One of the best removals in the block, if you ask me.
kiseki
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Because its all fun and games until someone loses an arm. and a leg. and an arm. and a leg. Hmm, the flavor might be better with -1/-1 counters.
EvilCartographer
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(9 votes)
So, um, later Grasp of Darkness and Disfigure. It's nothing personal, you've both been great to me. It's just, you know, this kills Phrexian Obliterator.
THAT SAID, I think I will end up hating phrexian mana. I'm really new to the game, so take this with a grain of salt, but this really dilutes the flavor of the other four colors. Sacrificing four life isn't a minor thing, and it is a nice, fluffy way of introducing an "anything to win in a desperate situation" mentality for the other colors, but I liked it better when that was reserved for Black.
Long_Con
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I used this card in my green-white deck in every single game of the Sealed Deck tournament. This card saved my ass every single time. 5/5
Easily my favorite card of the set. I'm just going to buy 20 of these, screw spending money on packs. Maybe a Beast Within or two.
Dragon5911
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
goes oh so well in my deck built to hit zero life. platinum angel, lich's tomb, repay in kind
Shiny_Espeon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I had 2 of these in my prerelease sealed pool along with Karn Liberated and Life's Finale. Not surprisingly, I went on to win the whole thing. Honestly, this card is the best removal in scars limited. It's just good, unconditional removal that pretty much says: "Destroy target creature. If it is indestructible, kill it anyways." It is reasonably costed, and is very easy to keep up, at the cost of some life. And I haven't even mentioned the best part yet: ANY color can play this. Outside of some sick bomb, I can't think of any card that I would first pick over this.
God_Of_The_Smurfs
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
All the good uncommons in this set begin with "D." This Despise Dispatch Deceiver Exarch
Donovan_Fabian
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This will be fun when my opponent plays jin gitaxias or phyrexian obliterator. It's like.. oh you think I can't kill that because I only have one mana open? Say hi to dismember.
Magnor_Criol
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Still can't kill a titan.
Hayw00d0909
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Ugh... Don't get me wrong, I really like this card. It might even be the best black removal. But I just have to ask it.
Why couldn't it have been -6/-6? This would have been a godsend against Frost Titan, Grave Titan and the rest.
Either way this is a 5/5 hands down. Thanks Wizards!
count_dorku
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
If you really want to cause misery with it, run it with Rage Extractor. Now you can kill anything up to and including a Platinum Emperion or Stormtide Leviathan.
Gabriel422
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(14 votes)
Well, I ordered 16 of these cards, and only half of my decks are satisfied. So I ordered 16 more.
Axelle
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
Spot removal for everybody!
WateryMind
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(14 votes)
So... This cards kills damn near everything in the game below Titan level of power... It murders creatures with indestructibility... AND It only costs 1?
O.o
rinoh20
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
because I WANT TO KILL YOUR STUPID BAENSLYER/OBLITERATOR WALLS even when i'm not playing balck
don_miguel
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
you have mutagenic growth in the set to save creatures with toughness 4 and above, losing less life. also apostle's blessing. when countered you still lose the life, and 4 + 4 (let's say obstinate baloth for instance) is much life. indeed is a good card, but not so much.
DeathDark
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(8 votes)
Even paying for it with the mana is pretty okay. It follows the mana curve up Disfigure and Grasp of Darkness.
Crag-Hack
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
Comparable to Snuff Out. Both cards could cost you 4 life. Snuff Out requires a swamp and no mana and Dismember costs no swamp but one mana, or two mana and two life, etc. Idk which is better but I personally prefer this card because hard casting it is a bit easier than hard casting snuff out.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
why is the demon in the flavor text named after Azog, the orc captain in middle earth
TheDonMega
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
Baneslayer should have been in the artwork.
Gelzo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the most expensive uncommons in Standard, I think it's even higher than Mental Misstep at this point.
The weird thing is, I got passed two of them playing draft on the first round of packs. I'm pretty sure I was drafting with some really inexperienced players.
GengilOrbios
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Easily the best removal ever printed!
JFM2796
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(6 votes)
for -5/-5? Strictly better than Disfigure (unless you care about 4 life. Some cards never should have been printed, and this is a good example.
Mastamune
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
This card is an example of what not to do when designing cards.
