So, the card is called Artful Dodge, shouldn't it give the creature shroud, not unblockable? Or give both, shroud and unblockable?
Crayzar
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(8 votes)
@Atogatogatog
I would guess an escaped lab experiment. There are plenty of those running around in Innistrad (Ludevic’s Test Subject, Delver of Secrets, anything that Laboratory Maniac's working on).
Anyway, excited for this card, since I didn't get to use Distortion Strike much back when Rise of the Eldrazi was current.
kanguilla
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(5 votes)
Its legs are gonna hurt in a moment.
Atogatogatog
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
This is one of my favorite cards from the set. I just don't understand the art. At all. What the heck is that thing, and what is it doing on innistrad?
@Crayzar
That's an awesome and flavorful idea. I hope we see some wacky experimental creatures in Avacyn Restored.
majinara
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Commander review: Making a Commander unblockable can be a game winner, regarding the Commander Damage rule. Still, it might be a better idea to add equipment such as whispersilk cloak, which not only make the Commander unblockable for as long as the equipment is around, but also gives it shroud. If you pay 5 mana for the equipment or 1 for this spell ain't much of a difference. 2/5
Cyberium
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Is that... a giant zombie frog? I thought Delver insect-humanoid was creepy enough.
NinaNinja
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Combo's well with g/u infect and livewire lash. I think in that regards better than Distortion Strike. Turn 1 Forest, Glistener Elf. Turn two Island, swing with elf (1p) and then play livewire lash. Turn 3 Island, tap f,i and equip then tap i play Dodge (3p) swing (4p). Turn 4 even if no land drop, tap i flashback dodge target elf, (6p) then Titanic Growth, Mutagenic Growth, or Spectral Flight GG. You can get a lot of poison in quick and it even meaner with blighted agent
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
TDL: exactly what I was thinking! xD
There was an episode of Arthur that for some reason threw in this Oliver Twist reference during one of his day dreams: "please sir, can I have some more?''
I decided to make a Magic Card based on Mr. Ratburn's response:
Some Oar-- 0
Legendarily Mundane Artifact- Equipment.
Equipped creature gets +0/+0. If equipped creature is a human, it is now an orphan. And hungry.
Equip 50
"Sure! There you can have Some Oar!"
Pseudolias
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Frankly, I think this may compare poorly with Defy Gravity; Even if there are alot of fliers in Innistrad block and it's limited environments and such, which makes unblockability nice against them, Defy Gravity could at least be used to make a blocker fly. This can't, not just because it's a sorcery, although you would rarely want to make something unblockable at instant speed ("Must block if able effects" aside, which I think there is only about two of in Innistrad block anyway: Hinterland Scourge, and Deadly Allure.), this also makes something unblockable, so it can't be used to give you a flying blocker chump or otherwise, unlike Defy Gravity. And for that, I am disappointed.
RAV0004
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
As far as Distortion Strike is concerned, here's the deal:
in favor of DS: -Increases damage output (+1/+0) -U for two swings
In favor of AD: -can cast second whenever you feel like it (as opposed to next turn upkeep) -can cast from graveyard, in case blue has drawn you too many cards and you have to discard
Binaro
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Yes! Blue unblockability! Just what I've been waiting for ever since the disappearance of the Zendikar block!
One of my favorite commons from the set. Literally won me two games during the prerelease, and I managed to get two in my sealed pool. Very underrated imo. Also, as some people have mentioned, works great in G/U infect with Glistener Elf and a bunch of cheap pump spells like Titanic Growth and Mutagenic Growth and, while we're at it, Runechanter's Pike for that extra damage. Great limited trick, especially when your opponent forgets it's in your graveyard.
Goatllama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What in Griselbrand's name IS that? Whatever it is, it is awesome and I think it knows it.
dberry02
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Infect Deck, I choose you!
MagnaLynx21
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@NoobOfLore Distortion Strike is indeed better in infect. However, if like me you run a Livewire Lash fuel'd build, it pretty much does the same job, plus with the flashback, you get to use eight of them. It wins games out of nowhere!
