Pointed Discussion

If only it had intimidate instead of hexproof.

He'd be great with some evasion. I'll just pair him with a Wingcrafter and- dangit.

If only he were more evasive, or could have the effect if he's not alone.

You can give him what he needs with artifact equipments, and there are plenty of ways to make sure his ability goes off through bouncing. If you're running blue black control and your opponent can block, you're doing it wrong.

Hell, throw a killing wave down before attacking.

Could be powerful - maybe in a counterburn deck which mostly relies on instants and sorceries to control the field and keep big fellas off it. But Cavern of Souls kind of neuters that strategy.

As a flavor concerned player, I am disappointed. I absolutely love the flavor of a loner figure, a creature who prefers doing things it's own way (as opposed to hanging out with say, the other creatures I've casted). Why does a lack of friends make something stronger? ***cidal seclusion makes sense, because the creature benefitting from it is crazy. Demonic Uprising makes sense, because your creature is desperate and needs help, even demonic help.

But the Revenant (which is actually a re-animated corpse in traditional mythology, not a spirit) isn't crazy, it's solitary. Just because something is solitary does not mean it's physically hurt when near others.

The card would have been way better mechanically, and made way more sense flavorfully, if it triggered when it attacked alone.

@ RAV0004

About your last sentence (it attacking alone), I thought about that as well, but then they already have a mechanic like that (Exalted).

I think they were really going for a "last man standing" vibe for AVR. These scorned, hunted Spirits really just want to be left alone.

Does anyone else think it might actually be really interesting to try a deck that puts Soulbond and 'loner' together to create 2-man teams at a time?

"If you kill my Soulbond guy, my loner turns on. If you kill my loner, my Soulbond sticks around to bond with another loner or Soulbond. If you leave them alone, they will take you down because your leaving 2 Soulbonded creatures alone."

At first that doesn't sound too viable right? What about if the Soulbond creature I had in mind was Wolfir Silverheart though? eh? I really think the concept has cool potential for supporting the loners in a way that doesn't involve leaving you vulnerable to the weakness of deliberately trying to kill your own guys.

Other than that, the biggest thing I can think of for loner: the non-creature Exalt support. Finest Hour anyone? Angelic Benediction?

Bruna + ton of Auras + Aura swap them onto your loner, + sac Bruna?

These loners offer real challenges to deckbuilding that the 'crazy' Johnny cards actually don't- obviously critical massing on crazy is a great way to cause enough chaos to make people forfeit to you, but 'breaking' loner requires real tactical skill...

I think this guy could be really good in an Esper build with Divine Reckoning and Geth's verdict.

THis card sucks
So you sacced all your creatures to get this guy alone?
Geth what's your Geth's Verdict on this?

Put on a Predator's Gambit, and he works great.

Great, an ophidian/curiosity/magpie type ability only replaced by impulse.

@RAV0004 Good point. I never really thought about the flavor more than "It likes to be lonely". As a vorthos/flavor play I am pretty disappointed in myself. Then, look at that art and name. My best guess it that if it is the only thing you have around you focus on it more. You watch it evade the enemy's defences/drift across the smoking crater that is left after your Killing Wave/ whatever. In watching its movements and ability you gain insight. Perhaps it also benefits from the solitude in such a way that it can focus and sent some of that thought your way. In this case it is not the "I am alone. Uh oh, better get buff" or the "There are dudes around. Well better shrivel and die then." sort of thing. It is less physical, in the silence of solitude you (and the Revenant) can think and in magic thinking is related to card drawing (expanding your mind). That is my best guess anyway.

insanely good in control which tends to use 1 beatstick anyway. With swords, this guy basically becomes unstoppable. He basically has to get chumped. Plus control is always against a clock so it needs him to wing the creature removal or other board wipes.

I just want to fly, put your arms around me baby.

put your arms around me baby.

I'm running a deck using this guy, divine reckoning, Gideon, and artful dodge. Gideon helps the revenant push thru in the event that I don't see the dodge.

Slap a Rancor on him and go to town.

The concept of this guy is awesome. I seriously love the name, the art, and the flavor. It's just difficult to get him to, you know, do his thing.

I'd really love some flavor text on him too.

I really like this guy. The flavor attached to him is awesome; so awesome that he doesn't even need flavor text. The effect seems rather clumsy at first, but I've been siding him in for Dungeon Geists in my Esper Spirit-Control deck and he works wonders. With Ponder gone, this dude really gives the control player some... well, control. Drop a Supreme Verdict or other board wipe, then drop this guy to recuperate any losses on your side. Plus, at the very least he's a 4/4 with Hexproof that can sneak some damage in on an opponent or make a decent trade.

I've also been thinking about making a deck that runs this guy and Hands of Binding to force him through. With Hexproof, he's automatically a good Cipher target. A very under appreciated card.

So all these evil spirits are being hunted by humanity, so why does he have a staff with Avacyn's symbol on it.

Run with Aqueous Form, unblockable ultra-scry.

Works great with Thassa, God of the Sea.