Dodges most removal in the current standard metagame. Dreadbore? Don't think so. Ultimate Price? Try again. Searing Spear? Better have two. it drains your opponent for 4 life before he even swings after the turn it comes into play. Will probably plenty of play
That aside, this card is horribly, ridiculously and infuriatingly pushed when Gruul gets almost nothing good.
Morrinkt
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(28 votes)
"Yes yes. Good planeswalker. Spend all your money to buy me. We'll take care of the rest, don't you worry."
BongRipper420
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
This is my favorite card in the set. It's simply miles ahead of the original Ghost Council of Orzhov, and I'm glad. Orzhov deserves this. 5/5
RiftenBlack
★★☆☆☆ (2.6/5.0)(4 votes)
This card is rediculous. 5/5
It may have trouble finding a home in standard, but it'll be seen at some point. Outside of standard, hell yeah.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(21 votes)
*That awkward moment when both players can use Obzedat
Temeshi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy runs wonderfully in an Esper control deck. You just stick him and sit back as you control your opponent, watching as they slowly lose a grip on the game as he keeps coming back to deal dmg and heal you. I've played around with him and find a good combo in standard with Vizkopa Guildmage's second ability and Rhox Faithmender.
On turn five have both the guildmage and faithmender out so when you play Obzedat you gain 4 life and your opponent loses 2 life. Then exile him during your endstep. Next upkeep use the guildmage's second ability to make your opponent lose life equal to the life you gain. So when he comes back in, you gain another 4 and your opponent loses a total of 6. Meaning So far, on turn 6 you have healed 8 and your opponent has lost 8. BUT WAIT! There's more. Assuming you hit your 6th land drop, use the guildmage's first ability to give your Obzedat lifelink. Since he has haste, if you want, you can swing with him, making your opponent lose at least another 5 life and you gain another 5 life. Assuming he was blocked, that's a total of 13 life gained and 13 life dealt on turn six, not including if you decide to swing with faithmender for another+2/-2. Then you just rinse and repeat.
Not only that, but in an esper deck there will be times you want to boardwipe, aka Supreme Verdict. So how do you save your Obzedat? Easy, Magic gave us yet another card that synergizes perfectly with Obzedat, Orzhov Charm. Just use it to bounce him back to your hand and then play him after the board is cleared. There is just so much synergy its stupid.
Anyway love this guy, 5/5
TheKazu
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
On the bright side, at least it isn't blue like its fellow nearly-unkillable underpriced beatstick, Geist of Saint Traft.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's like comparing Dracogenius to Firemind: Less combo-licious than the old version, but more powerful on its own. In this case, though, I think I like the new one more.
Loyalty isn't as important as coins, this card illustrate that :) Buying expensive cards never feel so 'right' in flavor when they are Orzhov.
I like the previous Ghost Council better though, because it could dodge destruction spells much better than Obzedat could.
rollinsclone
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Dodges nearly all of the format's playable removal and sucks the life out of your opponent while it does it. And it's a 5/5? This is going to be a royal pain in the @$$ to play against.
Smoke_Stack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
SOOOO GOOOOD!! Gonna wait till the price drops a bit before I go out and snag one but I'm definitely building a deck around it. 5/5
Purplerooster
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I love how the blinking abilities matches up flavorfully to something a ghost might have. And does this remind anybody else of Jasper for some reason?
mpitcock
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
One of my favorite GTC cards and favorite RTR/GTC guild leader. WAY better than original.
