WotC Pure Lifegain at it's finest. This card doesn't even nets you notable life if you don't have a huge board presence... So this is like "win more" only that you get Life instead of a assured win. Even as a cantrip this would be only borderline playable. I have no clue why this wasn't made barely playable even in a Infect-infested Set.
Why the low rating? I can see this defs being up to 10 life in a limited game which can buy you a turn or two
TheSwarm
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Yeah, in limited this card is pretty win, I mean any lifegain effect is much better in limited than it is in constructed.
And noone is gonna comment on the flavor that oozes from this card?
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
That's quite bad. If you have a huge amount of creatures and artifacts in play, shouldn't you then swing with them or combo out, and kill your opponents, instead of gaining life? And if your opponent has a huge amount of creatures and artifacts in play, are you sure that some lifegain will turn the table? I doubt it.
I guess in multiplayer it's not horrible, though I personally stick to permanents constantly doing something in multiplayer, rather to one shot effects.
JaxsonBateman
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Why this card has a low rating? Limited or constructed, it's card disadvantage. For card disadvantage, you want to be doing something significant - like pinging a high threat creature through Flesh Allergy (a card disliked for its card disadvantage, but being removal that can hit most threats in limited it's a lot more playable than this).
If you're in a stalemate, this won't do anything whereas a common 4 drop creature might. If you're winning, this won't make you win more, and in fact a creature probably would. If you're losing, this will buy you a turn or 2 - at the cost of a card, where they might play a creature and hasten their win.
Of course, there will be some situations where this card helps - like, say it's turn 5, none of your creatures have stuck, and you're hurting from their aggro, but you have a Phyrexian Rebirth. This, followed by the Rebirth on 6 could really turn the tide. But having to rely on other cards and limited circumstances to make one particular card a good choice isn't really the best way of choosing a card to go in a deck.
Kaecyus
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
This card is great if used properly. Keeping a hold of this while Shrine of the Loyal Legion builds up gives you an incredible lifegain. Not to mention this also helps if your opponent is built up as well.
Get your extra 10 life and start playing Serra Ascendants with 1 mana creature searches for 6/6 Flying Lifelink for one Plains.
And look... it's WHITE! Groundbreaking work here Wizards!
0/5
blindthrall
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Good morning, Vietnam!
So that's it then? The Mirrans got stomped, bad? Good, I never did like them. Ever since Fallen Empires, the 'good' guys in Magic have a horrible track record. Vindicate is the only time they actually won.
DeathDark
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(13 votes)
The flavor text, though.
XAtma
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Too bad it's not a creature, it would be great with pygmy giant
GoatKnapper
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
"Yes my Lord. Overwhelmingly my Lord"
Underling Ethu was asked if the Mirran's were using Defensive Stance, he than peeked at their hand and saw 3, the war was over.
Demonic_Math_Tutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Amazing in limited when you can easily gain 10 life; but not good in any other formats.
Scorium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
In a 2 headed giant sealed torunament in the New Phyrexia Release, a team we played against cast this card two times in the same game, winning near 25 lives each time they cast the card. Anyway we ended winning that game, so the advice, as always, is : Don't play pure lifegain cards unless you're playing aFelidar Sovereign deck.
ajolt151
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This card works great with the New Phyrexia mana mechanic--I put in Vault Skirge and then get the life back, plus anything else out on the field. Not a game winner, but it helps in casual--especially multiplayer.
zidanemaxout
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This card won me 2 packs on MTGO triple NPH draft. It gained me ON AVERAGE 15 life, and in a deck full of phyrexia mana cards (2 moltensteel dragons, 4 of the 2/1 flier, mutagenic growths..), this card is a huge advantage in triple NPH.
Sayuzan
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Personally, I like it. I run two in my Myr Token deck, and it nearly doubles my life each time I use it. Two life per myr token? That's outrageous, especially when I have 14 tokens, 5 mana producers, 2 Myrsmiths, and a ouple of golem hearts. That, and whatever my opponent has. But I'm gaining 42 life right there! Dont you tell me this is a worthless card...
staggothi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
AMAZING in a casual group game setting. Easily gains your 40+ life if you have 4 players playing
Cheza
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0)(5 votes)
I know you won't agree, but this card should be red.
It's the lust for war that comes from that card. It's the hope for a big, epic, bloody fight. White shouldn't be happy to see a horde of black zombies, red goblins or green beasts rushing against it's own walls.
HuntingDrake
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I expected to see more love for a new Congregate here. Either these posters don't remember it, or they don't play multiplayer, or creatures have gotten too strong since Urza's Saga.
Phantom_of_the_FNM
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(8 votes)
At anyone who rates this low: If you think this card's rating should be in any way related to it's playability, you shouldn't be rating this, because this wasn't made for you. It was made for the Vorthoses. The flavor of this card, mostly the flavor text but also the image, is incredibly powerful ind incredibly tragic. A card doesn't have to be powerful to be good. I'd remember that.
Voriki
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I cannot possibly imagine why this card has such a low rating. This card has single handedly saved me more than I can imagine and on average has given me more than 20 life per use. To those that say it's not a game winner, I'd say I disagree. To anyone that rates it under a 4, I'd say they're crazy! I use it in my golem deck and would never replace it.
By the time I'm playing it, it should read:
Pay 4: Gain 20 life.
And in a deck based around getting a small army of creature tokens out, this becomes a priceless necessity.
5/5
Plus the flavor it just oh so flavorful. :D
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The little dude with the book looks pretty cool.
Valyant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Instant!
Hydr0
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ whiplashz: because a lot of bad cards are still good in limited. And this would be even better in limited if it were just better in general.
