It's like a more limited bloodghast in almost every way that may hurt more but comes into play too late to see noticeable swamp action.
Must be meant to be used in a discard outlet. That is the only good use i can see for him outside of limited.
MisterAction
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
Looks like somebody slept through Innistrad...
ZEvilMustache
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Finally, this effect in an uncommon. Cheap enough to build around.
LordTaco
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I really need to find a way to break this card in so many ways in standard, modern is easy to burst this into action, but standard...yeah you can see how this makes any Johnny want to find a way to bring him out on turn 2-3. :D
LegoLeonidas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@mode I may be wrong, but i think you misread Toymaker's ability. I believe the artifact has p/t equal to it's own casting cost, not the discarded card's casting cost.
Virde
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use this in my Mono Black Control atm. Blowing the board up with Mutilate, play a swamp and recasting him always puts me at a large advantage over my opponent. It's also a nice discard outlet for Innistrad Liliana.
I do wish he was 1 CMC less with maybe a loss in power, but oh well.
NuckChorris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wow, looks like Gravecrawler really let himself go.
Since it does have four power and a CMC of 5, it might be preferable as a discard outlet for some particular effects that count that in. There aren't that many right now, though: Cragganwick Cremator or Kindle the Carnage allows only random discard. In the case of Knollspine Invocation, i'd rather go with Squee. He might be preferable (or go in cojunction with him) if you play Pyromancy - which again, is random discard, but activated and therefore not so random after all... Spellbound Dragon is more convincing, although if you're playing three colors getting swamps will be hard. For the same reason i wouldn't even consider Dralnu's Pet.
*Edit: @LegoLeonidas: Oops, you're right about that. Geez, I should have figured myself that he simply creates your average "animate artifact"-effect. On top of that he's a spellshaper, so it was also likely that he replicates an instant or sorcery, in this case Karn's Touch :P
Lotsofpoopy
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This guy just will not stay dead! He will almost always return to my hand and I will always cast him because I am a pro.
This is not intended to be used as a creature. Being a creature just gives it other benefits.
Its primary use is to feed discard costs, which it does very well. Others have mentioned Lotleth Troll and Pack Rat, but it's also one of the best ways to use Sphinx of the Chimes.
Splizer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kinda cool with Extort in casual, though Gravecrawler does it better in a more zombie-riffic shell. With Crypt Ghast around it's not too tight on mana and swinging for 4 all the time is a bit of a pain for your opponent.
Comments (16)
still not a good card though
Must be meant to be used in a discard outlet. That is the only good use i can see for him outside of limited.
I may be wrong, but i think you misread Toymaker's ability. I believe the artifact has p/t equal to it's own casting cost, not the discarded card's casting cost.
I do wish he was 1 CMC less with maybe a loss in power, but oh well.
Since it does have four power and a CMC of 5, it might be preferable as a discard outlet for some particular effects that count that in.
There aren't that many right now, though: Cragganwick Cremator or Kindle the Carnage allows only random discard.
In the case of Knollspine Invocation, i'd rather go with Squee. He might be preferable (or go in cojunction with him) if you play Pyromancy - which again, is random discard, but activated and therefore not so random after all...
Spellbound Dragon is more convincing, although if you're playing three colors getting swamps will be hard. For the same reason i wouldn't even consider Dralnu's Pet.
Volrath the Fallen is pretty nice with him in a monoblack deck i guess.
And Toymaker looks like a pretty nice choice actually*.
Turn your Chromatic Star or Darksteel Citadel into a 5/5? Sure, why not.
This edition's new Liliana works nice to ensure his trigger, too.
*Edit:
@LegoLeonidas: Oops, you're right about that.
Geez, I should have figured myself that he simply creates your average "animate artifact"-effect. On top of that he's a spellshaper, so it was also likely that he replicates an instant or sorcery, in this case Karn's Touch :P
Its primary use is to feed discard costs, which it does very well. Others have mentioned Lotleth Troll and Pack Rat, but it's also one of the best ways to use Sphinx of the Chimes.