This guy can block a titan all day while swinging for five (make a pentavite, block, sac the pentavite before damage is dealt). Plus he can break into a swarm in response to removal. Seems good to me.
Philip-BANG
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
This was one of my favorite surprises from the Elspeth and Tezzeret dual decks and I'm pleased to see that I can now play it in standard.
The card screams for proliferate which is already a cherished mechanic of mine so I'm hoping to have some good fun with this marvellous caterpillar of doom.
auriscope
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
So bomb in limited; makes chump blockers all day long and swings in for the win later.
PeabodyET
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(5 votes)
So much less effective with the combat damage rule change, but whatever. It's still good. He's a limited bomb and a decent constructed card because of all the combat tricks you can do.
And hey, throw a Doubling Season out there, and you'll be amazed at how big he can get.
From here on out, I'm automatically .5/5'ing any Doubling Season comment I come across. Yes, it is a good card that takes no skill beyond looking for the token/counter keyword in the text, congrats on your expert find genius. There is a reason it has yet to be reprinted and costs $30.
It would take a little bit of skill to manipulate, I think. I can definantly see the uses, however it would take a few games or more to get how to manipulate it to the best of its ability.
A3Kitsune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yes! We now have Pentavite token cards! I've been wanting those.
repete
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Remind anyone else of a certain Guru that came out in the Commander release? With a very few minor exceptions, the wording is almost exactly the same as Ghave, Guru of Spores. Also a non-vampire that can effectively wield Blade of the Bloodchief.
The_Trendkill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It makes Stapler tokens.
somekindofwizard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After playing the Tezzeret half of the Elspeth vs. Tezzeret duel decks you start to see how amazing this guy is with a Steel Overseer. If somebody lets pour +1/+1s all over a wave of pentavites (while simultaneously refilling pentavus' own bad self) they're about to feel the pain.
Interesting card that allows for some thought while providing a 5/5 body with a lot of options for 7. Not devastating, but it can be fun. Much better than many of the large, overpriced, and vanilla artifact creatures that we've seen before.
WateryMind
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
Oh. Its you. You're back.
BegleOne
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(4 votes)
If the game is coming down to critter combat, as it almost always does in limited and often does in constructed, this is a one-card army. It can make four tokens, block four critters, sacrifice them before damage is dealt and then attack for five next turn. If they nail it with a spell, you can at least get a 5-token swarm out of it. If you combine it with proliferation or doubling effects, it's even better. Exceptionally good card.
It takes a lot of mana to operate, though; it doesn't do much good to cheat it out, curving it out naturally leaves you the mana to run it. Therefore it'll find best use in a limited deck or in green decks with Doubling Season.
Even without combat damage using the stack, this is amongst the most powerful cards in M12 draft. I hate going against it.
stormcrowpro
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Unlimited combo alert coming up in standard play. Field: Necrotic Ooze
I was sitting here for ages trying to figure out why on earth this was reprinted in M12. Artifact sac engines, Necrotic Ooze shenanigans, Venser, the Sojourner, and even proliferate just didn't quite seem to justify it. Looking back on it, with Innistrad being spoilered, maybe it's there as an easy Morbid trigger?
What's so bad about this guy u can have 5 creatures when u put him down. Great card advantage.
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pentavus is the sickness in draft. People pass it to me all the time in their ignorance, but it gives you the kind of inevitability you normally only get from a mythic rare. If you get to untap with this guy, chances are, the fort is going to be held... and it can prove to be a wild attacker as well.
D3nt3
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Try playing this with Doubling Season . Every time you make a pentavite you make 2, everytime you put a counter you put 2. A lot better then those adaptative combos.
I was just thinking about what would make a good top end for my deck with Mikaeus, the Lunarch, Parallel Lives, and Intangible Virtue, when I looked over and saw this guy sitting on top of the Tezzeret deck. Yes, I think he'll do just fine.
And I also apologize if this came off as a "combos with Parallel Lives" post. If you make a post like that you should not be allowed on the internet.
PrimordialMyr164
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Palladium Myr + 2x Myr Galvanizer + Pentavus + Parallel Lives. Activate infinite mana loop for infinite Pentavite tokens and an Infinite power/Infinite toughness Pentavus.
If you remove all counters from it, you can play Overrun OR Triumph of the Hordes and swing for EXACTLY lethal damage, assuming your opponent block any of your creatures.
Zakarath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love combining this guy with a Cauldron of Souls in EDH Give it persist, turn all its counters into tokens, then it comes back in as a 4/4 ready to do it all over again.
ajolt151
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have a deck with a couple of these and Experiment Kraj and Guilder Bairn...things can get pretty nuts :)
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You're a little late, buddy. Mirrodin already fell.
Add Cathars' Crusade as another way to break this. Simpler than many other methods too, and a bit easier on the wallet.
Singid25
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Try Pentavus + Conjurer's Closet. Then, for giggles, add Goldnight Commander. Every turn take four out, repeat next turn, then maybe take another 4 pentavites out and flicker 2 or three to get 8 of them up to 5/5, 6/6 flying.
Pongy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
pay , chump block target creature
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Really curious at what other creatures are like this and Triskelion. This "breaking apart" mechanic is really neat.
Kura-san
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is anyone else here thinking "Blink"?
Jerec_Onyx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
God, this is gross. When I first saw this, I thought, "Meh, it's flavorful." After looking into what this thing can do...nasty. But getting it out is a chore. Slip a few into a proliferate/counter deck for a rage quit at instant speed.
Vaxfantomen
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Highly reminds me of a Reaver from sc1
ZaisConsultant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ MyMintyHouse: If you attack with those, a marrow shards will kill them, or a sand storm. Now if you put down a warstorm surge...
Best single card in Purphoros, God of the Forge EDH, hands down. 2 mana = 2 damage for all opponents, at instant speed. Combine with Mana Echoes for infinite mana as well. I just love this guy.
Comments (44)
The card screams for proliferate which is already a cherished mechanic of mine so I'm hoping to have some good fun with this marvellous caterpillar of doom.
And hey, throw a Doubling Season out there, and you'll be amazed at how big he can get.
I'll name...Pentavite.
*laughs maniacally*
It takes a lot of mana to operate, though; it doesn't do much good to cheat it out, curving it out naturally leaves you the mana to run it. Therefore it'll find best use in a limited deck or in green decks with Doubling Season.
Even without combat damage using the stack, this is amongst the most powerful cards in M12 draft. I hate going against it.
Field: Necrotic Ooze
Grave: Pentavus; Grimgrin, Corpse-Born; Palladium Myr
I don't know. I still don't get it. Although I'm mildly tempted to do a Tempered Steel x4 Adaptive Automaton x4 Pentavus x4 deck just so I can say I did.
If you get to untap with this guy, chances are, the fort is going to be held... and it can prove to be a wild attacker as well.
And I also apologize if this came off as a "combos with Parallel Lives" post. If you make a post like that you should not be allowed on the internet.
Activate infinite mana loop for infinite Pentavite tokens and an Infinite power/Infinite toughness Pentavus.
Then, just for fun, throw in an Overwhelming Stampede.
Give it persist, turn all its counters into tokens, then it comes back in as a 4/4 ready to do it all over again.
Add Cathars' Crusade as another way to break this. Simpler than many other methods too, and a bit easier on the wallet.
If you attack with those, a marrow shards will kill them, or a sand storm. Now if you put down a warstorm surge...