Seifer447
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Balefire Dragon for the win. Seriously, this card can put bring more pain than basically anything else. 5/5 for a cheap cost and great with flashback.
Niner9
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I think the flavor is fine...I'd *** my pants if I saw that in a back alley and I don't know about you guys but I think pants ***ing fits the definition of horror.
Russian.Thunder
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ha! I love the little D&D references they put in their cards.
joker53
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd not be surprised it saw some constructed play along with Geist of Saint Traft. It gives you almost 16 evasion damage amongst 3 turns. NOT bad.
This and Charmbreaker Devils... oh boy. We're looking at 16 damage over two turns. Or, if you want to be cute, flashback it on another creature and swing for 8 and whatever else. And if you happen to have Burning Vengeance out?
Enemy_Tricolor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Distortion Strike is rated almost a full star better than this. I guess people must think it's somehow cooler to appear out of some crazy rift in reality to strike your foes than it is to stab someone and then Super Mario your way down a sewer grate.
...they may have a point.
destroytargetplayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ghoultree is extremely lethal with this, especially if you mill yourself a good number of creatures and a couple of these into your graveyard early on.
Dragonmaster3.0
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!?!
somegeek
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turns two Kiln Fiends into unblockable 7/2s for . Add in a Double Cleave to swing for 10 + 20 unblockable.
PushyCarrot
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think this card is fun to put on your GoST just to sneak him in past all the current standard blockers. Yes, he's no SoWaP or Angelic Destiny, but by the time those come out, I can cast this multiple times from hand and/or GY to sneak my Geist past blockers that would normally kill him, meaning my Angel token can potentially smash for many beats as can the geist himself. Two mana to cast him once from hand and then with flashback to ensure the opportunity to deliver 4 unblock-able damage and potentially 8 more flying, sign me up.
Ferlord
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Is the card name a reference to Oliver Twist?
Because if it is... that'd be pretty classy.
(BTW, A character in the play is named Artful Dodger)
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run this in my casual RUG Burning Vengeance to give my flashback-borne squirrels a little more oomph.
Comments (44)
I would guess an escaped lab experiment. There are plenty of those running around in Innistrad (Ludevic’s Test Subject, Delver of Secrets, anything that Laboratory Maniac's working on).
Anyway, excited for this card, since I didn't get to use Distortion Strike much back when Rise of the Eldrazi was current.
@Crayzar
That's an awesome and flavorful idea. I hope we see some wacky experimental creatures in Avacyn Restored.
2/5
There was an episode of Arthur that for some reason threw in this Oliver Twist reference
during one of his day dreams:
"please sir, can I have some more?''
I decided to make a Magic Card based on Mr. Ratburn's response:
Some Oar-- 0
Legendarily Mundane Artifact- Equipment.
Equipped creature gets +0/+0. If equipped creature
is a human, it is now an orphan. And hungry.
Equip 50
"Sure! There you can have Some Oar!"
in favor of DS:
-Increases damage output (+1/+0)
-U for two swings
In favor of AD:
-can cast second whenever you feel like it (as opposed to next turn upkeep)
-can cast from graveyard, in case blue has drawn you too many cards and you have to discard
@NinaNinja
You forgot Livewire Lash gives +2/+0 and that makes Glistener Elf a 3/1 so it goes:
t1 forest glistener elf
t2 island attack (1) livewire lash
t3 forest equip artful dodge (3) attack (6)
t4 artful dodge (8) attack (11) win
Also Blighted Agent is already unblockable, so you might as well use practically any 1 mana pump spell.
"Target opponent loses 3-5 life. Rebound"
Distortion Strike is indeed better in infect.
However, if like me you run a Livewire Lash fuel'd build, it pretty much does the same job, plus with the flashback, you get to use eight of them. It wins games out of nowhere!
Standard: ... Good enough
Extended: ... Maybe
Modern: ... lol
Legacy: ... lol
Vintage: ... lol
3/5
...they may have a point.
Because if it is... that'd be pretty classy.
(BTW, A character in the play is named Artful Dodger)
Artful Dodge (Not the Dark Ascension one) {U}
Target creature loses all artists until end of turn.
Flashback {U}