5/5
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(35 votes)
You know, I keep thinking I'll one day run out Disney Songs to post on Mythics. Now, I'm not so sure xD Can't believe a solo can be turned into a choir so easily for this one, btw. o.O
Vuliev (a formal, professional, dead voice): I Admit that in the past We've been a Nasty 3:D They weren't kidding when they called us, well, a lich :P But You'll find that nowadays :D We've mended all our ways O:) Repented, seen the Light, and made a Switch! To. This. -_-
Enezesku (kinda high pitched and..skeezy?): And I Fortune-ately know a little MAGIC; >;) It's a talent that we *always* have possessed! :D And Dear Lady, please-don't-laugh (!) I use-it-on-behalf :) Of the mis'rable, the lonely, and dep'ressed! O:'( (pathetic) >:(
Xil Xaxosz: POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOULS! (he's got the deepest voice) In pain, in need This one longing to be thinner! :/ That one Wants to Get the Girl! /: And do We help them? *Yes, indeed* (for a price)
Xil Xaxosz and Vuliev: Those POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOULS So SAD, so TRUE! They come flocking to my cauldron Crying, "Spells, Obzedat, please!" :O :O :O And We Help Them! Yes WE do >:3
Karlov (Da Bowse): Now it's happened-once-or-twice... Someone couldn't. pay. the. price!... And we're afraid! :( We've had to rake 'em 'cross the COALS :| (smallest. violin. ever. imagine it.) Yes we've had the odd complaint :/ (funny, they all were sent in "late") But on the whole We've been a Saint O:) To those Xil Xaxosz and Enezesku: POOR! UN-FORTUNE-ATE! SOULS! 3>)
Karlov: Come On You! >:o Vuliev and Karlov: POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOUL! Go Ahead! Make your Choice! 3>:D We're a very busy Parun and We Haven't Got All Day! :( It won't cost much! It's Your Choice! You
OBZEDAT, THE GHOST COUNCIL OF ORZHOVA: "POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE (unFORTuneATE!echo/counterpoint...)SOULS!!!"
IT'S SAD- BUT TRUE! If-you-want-to-cross-the-bridge-my-sweet, You've-Got-To-Pay-The-Toll Take a gulp! and Take a breath! And go ahead and Sign the Scroll! THE BOSSES'RE ON A ROLL! THIS! POOR! UN! FORRRTUN-AAAATE! SOOOOOUL!!!!!! (is mine 3>)
jimbob123432
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Amazing card!
Also, @DarthParallax: that may have been the single greatest thing I've ever read on a gatherer page. I would totally see that movie.
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well, I like that he causes a guaranteed 4 life swing a turn, or if he attacks and connects, a 9 life swing. He is also immune to any sort of sorcery speed removal.
But I like the old ghost council more. The old one can dodge any sort of removal, flee combat step tricks, run away before you cast mass removal, munch up your creatures when opponents would steal them, trigger "on dying" effects and much more.
zeeehmtee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Hurray, Esper gets a Thragtusk of its own =
Marzen64
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(5 votes)
This unbelievably lucky pull is the only reason I got to the final round undefeated in the prerelease. Every single win I had was because of it, too.
Definite 5/5.
RDorothy
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
i got one of these at the gatecrash prerelease! :p i like how it dodges creature removal in the form of sorcery and enchantment. if your opponent wants to rid of him, they have to target it with instants. which means, obzedat is resistant to 50% of removal spells. he comes back to suck your opponent's life and can even attack too, with its 5/5 haste body.
Torquebacklash
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm envision a deck with him, Cloudshift, and undying evil, extorting these 1 drops and bouncing Obzedat as the match goes. Even if there are two extorting effects in play, that 4 life yanked for 3 mana on a whim. assuming they are spending cards and mana to try and kill him. very nice card.
wholelottalove
★★☆☆☆ (2.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Original was better because it featured control. This version is just stupid.
oldtimer96
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(9 votes)
Obzadi, Obzadat, death goes on, brah La la, how the death goes on
The_Evictee
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(5 votes)
@ DarthParallax
you have to tell that to my former landlords!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD
DacenOctavio
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(7 votes)
At least he's not Geist of Saint Traft. That takes an infinitesimal amount of skill to abuse. "Hurr durr, I'll enchant it and kill you."
ZEvilMustache
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This, of all the guild leaders, SHOULD cast 25$. It fits the Orzhov flavor perfectly.
CaptainNinJoe
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(5 votes)
Besides it being an all-around awesome card, I love the flavor of you and your opponent playing it. Instead of just vanishing, Obzedat goes to the player with the turn - they go to the highest bidder. LOVE IT. My inner Vorthos is pleased.
Does this work as a Commander, by "work" I mean will the ability allow it to come back? Or will it get stuck in the commander zone when it gets exiled? Or will it go to commander zone till it comes back the next turn?
Superllama12
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(5 votes)
@Gcrudaplaneswalker: Yes, of course! This is Orzhov, they'll do anything, even double cross, if there's money involved!
