Removal: It is not quite about the removal spell as much as it is the player who has it.
Hmmm...... what did I draw this turn? (Reiver Demon) Nope. Can't play it. (Looks at other cards in hand: Death Denied, Infernal Contract, Doom Blade, and a Skeletal Vampire. Five mana and a couple of shades on the board) Hmmmmm..... geez, what can I do? I'll lose 8 life if I play that card; I need more mana for these..... I guess I can afford that Doom Blade. Is there something I can kill? What does my opponent have over there? Who is that? (Picks up opponent's creature)Inner-Flame Acolyte? Ok, I'll do that. (Taps two mana, speaks to opponent) I'll Doom Blade that guy. (The opponent responds by sacrificing the Inner-Flame Acolyte to his Fodder Cannon, killing a shade) Ok, whatever. I'll attack you for 4 damage, flying. Ok, I'm done. (The opponent's turn consist of him playing Kamahl, Pit Fighter and killing the other shade with it) He does WHAT?? Geez, that's stupid. Hmmm....... this is bad......
TheWrathofShane
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If its my only removal option, ide gladly run 4. Remeber what eddition it was in, good for starters.
kiriyama9000
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
That is the meanest artwork there is.
Opined_Fluke
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It has always been important to wizards to make sure Black has enough removal variants to make a Commander deck out of nothing but, just to troll people.
bparx
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Actually, Doom Blade is not strictly better, if you need higher mana-cost cards for some effect or ability.
luca_barelli
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Yeah, it is. Strictly better means it does the exact same thing as another card, only cheaper/with an added effect.
Enemy_Tricolor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Worse than Doom Blade, but worth it just to be able to cast something called "Hand of Death".
greatspearman
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@bparx: “Strictly better” means that one card is in all situations, within reason, better than another. Situations in which the higher converted mana cost is more likely to help you than hurt you are definitively out of reason, especially with this card. A card like Scornful Egotist, on the other hand, is specifically designed to interact with cards that care about high mana cost and is considered thusly.
Doom Blade is strictly better, end of story.
Symos404
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I remember watching the Starter tape. The main instructor (played by Pat Cashman) stated this was his favourite card. Then I got 7th Ed's Dark Banishing. Same mana cost, Same effect plus regen killer, but was also an instant. These days any who started with this card should just use Doom Blade.
Comments (13)
Hmmm...... what did I draw this turn? (Reiver Demon) Nope. Can't play it.
(Looks at other cards in hand: Death Denied, Infernal Contract, Doom Blade, and a Skeletal Vampire. Five mana and a couple of shades on the board)
Hmmmmm..... geez, what can I do? I'll lose 8 life if I play that card; I need more mana for these..... I guess I can afford that Doom Blade. Is there something I can kill? What does my opponent have over there? Who is that? (Picks up opponent's creature) Inner-Flame Acolyte? Ok, I'll do that. (Taps two mana, speaks to opponent) I'll Doom Blade that guy.
(The opponent responds by sacrificing the Inner-Flame Acolyte to his Fodder Cannon, killing a shade)
Ok, whatever. I'll attack you for 4 damage, flying. Ok, I'm done.
(The opponent's turn consist of him playing Kamahl, Pit Fighter and killing the other shade with it)
He does WHAT?? Geez, that's stupid. Hmmm....... this is bad......
Doom Blade is strictly better, end of story.