It sacrifices color wheel identity just to provide every deck with a easy solution to metagame problems. Instead of FIXING THE PROBLEM with the color pie and the power disparity between colors, you put a bandage over it. Good job Wizards.
Easily the best removal in Standard and possibly Modern. Oh and heres the kicker.
Blue doesn't give a **** about life either.
Paleopaladin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This and Tezzeret's Gambit are why New Phyrexia should have just been called "New Worldwake."
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
If this was costed {1} and 4 life, it would never get printed because of OP. This is beter then that costing as it gives you options. The new mana is annoying and OPED
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(11 votes)
Primeval Torso {4}{G}{G} Trample Whenever Primeval Torso enters the battlefield or attacks, you may search your library for up to two land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. 1/1
Not sure why it is not rated higher. Perhaps with this becoming a staple in modern it will increase.
rillaan
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(9 votes)
This card really, really should have cost 3 phrexian black. 6 life for everyone to have a removal is perfect
Nukeleo
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
My only real complaint is how quickly it invalidated Grasp of Darkness.
TDL
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hey wizards, thanks for essentially obsoleting protection from white, blue, red, and green for as long as this card is legal in any given format!
Shadoflaam
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
I don't think that this card was a mistake; rather, it was necessary. New Phyrexia's Standard was so powerful and relied so much on smaller creatures doing insane things, this card acted like a safety net for all decks. Although, under the argument that if there is no reason not to include a card in the deck, then said card is broken, then yes, Dismember is broken. But without it, Standard would hurt a whole lot more. Wizards is not COMPLETELY (Chimney Imp and Aven Trooper nonwithstanding) full of idiots. Give them their credit for designing a versatile master key to most Standard situations.
001010011100101110
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(17 votes)
New Phyrexia is like the new Planar Chaos - it screws with the color pie. Yeah Wizards, screw it, screw it hard.
wstonefi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think Wizards pushed the power level of the Phyrexian mana a little too far with this card. Sure, messing with the color pie is fun and interesting up to a certain point. But when a mono-green deck can kill 90% of the creatures in the game for 1 mana? I think that's where "interesting" becomes "just plain wrong."
Just my 2 cents.
Ertai69
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(24 votes)
I love how the effect of this card lasts only until end of turn. So, all we need is a creature with a toughness of six: it can not only survive being DISMEMBERED, but wake up totally fine the next day! No arms? No legs? No problem!
I run four of these in my vampire lifelink deck. Paying 4 life to kill a large percentage of creatures doesn't seem so bad, when you can make that back in a turn or two of lifelinking.
SkaerKrow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is it me, or was Apostle's Blessing printed as an equally universal counter to this card?
skormeus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Honestly I feel like it was short sighted. I think they had remorse for making the Phyrexian Obliterator and figured people wouldn't complain if every deck had a no drawback answer to him. but then the answer became a separate even larger problem.
Okuu-chan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ugh. I hate it when uncommons end up more expensive than most rares. And this is the kind of card you'd want to run as a set.
OmegaSerris
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(14 votes)
"but then the answer became a separate even larger problem."
Haha, new to Magic, aren't you? That's just Wizard's style.
"Ooooo! These titans are so cool!" "Uh... how are people going to be able to handle these things if they hit the board?" "No worries, I've already submitted 8 more cheap removal spells. It'll balance out, right?"
Busted as can be. Any color has the option to say "wow that big dude is gonna slap me, ok I can pay 4 life to stop that for good.". When you think of what this card truly does you have to ask why? Those silly Phyrexians, they just don't care.
raptorman333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Meh, I miss Sudden Death... but having a flexible mana cost is neat...
This card is ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS I hate it but at the same time love it!
First off, when used in black, it is essentially -5/-5 for , or, and 4 life at INSTANT SPEED. When have you ever attacked with something huge when your opponent had only one untapped land AND GOT BURNED THIS BAD? Last Gasp Is good, but for 1 more, you can have -2/-2 more, and if you absolutely had to, you could have it for 1 less and 4 life lost.