AncientTimer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ridiculous piece of power creep in "flesh". 6/5 for power, 1/5 for extremely power creeped design. 3/5. No more of this, please.
aznxknightz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For some utterly strange reason, after Chinese New Year has passed, I keep thinking to myself that the ghost on left is performing the "Gung Hay Fat Choy" hand gesture.
Another card that proves that just because it's Mythic, they can make it better. Apparently Ghost Council of Orzhova was just too restrictive and hard to use, so they put out this that does it all for you. Enjoy your cards while they last.
GabrielChan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When your opponent tries to exile Obzedat, could you stack on top with a kill spell to stop it from being exiled?
7 damage and 2 lifegain every turn, as well as triggering "enter the battlefield" effects every turn...FOR FIVE MANA. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Pyroedge-keen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@osprey_93 it would protect him from the removal but he would not disappear for your opponents turn. Sundial immediately ends the turn skipping every remaining step including your end step. And then your open to alot more removal.
And yeah he can dodge a decent amount of removal but executioner swing or smite work just fine if he attacks.
Drukai
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Yay powercreep!
masterpierround
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wait a minute, what if the game ends between the end step and my next turn? Do I get it in my next game?
Lifegainwithbite
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
@nolhavent: In case you haven't noticed, very few cards take skill to play. The skill is in deck-building and making combos within those decks. Playing those combos requires little skill. Building a deck around this or any other card requires skill (at least to make it tournament playable).
ParallaxtheRevan
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
@TheKazu- thanks for the idea, I'm going to make a Ghosts of Christmas Future deck with Geist of Saint Traft and Obzedat :D And for the lolz, that Drogskol Captain And Drogskol Riever (Baneslayer Geist). Should be fun! :)
TheBringer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
So why is this five mana?
trulez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You can use Goryo's Vengeance to bring it back if it ever hits your GY.
Eskimole
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
ObzeDAT ASS
heavyterror
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I prefer reveillark at my 5 slot in these colors. Obzedat is too much mana and I have been caught off guard too many times by a hypersonic dragon or fervor-boosted wolfir silverheart. When the haste hits, having a 5/5 blocker in exile just adds insult to injury. With the advent of dragon's maze in standard, I'll definitely take the blood baron of viskopa.
@Continue It's actually a really common nickname for it.
GhostCounselor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is one of the few cards in standard that, outside of Thragtusk, everyone who you play it against will want to punch you in the face. Hands down the best of the RTR bloc guild leaders. This causes unbelievable headaches, is incredibly abusable with cards from its own guild and cards from other guilds, and is incredibly difficult to deal with. Also, the flavor of the card is perfect. Near zero complaints about it.
patronofthesound
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Orzhov is black white, a neutral entity. I realize magic used the dnd alignment of lawful evil as the basis for the guild's flavor, corresponding to the natures of black and white.
On a separate note, i noticed how obvious it is that blue is the best color in magic. The reason is upheaval and that 7/7 phasing monstrosity. Im not even sure if im sarcastic or not
ekann123
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The fun of turning their obzedat into a frog lizard with Rapid Hybridiaztion.
I played against one of these at the Dragon's Maze prerelease. Why do some people get so lucky?? D:
Cool new version for the ghost council, but the old one dodged things better. I like the epicly delayed flicker though. It is like they vanish after they come at you into the walls or underground or even into thin air. Then they suddenly reappear to come at you again. Very fitting flavour. I love it.
However, they kind of pushed this guy, and he doesn't offer much to the player using it. It's just a big beat stick that drains life and avoids sorcery speed removal. It's good, but uninteresting in terms of gameplay.
So 4/5.
NoIHavent
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is fantastic. It's fast, powerful, efficient, and dumb. Really. Really. Dumb. Not as in "it's stupid because it's power-crept." but as in "it takes such an abyssmally small amount of skill to play." It's almost insulting to me as a player, when compared to the original, how little decision-making this card has. But at the same time, I love me some B/W. 2/5 for being skill-less, 5/5 for power. So I'll give it a composite 4/5.
