5/5 just for the art. The card is okay. Probably a 3 unless they provide future support.
steev
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(10 votes)
Oh cool, it's Uncle Istvan's family practitioner. This explains a lot.
Weird synergy with Misthollow Griffin, but I hope it's not a sign of mechanics to-come.
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
"Let's take a little off the topdeck."
Half-dead
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Wish it was any damage instead of combat damage. Risky, but would have a bigger potential.
Splizer
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Weird geezer, isn't it? But I like it! I say make a casual Esper spirits deck with Drogskol Captain and white and black Kamigawa spirits with soulshift! This would work well there, with W/U providing buffs, while the Surgeon stalls out for those expensive black soulshift guys!
LordOfTheFlies87
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Strange. But his will find a home somewhere.
Superllama12
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
I think this is really cool. A difficult to kill, efficient creature with an ability that can be abused. Plus, it's called Gloom Surgeon. I mean, that is one of the coolest names I've ever heard!
axiobeta
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Dat flavor text D: I'll grab four regardless but he would have been better if it was all damage. It could be useful someday though, if each Ravnica guild gets a new keyword this guy could be in luck.
Zetan
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
He's a rockstar in Laboratory Maniac decks. Becomes either an awesome blocker ("Instead of dealing me damage, you're moving me closer to my win condition!") or a 2-power attacker they'd rather not block.
A0602
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
I has a free, non-tapping regenerate (to combat damage only). This is pretty unheard of.
You can't continue blocking forever though, witch doesn't really matter because if you are blocking forever, you're not doing it right. Despite it's low rating, I would not be surprised if this sees a lot of play.
tahunuva
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(10 votes)
Apparently the Slender Man makes house calls now.
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(7 votes)
exiling off the top of your own library indicates madness. top hats and trenchcoats indicate swagness.
IT'S THE QUESTION!
Errata: Whistle a pop tune, {T}: Break target glass door and set off the alarm.
TheWrathofShane
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In a self mill this card is baller.
BagsMcpiper
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
It'll be broken somehow. By somebody. Eventually. I swear.
Yezzerat
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Another tool in the black/blue selfdeck toolshed. While very limited in use, theres absolutely no reason to criticize an "indestructable" creature who selfdecks into your Laboratory Maniac.
RedJaron
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
If it was just dumping cards into your graveyard, I could see this being a lot more effective. But exiling them? Makes it a tougher sale outside a dedicated self-mill.
Edit/Response: Guys, this thing is only "indestructible" to combat damage. He can be pinged, burnt, destroyed, -X'd, and removed any number of other ways without exiling your library.
@WizFan, notice I said "more effective." Broken and over powered? Maybe, but I don't think so. Again it only triggers in combat, so the shens are far less abusable. Could someone go nuts with it this way? Possibly, but there's any number of solutions to it: Geistflame, Pillar of Flame, Killing Wind, and more in this block alone.
WizardFan
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
@Redjaron: If he dumped cards into your graveyard instead of exiling them, while he'd maybe not be too overpowered in Standard (which is clearly how you're looking at it), you must realise that he'd definately be overpowered in Modern and Legacy. Just think about it, a creature that can not only block any creature and survive but at the same time create Snapcaster fuel and pump up your Tarmogoyf, seems a little too strong in my opinion. The fact that he dies to removal is a moot point, every creature dies to some form of removal, if they use removal on him they're trading a card for a card.
grynning
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
This guy isn't really good for self-mill, even if you're running Labratory Maniac as your win. I've been running that deck a lot, and it pretty much relies on graveyard recursion (Think Twice, Dream Twist etc.) to work, and Gloom Surgeon's ability *stops* your cards from getting to the gy where you need them. This card is pretty bad in the current standard environment; only a new mechanic in Ravnica will help him.
steinburger1109
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Very narrow applicability... Interesting concept. Would be freakin' sweet if it was graveyard rather than exile.
HijackThis
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy was made as a counter to Strangleroot Geist. It can block it forever even when it comes back and can act to slow down the aggro rush Strangleroot can create. Still, it's a bit of a narrow focus to justify a Rare, but it's great at what it does. 3.5/5.
sincarnation
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This would be so much better if they removed the "combat" part
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
He used to be Laboratory Maniac's research assistant, before the fatal accident... He still helps out however he can, though.
Out of flavor, though, I would really prefer if the cards went to the grave instead, but that would be a little too much, wouldn't it?
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really wish this card could be used outside of attempts at mill. Maybe if "combat" wasn't in the text, people would play it competitively. No offense Wizards, but giving a RARE a toughness of one and exiling cards whenever it would be dealt combat damage seems likea noob move. What about destroying, exiling, and damaging removal? I kind of wish it had Hexproof. Sweet art, though.
FattyMcGiggles
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Well this card wouldn't be too bad if you played it, then gave it the ol' Switcheroo and made it attack each turn with with Alluring Siren. Obtain blocker that does mucho damage then sit back as your opponent wants to strangle you. And you can sprinkle even more "I hate you" on top with a Leyline of the Void.
