Positives: He costs one less mana, so can be a first turn drop; he's only blue and his ability only needs blue; he's common.
Negatives: He taps to use his ability, the biggest cost of which is that he can't do it immediately; can't be cast with just white mana.
Ambiguous: Creature types - human is better than Kithkin but Wizard is much better than Rogue; he returns the creature immediately while the witch is at end of turn, which means this can be an expensive untap or instant ETB effect, while the witch dodges removal.
Overall, the witch is probably better as the decks that want to blink stuff are usually slow enough that they don't worry about a one drop and there's a lot of blink in white.
lorendorky
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
You can abuse his cost in different ways compared to Mistmeadow Witch by recurring him with Proclamation of Rebirth or tutoring him with Ranger of Eos.
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Seems like the kind of guy that says "PREPOSTEROUS" a lot.
Odium1995
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
I ask every one to READ the card then realize that now your temporary control like Act of Aggression can now lets you keep it forever with his ability.
SkyknightXi
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I hope the point about the tongues is just that the drivers are skaabs that he built himself. Otherwise...BRRRRR.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Never tell him the odds!
Mode
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
@djflo nice comparison. but don't forget the witch can also exile your opponent's creatures. This can make a huge difference sometimes. Also the Smuggler really does flicker the creature just like the original card: It returns it immediately, as opposed to most flicker effects that return them at end of turn (like Cloudshift).
I really like his concept and he does make an okay choice for T1 flicker decks, but four mana just seems like a bit much.
HuntedWumpusMustDie
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
No little girl, do not go into that man's carriage!
RedJaron
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Like the idea of this card, and Odium has a great point about permanent control change. But it just feels like his ability is too much. I think a casting cost and ability cost would've been the sweet spot.
Oulvine
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Looks like he's been smuggling some bacon into his gut. Guy needs to run his hams around the block a few times.
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yup, this guy could sneak a magic marker onto Celebrity Jeopardy.
gatorjunkie
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Is it just me or does anyone else think that it is no coincidence that all these flicker cards came out shortly after Venser vs. Koth? There are so many cards from Avacyn Restored that would be beast in a Venser deck.
DragonCake
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
#69 for a reason
Silver-Paladin
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
KnexWiz, cutting someone's tongue out to silence them has been a "thing" since biblical times. Thats like saying "Omg, I found a card talking about a school for magic, it must be a Harry Potter reference!"
The deckplans I have for this guy are nuts. Allies. Zealous Con***s (Flicker the con***, flicker what they stole, keep both). Crazy ETB effects.
RPJesus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@djflo: You know this guy lets you dodge removal too. Though the witch is still prolly sexier due to being able to blink herself, as well as acting as a pseudo pacifism and such, but this guy's no slouch either. Just played a game of off the top last night where I ended up with him, a griff vanguard, and two evernight shades. It was stupid.
My words to my draft opponent when this hit the table last night: "You're going to use that to recur your Mist Raven. I can't have that." (casts PIllar of Flame)
Fictionarious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He'd be more attractive to me if he cost two more and his ability cost two less.
SuitofArmor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He seems like the type of card you use if you're out of Cloudshift, Ghostly Flicker, or your other blink cards. I can dig.
Using with Archaeomancer makes for a decent combination!
patronofthesound
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In comp to the witch, blinking is generally better than flickering, as it gives you more control over ETB effects. Plus one-drop status means you can curve nicely into a turn 2 wall of omens, into turn 3 rif***cher, turn 4 galepowder or dignitary, and then a turn 5 precursor golem if youre lucky. Slow to get going but an integral card for good blink decks--my playgroup will generally burn him over any of the other combo pieces. Plus, flavor points for being a fat smuggler.
captainsealed
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh my god!!!
It's the carriage driver from Pinocchio.
Quick, hide your asses.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Abuse ETB effects and avoid single target removal, nice little 1 drop.
amberbock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use him in my modern Green Blue control deck with Mystic Snake, Glen Elendra Archmage, and Venser, Shaper Savant as the main control. I'm looking for a spot for Perplexing Chimera. Use Venser at the end of their turn when Glen is on the field to remove their playing field, attack on my turn, use the Snake if they try anything major.
Comments (27)
Positives: He costs one less mana, so can be a first turn drop; he's only blue and his ability only needs blue; he's common.
Negatives: He taps to use his ability, the biggest cost of which is that he can't do it immediately; can't be cast with just white mana.
Ambiguous: Creature types - human is better than Kithkin but Wizard is much better than Rogue; he returns the creature immediately while the witch is at end of turn, which means this can be an expensive untap or instant ETB effect, while the witch dodges removal.
Overall, the witch is probably better as the decks that want to blink stuff are usually slow enough that they don't worry about a one drop and there's a lot of blink in white.
Also the Smuggler really does flicker the creature just like the original card: It returns it immediately, as opposed to most flicker effects that return them at end of turn (like Cloudshift).
I really like his concept and he does make an okay choice for T1 flicker decks, but four mana just seems like a bit much.
The deckplans I have for this guy are nuts. Allies. Zealous Con***s (Flicker the con***, flicker what they stole, keep both). Crazy ETB effects.
It's the carriage driver from Pinocchio.
Quick, hide your asses.