@Lifegainwithbenefits
I understand a lot of cards aren't skill testing, and they shouldn't all be. You need some cards that don't punish misplays that much. I understand that deck construction is much more difficult than playing a card. My point was just this: compared to the original, which gave you all kinds of options and synergies, this is just a control finisher, and I believe that makes it much less interesting. You don't build your deck around it to the same extent, you can't do unexpected things with it, really. That's all, it's just a less interesting card than the original.
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Would exiling himself in commander put him in the command zone? So much for Obzedat edh... Teysa?
GCAcul
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Lord_of_Gelectrodes
EDH exile replacement effect to the command zone is optional.
Modernloki21
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I like how everyone is discussing how expensive this is....well I'm the lucky SOB who got this in a booster pack and it is the crown freaking jewel of my Orzhov deck. It's a 5/5 for only 5 mana in a white/black deck which is already unheard of, BUT THATS NOT ALL! It allows you to use this amazing card in life gain/drain deck by giving you in edge before it even attacks anything! Combine that with the fact that I give it Gift of Orzhova or just plain lifelink and it is an absolute powerhouse.
Umbric
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Was great when it first came out, beyond strong in standard, now they printed Hero's downfall and Dark Betrayal. Still a great card I give it a 4/5
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This might not be a target as powerful as Griselbrand with Goryo's Vengeance, but it's still awesome since Obzedat's ability nullifies the reanimation drawback: Drain 2 life. Hit for 5. repeat for every subsequent turn.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its immune to all sorcery removal if you use the ability. Not only that its putting the opponent on a nasty clock and gaining you life.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turns out that if you use Whip of Erebos to bring Obzedat back, they can exile themselves and come back. It's exactly the same logic as Unearth. In that sense, this card can become practically immortal, provided you're not playing against Putrefy or Hero's Downfall.
Volcach_Wildfire
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So when it says you may exile him at the beginning of your end step can you exile him from your graveyard to return him to the battlefield?
orzhov20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Blind obedience makes there be more decisions. Used that to annoy my opponent once when he played this. Still lost.
manaderp
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Volcach_Wildfire: No. If you want perhaps too much explanation as to why, keep reading.
Most abilities only work from the battlefield. The main exceptions are abilities that implicitly (eg. Tymaret, the Murder King's last ability) or explicitly (eg. scavenge) work from another zone, in which case they only work in those zone(s). There are also characteristic-defining abilities, which unconditionally set some characteristic of the card, which work from every zone. (Otherwise you could end up with nonsense like an undefined number of +1/+1 counters if you scavenge a Pack Rat via Varolz, the Scar-Striped.) Obzedat's ability works just fine from the battlefield, doesn't explicitly say it works elsewhere, and doesn't set characteristics, so it only works on the battlefield.
OstravaBoletaria
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@modemloki21 You use enchantments on a creature that will regularly leave the battlefield? Okay... Also, 5/5s for 5 mana are definitely not unheard of in white/black. A simple search of: OR white OR black CMC less than or equal to 5 Power greater than or equal to 5 Toughness greater than or equal to 5
reveals a total of 39 cards...
EDIT: Also, i just realised, even if the auras stayed on Obzedat in exile, they wouldn't do anything, since he isn't dealing any damage, just making an opponent lose life. I think gatherer is censoring my comment or something... The inequality symbols keep disappearing.
Pongdok
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I always feel cheated when cards lack flavour text. This isn't busted the way that many mythics tend to be. It's good, swinging the life total for four every turn without any real effort, but it doesn't feel like you're cheating. I would have liked something a bit more interactive out of this. The Orzhov seem to like meddling, but one of their big bosses just sort of hangs around sucking a couple of life every turn? (Taxes?) I don't know. Maybe I expect too much. Still pretty decent, but apparently way overvalued ($). 4/5
Stig1t2Me
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So if someone gains control of Obzedat, choosing to carry out its second effect is not very practical for the player that gains control of it. As a result, this creature is quite resistant to theft. I like that a lot. As far the rest of the words, symbols, and numbers on the card are concerned, its mana cost is fair for the power, toughness, and effect, though a cmc of 5 is strange for a guildlord. The life sapping could be better; maybe something more like Agent of Masks. As an Orzhov ultimate or EDH captain, I think I'll stick with Teysa, Orzhov Scion or Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, but otherwise, Obzedat is pretty good. 4/5.