When have you ever attacked your mono green opponent with your Phyrexian Obliterator when he only had one untapped forest AND HE KILLED IT! I don't know what's scarier, the obliterator itself or a green deck *removing it* with just ONE FREAKIN MANA (and 4 life, not that it matters). It doesn't even have to be a land! A freakin green mana from a Llanowar Elves would do! YOUR LLANOWAR ELVES KILLED MY PHYREXIAN OBLITERATOR! Now that's just not fair. Ever have a bunch of counterspells but no bounce cards to bounce-counter some obnoxious enemy? Well fret no more! for 1 CMC less than your counterspell you can remove it from the board entirely! (assuming you have the 4 life). Ever run a red burn deck and just can't get rid of that rotten indestructible creature? Again! Here is the answer!
***WHY***!!!???
This card is a perfect example of "just when you thought you won the game GUESS WHAT? you didnt...." FOR ALL COLORS!
4 of these should be in *EVERYBODYS* deck. -X/-X kills regenerators and indestructibles. Not only that, but its extremely efficient, compared to something like Pull Under. Talk about power creep AND screwing up the color pie.
5/5 for sheer POWER -20/5 for raping the color pie
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Should have been {(}b/p)}{(}b/p)} {(}b/p)} {(}b/p)} or at least been {3}{(}b/p)}{(}b/p)} then it would've been roughly on par with Pull Under.
j_mindfingerpainter
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
@ Xycolian: It's not strictly worse, though. Neither of the cards you mentioned can get rid of an indestructible creature. This can, if it's toughness is 5 or less.
BongRipper420
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
This is great for my mono green deck.
Raibys
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
"You serve Phyrexia. Your pieces would better serve Phyrexia elsewhere."
"...but it's okay, we'll reattach your limbs again at the end of the turn. :)"
humor_love
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Best in decks that are unable or are challenged to support Murder and/or Unmake.
In mono-Black, Black & White, or primarily Black decks, I'd actually rather play Murder and/or Unmake. This card targets just like they do (repelled by Shroud/Hexproof), and Unmake gets rid of bigger Indestructible creatures than this does.
Only a couple of main aspects support the use of Dismember over Unmake in mono-Black or heavily Black decks. For one thing, Dismember can be cast using only 1 (generic) mana and either 4 life or 2 life and a Black mana. This gives it a form of versatility that Unmake lacks. For another thing, Unmake keeps the targeted creature out of the reach of Animate Dead, Rise from the Grave, and cards with similar effects. Dismember keeps the creature within reach.
Of all the things Dismember has going for it, the coolest is that it can be used in decks that don't have any Black at all.
or and 4 life to get rid of almost any threat. Well worth it in most decks, even those without any black sources. 5/5
bay_falconer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So am I getting dismembered or is the other dude's mook? Also, what race is that dude? Is that a noggle?
Bulhakas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Target Baneslayer Angel gets -5/-5 until end of turn.
Salient
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
"Your pieces would better serve Phyrexia elsewhere."
...turns out all they needed were the fingernails. Whew. The -5/-5 represents the paralytic terror of having THAT thing come at you.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Demons are usually 6/6 or bigger.. that makes me smile :D
Lickmynt_Jr
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"-2/-2? I could have SWORN you said -5/-5!" -Last words of the designer of this card.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@Ertai: and then there's the questionable flavor of dismembering a wurm, or a slime.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm surprised that many people don't play this in Modern.
If the argument is "Paying 4 life to kill a creature is too much life", then no one should be playing fetchlands and shocklands.
Nagoragama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the best removal spells ever printed, even in my White/Green midrange deck I always packed at least 3 in the sideboard, sometimes a few mainboard. Especially potent against Infect, as you won't care much about your life total when your opponent isn't gunning for it. Helps if you have some reliable life gain threats like Baneslayer Angel and Sword of War and Peace to offset the life loss, but if you can win fast enough, it shouldn't even matter.
A little pain for power... even if you're playing a completely different colour. Black doesn't discriminate!
In an obtuse sort of way, the flavour of this card is delicious!
Lifegainwithbite
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
The best green removal ever printed.
gideon999
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In case you hadn't noticed... THIS IS A VERY GOOD CARD!!!!!!!!!!
Kurraga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It would be pretty funny to use this on a 6/6 or bigger for double phyrexian mana just to gain one life. You know, that once in a blur moon where you need to do it to survive (say, you're on 6 life).
Zylo-
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run this instead of path to exile... I'd rather give up (at worst) 4 life then mana ramp my opponent... At instant speed, there will be many times you can hard cast this for 3 on their turn with no negatives... This is flexible... I agree with Ferlord. This deals with most creatures and doesn't help your opponent by mana ramping them to victory.