The fact that this has great flavor text makes me even more annoyed with how unplayable it is. Wizards: Stop trying to sell me cards that I'll only play with once. If you did, I would buy more cards.
Catsy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Opponent running All Artifact/Myr deck. +40 life.
evol4276
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
pretty sure this is meant for an artifact-heavy deck. this has saved my ass numerous times, despite the "ludicrous 4-mana cost wasted play".. if you're taking a beating early, this can easily make up a chunk of life for you. If you hate this card, yet don't play an artifact deck, then no, you would not play this. In a myr deck which can net you tons of little guys quickly , however, this is a nice card to have as protection.
Kelptic183
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm imagining playing Cast Through Time, Storm Herd, and then this in an EDH game. You should end up with at least a hundred or so Pegasus and about 200 life.
gentlemanprivateer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm...War Report + Chalice of life/death...if enough artifacts and creatures are on the field, instant flip.
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"The human infection
Soaring on winds of woe and pestilence
Remove imperfection -
Parasites with lives of little consequence,
The flesh breeds corruption -
Irradicate the insect prey, exterminate
Crawl with the Leeches - you cry
Shattered to pieces - you die
Here I stand - god of man - the Perfect Beast
Oh, burn!
Watch me burn - Live and learn
As the night surrounds me
No escape, no where to hide
Feel the sting of severing
Become one with Darkness
No escape, I'm dead inside"
- Symphony X, Heretic
orthodoxyordeath
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I understand the low rating, but really, especially for casual games, this card is a beast. I gain at least 15 life every time I use it, and just think how much better it is than worthless static lifegain cards like Angel's Mercy!
DoragonShinzui
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Looks like they put up a *Puts on shades* Token resistance. *YEEAAAAHHHH!*
adrian.malacoda
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This thing was banned from my playgroup because it stalled games for too long. It seems crappy in a two-player match but in a casual multiplayer game with artifact creatures it's much more impressive.
I got five of these in a draft once, it was lulzy 3/5 Stars
jasonpenguin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
the end of the war
Dragonshoredreamz
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is super-useful especially near the end of a game when you have a loaded battlefield of artifact creatures. It's pretty wild.
Vaxos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think this card is pretty insane, I run at least two in a Splicer Golem Deck, The only creatures It carries are Splicers and Myrs, with some Parallel Lives. If I ever have to use this I'm usually gaining 40 life from my own creatures at least. It doesn't belong in every deck, just because there are better alternatives depending on the deck. But I believe there is no better life gain card for an artifact deck than this. 5/5
Comments (47)
Even as a cantrip this would be only borderline playable. I have no clue why this wasn't made barely playable even in a Infect-infested Set.
Don't print crappy Lifegain... Please!
And noone is gonna comment on the flavor that oozes from this card?
If you have a huge amount of creatures and artifacts in play, shouldn't you then swing with them or combo out, and kill your opponents, instead of gaining life?
And if your opponent has a huge amount of creatures and artifacts in play, are you sure that some lifegain will turn the table? I doubt it.
I guess in multiplayer it's not horrible, though I personally stick to permanents constantly doing something in multiplayer, rather to one shot effects.
If you're in a stalemate, this won't do anything whereas a common 4 drop creature might. If you're winning, this won't make you win more, and in fact a creature probably would. If you're losing, this will buy you a turn or 2 - at the cost of a card, where they might play a creature and hasten their win.
Of course, there will be some situations where this card helps - like, say it's turn 5, none of your creatures have stuck, and you're hurting from their aggro, but you have a Phyrexian Rebirth. This, followed by the Rebirth on 6 could really turn the tide. But having to rely on other cards and limited circumstances to make one particular card a good choice isn't really the best way of choosing a card to go in a deck.
Get your extra 10 life and start playing Serra Ascendants with 1 mana creature searches for 6/6 Flying Lifelink for one Plains.
And look... it's WHITE! Groundbreaking work here Wizards!
0/5
So that's it then? The Mirrans got stomped, bad? Good, I never did like them. Ever since Fallen Empires, the 'good' guys in Magic have a horrible track record. Vindicate is the only time they actually won.
Underling Ethu was asked if the Mirran's were using Defensive Stance, he than peeked at their hand and saw 3, the war was over.
It's the lust for war that comes from that card. It's the hope for a big, epic, bloody fight. White shouldn't be happy to see a horde of black zombies, red goblins or green beasts rushing against it's own walls.
A card doesn't have to be powerful to be good. I'd remember that.
By the time I'm playing it, it should read:
Pay 4: Gain 20 life.
And in a deck based around getting a small army of creature tokens out, this becomes a priceless necessity.
5/5
Plus the flavor it just oh so flavorful. :D
The fact that this has great flavor text makes me even more annoyed with how unplayable it is. Wizards: Stop trying to sell me cards that I'll only play with once. If you did, I would buy more cards.
Soaring on winds of woe and pestilence
Remove imperfection -
Parasites with lives of little consequence,
The flesh breeds corruption -
Irradicate the insect prey, exterminate
Crawl with the Leeches - you cry
Shattered to pieces - you die
Here I stand - god of man - the Perfect Beast
Oh, burn!
Watch me burn - Live and learn
As the night surrounds me
No escape, no where to hide
Feel the sting of severing
Become one with Darkness
No escape, I'm dead inside"
- Symphony X, Heretic
*Puts on shades*
Token resistance.
*YEEAAAAHHHH!*
3/5 Stars
If I ever have to use this I'm usually gaining 40 life from my own creatures at least.
It doesn't belong in every deck, just because there are better alternatives depending on the deck.
But I believe there is no better life gain card for an artifact deck than this.
5/5