Ace1989
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Last night I hosted a magic tournament with my friends and neighbors. It was a double elimination style tournament with 8 contestants including myself and this stupid card won it for me. The guy I played in the finals had a control deck like mine and he quickly beat me 2-0 in the quarter finals of the winners bracket and made it all the way to the finals undefeated automatically giving him one win advantage. It didn't look good for me, but lady luck was on my side! Ended up giving him some of his own medicine and beat him 3 times in a row. Goes without saying this card is stupid powerful and ***es off your opponents because there is very little they can do stop it.
The_AC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It took me half a year to figure out that this guy doesn't have flying.
+2 life a turn for you with a contrasting effect to your opponent. The blink mechanic was integrated so beautifully.
Haste makes this a 5/5. The cost and effectiveness of this Mythic Rare is most exemplary.
Vastator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Obzedat is pretty much untouchable and very very brutal (Mind you there are ways of removing him) but its hilarious seeing what this sadistic thing can do. ----- It's very psychological grinding down your opponent knowing that there are ways of cheating him in really early and that realistically there's not much they can do about it once it hits the field.
Just seeing their life bleed away is itself a pretty valuable weapon of war.
It is a satisfying sensation indeed watching them squirm.
And they say that you are who you associate with. Their counseling seems to be rubbing off on me ...
Comments (80)
That aside, this card is horribly, ridiculously and infuriatingly pushed when Gruul gets almost nothing good.
It may have trouble finding a home in standard, but it'll be seen at some point. Outside of standard, hell yeah.
On turn five have both the guildmage and faithmender out so when you play Obzedat you gain 4 life and your opponent loses 2 life. Then exile him during your endstep. Next upkeep use the guildmage's second ability to make your opponent lose life equal to the life you gain. So when he comes back in, you gain another 4 and your opponent loses a total of 6. Meaning So far, on turn 6 you have healed 8 and your opponent has lost 8.
BUT WAIT! There's more. Assuming you hit your 6th land drop, use the guildmage's first ability to give your Obzedat lifelink. Since he has haste, if you want, you can swing with him, making your opponent lose at least another 5 life and you gain another 5 life. Assuming he was blocked, that's a total of 13 life gained and 13 life dealt on turn six, not including if you decide to swing with faithmender for another+2/-2. Then you just rinse and repeat.
Not only that, but in an esper deck there will be times you want to boardwipe, aka Supreme Verdict. So how do you save your Obzedat? Easy, Magic gave us yet another card that synergizes perfectly with Obzedat, Orzhov Charm. Just use it to bounce him back to your hand and then play him after the board is cleared. There is just so much synergy its stupid.
Anyway love this guy, 5/5
Loyalty isn't as important as coins, this card illustrate that :) Buying expensive cards never feel so 'right' in flavor when they are Orzhov.
I like the previous Ghost Council better though, because it could dodge destruction spells much better than Obzedat could.
WAY better than original.
5/5
Can't believe a solo can be turned into a choir so easily for this one, btw. o.O
Vuliev (a formal, professional, dead voice): I Admit that in the past We've been a Nasty 3:D
They weren't kidding when they called us, well, a lich :P
But You'll find that nowadays :D
We've mended all our ways O:)
Repented, seen the Light, and made a Switch!
To. This. -_-
Enezesku (kinda high pitched and..skeezy?): And I Fortune-ately know a little MAGIC; >;)
It's a talent that we *always* have possessed! :D
And Dear Lady, please-don't-laugh (!)
I use-it-on-behalf :)
Of the mis'rable, the lonely, and dep'ressed! O:'(
(pathetic) >:(
Xil Xaxosz: POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOULS! (he's got the deepest voice)
In pain, in need
This one longing to be thinner! :/
That one Wants to Get the Girl! /:
And do We help them?
*Yes, indeed* (for a price)
Xil Xaxosz and Vuliev: Those POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOULS
So SAD, so TRUE!
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Obzedat, please!" :O :O :O
And We Help Them!
Yes WE do >:3
Karlov (Da Bowse): Now it's happened-once-or-twice...
Someone couldn't. pay. the. price!...
And we're afraid! :(
We've had to rake 'em 'cross the COALS :|
(smallest. violin. ever. imagine it.)
