I would put this on the same level as Oracle of Mul Daya and they would actually be bonkers in the same deck.
marmaris74
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(14 votes)
@Superllama12
Have no fear, you can use extort cards in mono-black EDH since the white mana is part of the reminder text, which has no effect on color identity. Yay!
Redgurr
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
So good! An works wonders with things like Prismatic Omen, Realmwright, and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.
j_mindfingerpainter
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Kinda lame in my opinion to bring a cheaper Nirkana Revenant back into Standard just for Extort, as its not very competitive. I really like the Orzhov, but besides Obzedat, Wizards killed ALL their rares this set.
The most obvious interaction with this is to play Army of the Damned. Your dream of making 26 zombies will come true.
BongRipper420
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(12 votes)
This card CAN be used in mono black EDH, and here's why:
903.4. The Commander variant uses color identity to determine what cards can be in a deck with a certain commander. The color identity of a card is the color or colors of any mana symbols in that card’s mana cost or rules text, plus any colors defined by its characteristic-defining abilities (see rule 604.3) or color indicator (see rule 204)
903.4b Reminder text is ignored when determining a card’s color identity. See rule 207.2.
Vakyoom
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Don't forget that the B/X shocklands are considered swamps so even if you tap Godless Shrine for (W), you still get a free (B) since you tapped a "swamp".
Great card for any extort or even any B/X deck that wants to ramp faster. This card will see lots of play imo.
The best extort enabler, allow you extra mana to add that effect, although I might argue that there are more powerful effects to spend the extra mana on. Extort requires consistent casting of spells and would run out of steam without additional card draw, so X spells like Skeletal Scrying suits this card very nicely, you have double mana to invest, extort gain life to compensate the life loss, and you draw cards to do more extort.
Incorrect, this cards color identity is black-white. Mark Rosewater weighed in on this himself, quoted below:
"Maybe it will get the Commander people to rethink their color identity rules concerning hybrid which (as I've gone on record as saying) I believe are flawed." (Source: http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/39498314157/its-unfortunate-that-extort-cant-be-played-in#notes )
A keyword is just a stand-in for written out rules for the sake of space efficiency; since the black-white hybrid mana is effectively a part of the rules for extort, it is treated as a part of this card's rules text. The reminder text quotes the rules for extort verbatim since it's an unfamiliar mechanic.
We'll be waiting on a ruling on this. Maybe the commander guys will make an explicit exception for extort, but I'm personally hoping for a total rework of the color identity rules (which are awful).
tl;dr: Yes, the hybrid mana symbol is in the reminder text, but it's also in the extort rules, making Crypt Ghast illegal in non-white-and-black commander decks.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
So we have Crypt Creeper and Crypt Ghast...what's next, Crypt Skeleton? Crypt Herobrine? ;)
Also, amazing synergy with Realmwright. Turns your basics into the old Ravnica block karoo lands!
rollinsclone
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Turn 5 Sorin's Vengeance with mana left over for Extort. With no other ramp. That's.... horrifying.
RedJaron
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This will be broken. I see a limit or ban coming for this thing. Heartless Summoning allows this to hit T3 with 2 mana left over for more shens.
Yozuk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I remember pulling Nirkana Revenant and a foil Pestilence Demon in the Rise of the Eldrazi Prerelease and being all excited. That was one of my favorite mythics. And I feel that this is even better. I going to love this card.
mpitcock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Could and should have been mythic. Look at Nirkana Revenant. Sure her ability was a combo with her +1/+1 ability, but this is pretty much a free extort. Hoping to get a bunch of these. One of Orzhov's best cards along with Blind Obedience.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Pretty much, Hybrid doesn't work the way it Should for Color Identity. That's enough about Commander.
Could you guys IMAGINE if NEW PHYREXIA WERE STILL LEGAL IN STANDARD?!
OBLITERATORS! GIVE ME LOTS OF OBLITERATORS! GIVE ME ALL THE OBLITERATORS o.O
^ It's official: this thing is legal in mono-black EDH deck, as of 1/25/13.