Comments (88)
Because a good player will do anything to win, even if it means losing 4 life.
Hmm, the flavor might be better with -1/-1 counters.
THAT SAID, I think I will end up hating phrexian mana. I'm really new to the game, so take this with a grain of salt, but this really dilutes the flavor of the other four colors. Sacrificing four life isn't a minor thing, and it is a nice, fluffy way of introducing an "anything to win in a desperate situation" mentality for the other colors, but I liked it better when that was reserved for Black.
platinum angel, lich's tomb, repay in kind
This
Despise
Dispatch
Deceiver Exarch
Why couldn't it have been -6/-6? This would have been a godsend against Frost Titan, Grave Titan and the rest.
Either way this is a 5/5 hands down. Thanks Wizards!
O.o
indeed is a good card, but not so much.
The weird thing is, I got passed two of them playing draft on the first round of packs. I'm pretty sure I was drafting with some really inexperienced players.
It sacrifices color wheel identity just to provide every deck with a easy solution to metagame problems. Instead of FIXING THE PROBLEM with the color pie and the power disparity between colors, you put a bandage over it. Good job Wizards.
Easily the best removal in Standard and possibly Modern. Oh and heres the kicker.
Blue doesn't give a **** about life either.
Trample
Whenever Primeval Torso enters the battlefield or attacks, you may search your library for up to two land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
1/1
Just my 2 cents.
F... you wizard, I quit
Haha, new to Magic, aren't you? That's just Wizard's style.
"Ooooo! These titans are so cool!"
"Uh... how are people going to be able to handle these things if they hit the board?"
"No worries, I've already submitted 8 more cheap removal spells. It'll balance out, right?"
I hate it but at the same time love it!
First off, when used in black, it is essentially -5/-5 for
When have you ever attacked your mono green opponent with your Phyrexian Obliterator when he only had one untapped forest AND HE KILLED IT! I don't know what's scarier, the obliterator itself or a green deck *removing it* with just ONE FREAKIN MANA (and 4 life, not that it matters). It doesn't even have to be a land! A freakin green mana from a Llanowar Elves would do! YOUR LLANOWAR ELVES KILLED MY PHYREXIAN OBLITERATOR! Now that's just not fair. Ever have a bunch of counterspells but no bounce cards to bounce-counter some obnoxious enemy? Well fret no more! for 1 CMC less than your counterspell you can remove it from the board entirely! (assuming you have the 4 life). Ever run a red burn deck and just can't get rid of that rotten indestructible creature? Again! Here is the answer!
***WHY***!!!???
This card is a perfect example of "just when you thought you won the game GUESS WHAT? you didnt...."
FOR ALL COLORS!
4 of these should be in *EVERYBODYS* deck. -X/-X kills regenerators and indestructibles. Not only that, but its extremely efficient, compared to something like Pull Under. Talk about power creep AND screwing up the color pie.
5/5 for sheer POWER
-20/5 for raping the color pie
"...but it's okay, we'll reattach your limbs again at the end of the turn. :)"
In mono-Black, Black & White, or primarily Black decks, I'd actually rather play Murder and/or Unmake. This card targets just like they do (repelled by Shroud/Hexproof), and Unmake gets rid of bigger Indestructible creatures than this does.
Only a couple of main aspects support the use of Dismember over Unmake in mono-Black or heavily Black decks. For one thing, Dismember can be cast using only 1 (generic) mana and either 4 life or 2 life and a Black mana. This gives it a form of versatility that Unmake lacks. For another thing, Unmake keeps the targeted creature out of the reach of Animate Dead, Rise from the Grave, and cards with similar effects. Dismember keeps the creature within reach.
Of all the things Dismember has going for it, the coolest is that it can be used in decks that don't have any Black at all.
...turns out all they needed were the fingernails. Whew. The -5/-5 represents the paralytic terror of having THAT thing come at you.
-Last words of the designer of this card.
If the argument is "Paying 4 life to kill a creature is too much life", then no one should be playing fetchlands and shocklands.
In an obtuse sort of way, the flavour of this card is delicious!
THIS IS A VERY GOOD CARD!!!!!!!!!!
-Swag_Crow