Yes we've had the odd complaint :/
(funny, they all were sent in "late")
But on the whole We've been a Saint O:)
To those
Xil Xaxosz and Enezesku: POOR! UN-FORTUNE-ATE! SOULS! 3>)
Karlov: Come On You! >:o
Vuliev and Karlov: POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE SOUL!
Go Ahead!
Make your Choice! 3>:D
We're a very busy Parun and We Haven't Got All Day! :(
It won't cost much!
It's Your Choice!
You
OBZEDAT, THE GHOST COUNCIL OF ORZHOVA: "POOR UN-FORTUNE-ATE (unFORTuneATE!echo/counterpoint...)SOULS!!!"
IT'S SAD- BUT TRUE!
If-you-want-to-cross-the-bridge-my-sweet,
You've-Got-To-Pay-The-Toll
Take a gulp! and Take a breath!
And go ahead and Sign the Scroll!
THE BOSSES'RE ON A ROLL!
THIS!
POOR!
UN!
FORRRTUN-AAAATE!
SOOOOOUL!!!!!!
(is mine 3>)
Also, @DarthParallax: that may have been the single greatest thing I've ever read on a gatherer page. I would totally see that movie.
But I like the old ghost council more. The old one can dodge any sort of removal, flee combat step tricks, run away before you cast mass removal, munch up your creatures when opponents would steal them, trigger "on dying" effects and much more.
Definite 5/5.
La la, how the death goes on
you have to tell that to my former landlords!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD
And yeah he can dodge a decent amount of removal but executioner swing or smite work just fine if he attacks.
I think that the blink is going green.
On a separate note, i noticed how obvious it is that blue is the best color in magic. The reason is upheaval and that 7/7 phasing monstrosity. Im not even sure if im sarcastic or not
I played against one of these at the Dragon's Maze prerelease. Why do some people get so lucky?? D:
However, they kind of pushed this guy, and he doesn't offer much to the player using it. It's just a big beat stick that drains life and avoids sorcery speed removal. It's good, but uninteresting in terms of gameplay.
So 4/5.
@Lifegainwithbenefits
I understand a lot of cards aren't skill testing, and they shouldn't all be. You need some cards that don't punish misplays that much. I understand that deck construction is much more difficult than playing a card. My point was just this: compared to the original, which gave you all kinds of options and synergies, this is just a control finisher, and I believe that makes it much less interesting. You don't build your deck around it to the same extent, you can't do unexpected things with it, really. That's all, it's just a less interesting card than the original.
So much for Obzedat edh...
Teysa?
EDH exile replacement effect to the command zone is optional.
but it's still awesome since Obzedat's ability nullifies the reanimation drawback:
Drain 2 life. Hit for 5. repeat for every subsequent turn.
Most abilities only work from the battlefield. The main exceptions are abilities that implicitly (eg. Tymaret, the Murder King's last ability) or explicitly (eg. scavenge) work from another zone, in which case they only work in those zone(s). There are also characteristic-defining abilities, which unconditionally set some characteristic of the card, which work from every zone. (Otherwise you could end up with nonsense like an undefined number of +1/+1 counters if you scavenge a Pack Rat via Varolz, the Scar-Striped.) Obzedat's ability works just fine from the battlefield, doesn't explicitly say it works elsewhere, and doesn't set characteristics, so it only works on the battlefield.
OR white
OR black
CMC less than or equal to 5
Power greater than or equal to 5
Toughness greater than or equal to 5
reveals a total of 39 cards...
EDIT: Also, i just realised, even if the auras stayed on Obzedat in exile, they wouldn't do anything, since he isn't dealing any damage, just making an opponent lose life.
I think gatherer is censoring my comment or something... The inequality symbols keep disappearing.
Haste makes this a 5/5. The cost and effectiveness of this Mythic Rare is most exemplary.
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It's very psychological grinding down your opponent knowing that there are ways of cheating him in really early and that realistically there's not much they can do about it once it hits the field.
Just seeing their life bleed away is itself a pretty valuable weapon of war.
It is a satisfying sensation indeed watching them squirm.
And they say that you are who you associate with. Their counseling seems to be rubbing off on me ...