On an unrelated note, Crypt Ghast makes me wish we had mana burn back. It's Extort ability neatly dodges all those awkward instances where you would have burned when paying odd mana costs.
PastProphet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
so, Extort is 'legal in mono-black EDH' - this has potential to be fun- not too broken, but incremental life loss/gain plus mana machine is awesome. just don't add Sanguine Bond of Exquisite Blood... or, well, do it!
Lagren
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I had a guy make this line of play against me: T2: Heartless Summoning T3: Crypt Ghast T4: Griselbrand He had mana left over. He could have afforded to not make his T3 or T4 land drop.
*Screams silently*
CJMoran
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I was lucky enough to get this guy in one of my packs at the prerelease when I was playing Orzhov. I put him in my deck but really didn't register that he was particularly good until I played him my first round when I was down to 2 life against a boros/gruul deck. I so hadn't recognized his worth that I didn't play him the until the second or third turn I had the 4 lands. But as soon as I had him down along with two other extort dudes, the game immediately reversed. Literally any spell I drew was welcome--even 1/1s that normally have no effect in the late game. And since I had so much mana from this guy I could always extort. In no time I was back up to 20 life and had the round.
I learned thehard way in other rounds never want to attack with him against anyone with any creatures or open mana, but sitting back this guy is a beating.
HotHit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
*Reads* ... *Reads* Uh... *Reads and thinks of Avacyn's Pilgrim* It does WHAT?!
MANABURNWASGOOD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Went to the pre-release and bought into 4 of the events for the decks then left. Yeah, i'm nuts. I got two of these guys. One promptly went into my black mono black EDH, the other will also be used.
And never-mind being able to use it in mono black edh...it can run in any edh deck with black, period : ). The same is true for the white cards with the mechanic.
wholelottalove
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card would go great with all the mana adding artifacts and things in commander.
psychichobo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
And now I'm going to annoy people by running it in my relatively mediocre red/black Kamigawa spirit deck. BWUHAHAHAHAHAH
However, it's nice feeding mana to Jiwari's ability though.
It's probably too slow for Standard, but it sounds like a fun idea.
Rampage_Jackson
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Good in exactly one constructed format. => 3 to 4 stars out of five.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Awesome implementation of black mana-doubling. My only regret is that it can't be used in my Sheoldred, Whispering One EDH
EDIT: YAY!!!!!!! Thanks marmaris74 and others, I love this card!
Kaleidostorm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Oh, you're sad that my mana ramp gave you one more mana than you needed? It's not like I have extort or anything."
Ike38
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Buy this card when it is still cheap around $3.00. I think it will definitely worth more money. Look at Nirkana Revenant . I don't think that card is better than Crypt Ghast but it is like $10++.
Oh my lordnuggets, this thing was my best buddy in my first-ever prerelease. Got me out of one or two mana-troubles where I was struggling for lands to get up to my Treasury Thrulls. And Gateway Shade with one (or in my case, two) of these things made it one of the sickest powerhouses in my deck!
Been running the ghast with Heartless summoning.... turn 2 heartless, turn 3 ghast, turn four u can pump critters up to 10 ccss.(and use extort every turn). I use mikeaus, the unhallowed to keep my ghast alive. LOVE THIS CARD!
VoidLord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card fits almost any deck that includes black as its main colors!
But the deck i like it the most is probably Dimir > Cypher + extort card + enough mana to extort spells; Crypt Ghast + Mind Grind is just not pleasant to your oponent.
@L00fah - (Continued) Now, if you were to play Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, all lands are Swamps in addition to their regular types. Therefore, you can tap any land and receive , in addition to whatever other mana or abilities it can do for you. In the example of Caves of Koilos, it would retain the 2 typical abilities, and gain a third from the Tomb of Yawgmoth. The third ability would be ": Add {B} to your mana pool", because that's what a Swamp does. This card would then turn that into .
