would see much less use. However, at a two drop, you can effectively use it as a nice trap for almost all decks, whether it be slow ones that setup later or fast ones with little defensive structure. Great card, 4.5/5
Comments (62)
That said, I love this card. He's functionally at least an instant that destroys a non-evasive attacking creature. He can also double as a reasonably scary attacker on the battlefield. That, and he fits the flavor perfectly. Not to mention: green doesn't usually get creature removal (Beast Within kind of has us spoiled, I'll admit).
5/5
But this is still great.
Green also gets Bramblecrush.
Instant-speed "destroy non-evasive attacking creature" for
Sorcery-speed creature removal for
Instant-speed anything removal for
Sorcery-speed creature removal for
Sorcery-speed creature removal for
When I started playing, green couldn't touch creatures outside of combat. And I started playing 8 months ago.
@Atogatogatogatogatogatog: Sure, but Bramblecrush is much more in line with what green usually gets to kill.
I bet its playtest name was Pit Viper, given its similarity to Pit Trap and Pitfall Trap.
This snake is gonna ensure many a Sharpened Pitchfork a slot in Limited decks in the coming year.
It's been a long time since my favorite green card from a set was a COMMON. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but there ya go...
Yes. It's the ability to kill any attacking, non-evasive creature for 2. Flash and deathtouch (no pun originally intended, but now 100% intended) is a killer combination. No one doubts the power of the cards you mentioned, but any of those cards let your opponent have a chance to play around them. Flash allows for the element of surprise that can catch your opponent's best creatures. Deadly Recluse might keep your opponent from attacking with that big hitter. Ambush Viper will kill it.
Most likely, you aren't using this turn 2, your saving it for the big kill with your opponent tapped out. As for the 2 power... why not? If it somehow can block two creatures, or if your opponent for whatever reason blocks it with two, or if they can prevent 1 damage, or just plain ol' this is the only creature you have and your opponent has nothing you can lay it out there and swing for 2 until he answers... two is better than one, if only marginally in this case.
4.5/5
This one is more likely to be blocked when it attacks, and it makes up for that with the added power.
It blows up attacking creature without first strike, and if you really need a 2/1, you can drop it during your opponent's end step to swing with the following turn.
Would your mind be blown if I showed you Desert Twister?
2 mana creature =/= turn 2 drop.
It's a green combat trick to knock out a fatty late game when you have spare/saved mana...
Maybe not good enough for a 4 of in constructed, but I really like it.
Oh well, I'll scrub out the Innistrad symbol, draw in a Zendikar symbol, and play four of 'em. One of the most fun sniping cards ever, second only to Harm's Way.
I'm sorry but 2 damage deathtouch on turn two, even with flash, seems silly outside limited.
Why are you being attacked by 2 creatures THAT SIMPLY MUST DIE on turn 2? The snake isn't going to survive the blocking. Deadly recluse may only have been able to block one at a time but it would survive small flier. Oh, and it can block fliers. Thornweald Archer is the same stats minus the flash for reach. Wren's Run Vanquisher is a better attacker and blocker with deathtouch but minus the reach with elves. And if you wait one more turn you get much more durable deathtouches. Is flash really that worth it? Outside of limited I just don't see this as going in any deck I'd make when in mono-green their more durable deathtouches and in B/G W/G R/G etc, there are better turn 2 instant speed kills.
If someone wants to explain why I should not not like it, please do. I really am more confused about the 2 damage then anything else...
EDIT: Well thanks for giving perspectives guys, without biting my head off.
You raise valid points but still...
*Pokes Ambush Viper*
...I just don't like you...
It would be perfect if it were a 1/1 deathtouch with the ability "When ambush Viper enters the battlefield, it gains first strike until the end of the turn." It is an ambush viper after all. It will normally bite you first. I guess that would make it an uncommon though and it wouldn't serve it's purpose in limited. Still a great card. 4.5/5
Then there's Ambush Viper, which destroys creatures inside combat, which is again perfectly in flavor for Green.
Yes, this is a great card. Yes, it's a mono-Green card that kills creatures. Yes, Green has been getting better at this lately. However, aside from Beast Within, all of Green's fancy new toys have been perfectly in line with the color.
@JFM2796
Vanilla refers to plain cards. Having two abilities doesn't fit the general use of the word vanilla. Especially when those two abilities work together to do something extra that is beneficial.
@TherealphatMatt
You'd really call Troll Ascetic any form of Vanilla? Seeing as Hexproof and Regeneration are both keywords now. Say what you want but both these abilities are fairly new as keywords (having been around long before thier keywords) to older players and making a word to shorten text doesn't make it any more vanilla in my mind. I'm sure there are others that view french vanilla meaning things like "flying, trample" not "annihilator, morbid" Jesus this makes me feel old.
This card is cool, though, and I like using deathtouch creatures with Prey Upon, to which others have already referred. Ambush Viper is probably worthy of a 3 or a 3.5 on pure technicalities, but it has a fun factor of at least 4.
My only complaint is that he doesn't last very long depending on how you use him.
At worst, this is "destroy target blockable attacking creature without flying".
In my mind, this deserves to be a 4/5 or higher.
For those people saying Winged Coatl is better, I disagree. 3-MANA for a flier-murderer that's MULTICOLORED. It's realistically costed, but if it were in Standard, I still wouldn't be about to play it.
EDIT: well obviously minus tapped creatures or tappable creatures :/ but hey at least a bunch of damage will go through then.
edit again: and then they dropped the deathtouch/soulbond card. Alright, fine, maybe that'll have better synergy and it's in set.
I cast a Boneyard Wurm (10/10) and equip bladed pinions to it so it can fly. I kept two mana left open because I knew what would happen next.
Opponent's turn came up...he swings at me with his 39/39. I cast Ambush Viper and have it bite his creature. I'm gonna have to say that this is a very good backup creature removal in green.
For added lolz, give this thing something like a Viridian Longbow and you have yourself a creature-killing combo!
*keels over dead*
Well designed card. It act like a classic removal, but in a green flavor.
Great common card.
Unfortunately is completely countered by Samuel Jackson.