If Absorb is worse than Undermine, why is it that when this card was in standard, just about everyone at the highest level of Magic tournaments played this card over Undermine?
OpenSeasonNoobs
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ Arglypuff
This card was played over Undermine because the metagame of standard was stronger in white than black. They ran it for the counterspell, not the gain 3 life, gaining 3 life is one of the least significant additions to a counterspell there has ever been.
It's a decent addition in UW mill deck. While Undermine isn't that useful in a UB mill deck, this has the added effect of that small potential of the additional life gain to help get in that last mill spell required for the win.
Equinox523
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Dissension's Overrule seems to pay homage to this spell, and uses Power Sink and Alabaster Potion effects instead. This is a cool card that can help those control decks and help stave off some burn while countering a spell.
Nagoragama
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Ah, Absorb. Such a beautiful, elegant card. Undermine, of course, is my favorite card in the game, but this one is amazing as well.
@ OpenSeasonNoobs The actual "sister spells" of Absorb and Undermine are from the same block, Suffocating Blast and Mystic Snake. They all do something the non-blue color is known for while at the same time countering a spell.
I think that this card has its advantages over Undermine- in a strict control deck, you want to buy as much time as you can, so the life gain is actually better than the life loss. Lets you hang on a little longer until you can establish control.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Haha goddamn, MasterOfEtherium actually made an insightful comment. Well done.
Raexs
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A very attractive, elegant card indeed. Even by today's standards, it is still a pretty solid card. Your standard hard-counter costs three mana. Granted, the 3 life isn't super spectacular, but if you happen to be running white and blue, Absorb would be a superior choice to most other hard counters. And it's just so satisfying to say it - "I'm sorry about Grollub. He's been... absorbed."
Comments (26)
This card was played over Undermine because the metagame of standard was stronger in white than black. They ran it for the counterspell, not the gain 3 life, gaining 3 life is one of the least significant additions to a counterspell there has ever been.
Don't forget the sisters of Absorb and Undermine, Double Negative and Voidslime.
@ OpenSeasonNoobs The actual "sister spells" of Absorb and Undermine are from the same block, Suffocating Blast and Mystic Snake. They all do something the non-blue color is known for while at the same time countering a spell.
@MasterOfEtherium Thats probably the highest rated comment you have because no one could tell it was you.
Even by today's standards, it is still a pretty solid card. Your standard hard-counter costs three mana. Granted, the 3 life isn't super spectacular, but if you happen to be running white and blue, Absorb would be a superior choice to most other hard counters.
And it's just so satisfying to say it - "I'm sorry about Grollub. He's been... absorbed."