Pointed Discussion

Okay, can anyone think of a scenario (that might actually happen) where the minus 5 power is actually relevant as opposed to just -0/-5?

@Marmaris: Sure, when there is a 4/4 Bloodrush creature that your opponent bloodrushed into a 9/6 and you chumpblock with a 1/1 creature. But you're correct, it'll mainly be used for an, as it is called "executioner" card with a -5 toughness.... It'll kill ALMOST anything, including practically every guild leader.

Similar to Dismember, the effects of this card last only until end of turn. So, all we need is a creature with a toughness of six: it can not only survive being BEHEADED, but wake up totally fine the next day! No head? No problem!

I feel bad that I first read this card as "Executioners Swag". I need to go home and rethink my life.

In any case, it feels like a more playable "Avenging Arrow"

Same guy in the art as on Ultimate Price!

How is he going to pay his debt without a head, you Orzhov moron?

Type your comment here.

Actually a good answer to Thundermaw Hellkite if you have fliers.

@ captainsealed The Orzhov also enslave people's souls, you know.

Simple. Efficient. Effective. Nice common removal spell.

@Morrinkt

Not only that, in the world of magic you can repeatedly chop off the same person's head turn after turn, reminds me of Johnny Cage's fatality.

But. Dismember.
Can only target dudes that dealt damage?
It's still decent, just not Dismember good.

Rather that than the other non-limb appendage....

@marmaris Yep, you can use this on your own creatures to save them from Intrepid Hero, Selesnia Charm, Smite the Monstrous, etc.

They might as well rename this card to what it really is here for: "Wrangle in Obzedat" since, more than likely, you won't hit a single obzedat with a single sorcery removal, ever.

Wow the Orzhov are technical in their arguments...
Imagine a dispute of Orzhov and Azorius.
Actually don't, it will make your appendage swirl.

*THWAK

I wondered what people find so great about this until i noticed it demands the opposite condition of Fatal Blow.
(It also fits the Orzhov theme a lot better to execute creatures that attacked someone, not victims that got attacked.)

An Executioner's Swing is a playground swing 500 feet in the air that falls when the executioner wants it to and kills the creature playing in the swing unless it's huge.

So if you have a creature with 11 toughness, it can survive being Dismembered, and then beheaded with this card, and wake up fine the next day?

I tried really hard to like this card. I love WB. I love Orzhov ornate armor. I love executioner axes and cheap removal. But I just...can't like this card.

I see removal as being used for 3 reasons: To prevent damage, to prevent lose of creatures in combat, and to kill annoying creatures that stay away from combat. I'm cool with this card mostly dealing with cards that attack and block (and occasionally pingers) but I've had several times where this card either sat in my hand doing nothing, or did nothing to really help me versus big beaters that trampled over. It did kill some evasive guys a few times, but it just wasn't worth it 80% of the time.

Still looks badass, and I love the flavor text. Orzhov, you might follow the letter of the law, but you sure break the spirit of it!

Come on people, just because the executioner swung doesn't mean he successfully removed anyone's head.

That is it. Final straw. White wins it. "Most flavorful colour, Ravnica Edition: White".

This man is a member of "The Cozen", as mentioned in "The Azorious Ten Most Wanted". He is wanted because of the executions he does.

"....While a "limb" might be reasonable compensation for outstanding debts, the "head" does not count as a "limb."...."

It also said that he was misinterpreting the contracts to justify his murderous ways. But this flavour text and the flavour text of Reaper sort of go against that.

Then you've got Angelic Edict; a Boros flavored card that is about them making prisons in the sky, so the Azorius won't muss it up. It's an extreme card; completely unnecessary card; it is both a function reprint of another, much older card and outshined by Oblivion Ring. Also... 'exiling' them? Passionate, illogical. Unforgiving, orderly. It also costs far to much mana; the Azorius just do a much better job.

Alms Beast; "Lets attack them hard and fast, and give them coins for compensation. Just make sure they can't actually benefit from it".

Arrows of Justice; target practice on pickpockets? Hit them harder than a Lightning Bolt?

Murder Investigation? You have to enchant a specific creature before it dies, and you vaguely already know it IS going to die. The amount of soldiers that come depends on the power of the creature; it's importance? Also, he was killed by a Dimir assassin, which accounts for the three blades in his neck in such a fashion.

Seems like the "dealt damage" clause was unnecessary. Would this card be awesome without that? Of course. Would it be broken? Hell no. Grasp of Darkness already exists (and so does Dismember) and having the same cost but in 2 colors seems like it would be enough to move the -/- to 5. I say this should have been moved to uncommon and the restriction removed. Then it would be better, cooler, playable, and still not a bomb common that puts everyone who opens it into BW immediately. As it is, it is a OK limited card that isn't even in the top 3-4 of removal in its colors.

WannabeJedi1337: You're not the only one! I opened up a booster pack and I also read it as 'Executioner's Swag'. I felt like a dingus, but it got worse. I looked through the cards I had received again, and I read it as Executioners Swag.... AGAIN! D:

Don't forget you can cast this in between your white creatures' first strike damage and normal combat damage.

@ iFailed On the off chance you want to behead your own creatures?