Kezia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Slenderman in Innistrad?
NOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPE
DucksGoMooful
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I got a booster box of Avacyn Restored and got 3 or 4 of these. I can honestly not use it at all and they're pretty much worthless to sell (not to mention I'll never be able to trade them). I hate this card.
This gets five stars just for flavour and originality. Granted, it has a very narrow use, but that shouldn't be the way you rate cards, otherwise the most boring, generic beatsticks become wizards favourites. You know, like what happened in the music industry.
BreadandButter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The problem people see with this card is that they often put him in a more agressive deck (not that he doesn't fit there) or look for ways to exploit him (like misthollow griffin). This guy is perfect for control. He can attack unafraid like a champ and he is a blocker while you find your removal etc. He is kind of like a fog bank for black (so he has a drawback) that can't fly but can attack.
Unless you are running a silver bullet type deck with one of's or a combo deck, or any deck that really relies on specific cards in the deck to win or tutors to find something (decks with deck interaction of sorts), he has little drawback (excluding you getting milled). Lots of words but he is a ground boss. I would gladly trade 4-5 cards from my deck at random (top draw is still random) instead of 4-5 to the face especially in control. Burn and removal get him but they are potentially wasting removal on a 2 mana creature. Deathtouch etc. still gets him and trample dumps on him but even so I like an offensive Grizzly Bears combined with a fog bank.
Piston Sledge or something. Let him bash away. Also, is a very powerful drudge skeletons. Unfortunately exists only for casual and possibly standard or pauper as things like Oona's Prowler are tough to beat.
Havrekjex
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Relax, Vampire Nighthawk, I'll fish out that removal spell for you."
Toxicity17
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card isn't that bad. It works good as a chump blocker that can take a hit from any creature without trample and exiling cards from the top of your library can be a small price to pay when blocking a creature with high power. I own 4 of these cards and really love them. They have won me a few games all i have to do is get 2 of them on the battlefield and use 1 to block and the other i boost with enchantments like Dark Favor or equip him with the artifact Basilisk Collar and use him as a killing machine that will gain me 2 life each turn and kill one of my opponents creatures or deal two damage but boosting him with enchantments and equipping him with the collar just makes him awesome. I really only need two of these guys on the field, as long as I have them enchanted or equipped im good for awhile unless someone Murders him. But this card really is a good blocker for the most part, just be careful with it cause he can kill you but otherwise I love this card hope more cards come out like
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Too bad it's not: "If combat damage would be dealt to Gloom Surgeon, exile that many cards from the top of your library instead."
If it were a replacement effect, he'd also survive excruciatingpain.
Unfortunately he won't survive any burn either. He'd be damn good without the combat damage restriction.
Comments (35)
Weird synergy with Misthollow Griffin, but I hope it's not a sign of mechanics to-come.
But his will find a home somewhere.
I'll grab four regardless but he would have been better if it was all damage. It could be useful someday though, if each Ravnica guild gets a new keyword this guy could be in luck.
You can't continue blocking forever though, witch doesn't really matter because if you are blocking forever, you're not doing it right. Despite it's low rating, I would not be surprised if this sees a lot of play.
top hats and trenchcoats indicate swagness.
IT'S THE QUESTION!
Errata: Whistle a pop tune, {T}: Break target glass door and set off the alarm.
Edit/Response: Guys, this thing is only "indestructible" to combat damage. He can be pinged, burnt, destroyed, -X'd, and removed any number of other ways without exiling your library.
@WizFan, notice I said "more effective." Broken and over powered? Maybe, but I don't think so. Again it only triggers in combat, so the shens are far less abusable. Could someone go nuts with it this way? Possibly, but there's any number of solutions to it: Geistflame, Pillar of Flame, Killing Wind, and more in this block alone.
Out of flavor, though, I would really prefer if the cards went to the grave instead, but that would be a little too much, wouldn't it?
NOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPE
I'm now going to make a cheapo standard deck featuring this, the aforementioned and Misthollow Griffin.
Unless you are running a silver bullet type deck with one of's or a combo deck, or any deck that really relies on specific cards in the deck to win or tutors to find something (decks with deck interaction of sorts), he has little drawback (excluding you getting milled). Lots of words but he is a ground boss. I would gladly trade 4-5 cards from my deck at random (top draw is still random) instead of 4-5 to the face especially in control. Burn and removal get him but they are potentially wasting removal on a 2 mana creature. Deathtouch etc. still gets him and trample dumps on him but even so I like an offensive Grizzly Bears combined with a fog bank.
I am surprised I never saw him in a casual nightshade peddler deck. Or give him a gift: gift of orzhova and let him deter attackers as you'll just gain life instead. Basilisk Collar etc.
"If combat damage would be dealt to Gloom Surgeon, exile that many cards from the top of your library instead."
If it were a replacement effect, he'd also survive excruciating pain.
Unfortunately he won't survive any burn either.
He'd be damn good without the combat damage restriction.