Cycle of lyfe appeared on spot #85 of Ben Bleiweiss's list of the 100 worst Magic Cards ever, perhaps unrightly so, in which he also suggested a "fix" to it that totally obliterated any of its usefulness. Rares from pre-weatherlight sets seem pretty bad nowadays, as they almost always featured a "play around me" quirk that usually became a nail on the coffin of the card. This was specially true on Mirage, which is now remembered more for the quality of its commons than its rares. The trick with this card was that by returning the enchantment to your hand, you could recast it many times over the same creature, giving it a +1/+1 counter for each activation, which on yesteryear's powerful mana engines meant three or four counters every turn. The returning cost also made the enchantment unkillable save for discard and countermagic, and also had nice sinergy with cards like Verduran Enchantress or Titania's Chosen. The last trick with this card is to use it with 0/0 creatures, such as Spike Feeder, Spike Weaver, or Mindless automaton, which actually gain toughness in the process, while also making a very good use of the extra counters.
BrilliantIdiot
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I was gonna boast about my use of it, but Dr.Jones just about covered everything I've figured on it.
ThatGeek
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Protean Hydra. This card is a near sure fire to make that invincible as it's toughness granting effect is very hard to counter and can't be destroyed later, the way it is designed they won't expect it and you get a damage invincible creature.
Shoe2
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
does almost nothing, but it sure does it over and over again...pretty bad, but I guess it helps storm combo
Goatllama
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Probably the cutest freaking fairy on a card ever.
Cyberium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Art by Chippy. Look at how time has changed, his skill improved significantly. Although I do enjoy the simpler lining of this picture.
tavaritz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The way I see it is, that using this on the creature you just summoned seals it's fate. It's frieking 0/1 during my whole turn.
NeoKoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Guys, just bounce it at the beginning of your opponents end step.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fun with Graft creatures. May find use as a 1 or 2 off in my graft/proliferate deck (as it sometimes generates heinous amounts of mana)
Comments (11)
The trick with this card was that by returning the enchantment to your hand, you could recast it many times over the same creature, giving it a +1/+1 counter for each activation, which on yesteryear's powerful mana engines meant three or four counters every turn. The returning cost also made the enchantment unkillable save for discard and countermagic, and also had nice sinergy with cards like Verduran Enchantress or Titania's Chosen.
The last trick with this card is to use it with 0/0 creatures, such as Spike Feeder, Spike Weaver, or Mindless automaton, which actually gain toughness in the process, while also making a very good use of the extra counters.
This card is a near sure fire to make that invincible as it's toughness granting effect is very hard to counter and can't be destroyed later, the way it is designed they won't expect it and you get a damage invincible creature.
Too bad it's about to get f**king devoured.