Note that Crypt Ghast's ability triggers even if the mana you tap for isn't black; you could tap a Watery Grave for blue mana and still get the extra black from the Ghast.
this just got debt to deathless. its gonna be quite a potent combo
L00fah
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@adrian.malacoda: That makes sense. I was just confused because it specific when a SWAMP was tapped. I also wasn't sure how the painlands counted as lands. As far as I knew; - the land-typing was relatively new and up until recently, lands were not specified to be any specific color. I believe that changed in 2010 or 2011. - all cards that search for a land-color are merely looking for the color to exist in the rules text of the card, which would act as a qualifier. So, hence my confusion in regards to tapping a Cave of Koilos for a colorless to activate.
Remember kids. Cheating is wrong. But Crypt Ghast is just so right.
SUPERC0W
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Guys. GUYS. Crypt Ghast stacks with Crypt Ghast.
So let's run 4, make it B/U with a lot of clone cards and see how much mana we can get out of a single swamp.
The answer? Perhaps the answer is Infinite Reflection. Which is TOTALLY splashable, by the way.
RAV0004
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
FUN FACT TIME
Extort is a dual ability that appears equally in both black and white, like first strike is dual colored ability that appears equally in both white and red. (see boros recruit, Tundra Wolves, Striking Sliver) In fact there's no reason at all it should say "pay w/b", since only white and black cards have the cost... It should have just been printed as "pay an extra 1,..." Except for one reason:
Mark Rosewater specifically requested the design team to make Extort have the hybrid w/b cost in it so that extort cards could only be used in white AND black EDH decks, not one or the other.
Or, more accurately, he designed it so that the people in charge of the EDH format would remove the ridiculous (in his mind) rule that hybrid cards can't be played in mono colored EDH decks. In Magic Design, Hybrids are cards that can fit into either of the colors it is (for example, Merfolk of the Depths is a card that could be printed at 4GG OR 4UU, without changing or editing anything besides perhaps it's creature types in any way. Gold Cards on the other hand, are cards that give abilities that exist solely because the card is that color (Skyward Eye Prophets gets vigilance because it's white, card draw because it's blue, and land accel, however bad, because it's green. With any one of those colors lacking, they would not have printed skyward eye the way it was).
It's interesting to note that the people who run Elder Dragon Highlander changed the entire rule on color identity just to spite the entire design philosophy behind hybrid costs, while still allowing this card to be run in mono black EDH decks. (the exact kind of deck that ALREADY has too much of this ability)
thePROJECTION
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Between Crypt Ghast and Pontiff of Blight, they make the Odd Couple.
So I guess Crypt is Cee Lo Green, he's great even without PoB
Uncumber
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hullo guys - I've got a question regarding this card, it's probably really obvious to everybody here but my friend and I only play casually and we're not completely sure about this..
Say I have a Crypt Ghast out, and four basic Swamps out - now I want to play an 8cmc card, let's say Griselbrand. - Am I able to do this? it's hard to explain why we're confused, but I'll try and be clear...
Do I have four mana, then when I tap those - I have ANOTHER four mana - So I have two sets of four mana? (in which case I wouldn't be able to cast Griselbrand, I'd only be able to cast a 4cmc, then another 4cmc.) Or, do each of my lands 'count as' two mana? (In which case I'd effectively have 8 mana, so I would be able to cast Griselbrand.)
In both situations I would have spent 8 mana, but there's a difference between 8 all at once, or 4 and then another 4...
Again, I understand it probably is a stupid question and we're missing something very obvious.. but we're really not sure - any help would be much appreciated = )
Belgarath123
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@uncumber
You would have 8 mana, so yes, you can cast a 8cmc. Your mana only empties at the end of steps and phases.
LordOfTheFlies87
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How did this NOT see standard play?
SlickDragon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I just saw Crypt Ghast used in an Anime! Its called Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! or in English No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Unpopular!~
In the 8th episode the main high school female protagonist is playing MTG against some elementary school boys, and she plays a Crypt Ghast. She is losing but then cheats and slips a powerful high CMC finisher on top of her deck that can't be answered for a comeback.
Never thought I'd see the day where even in anime there is a Magic match lol.. Guess this means i have to get back into Magic and stop bumming around watching Anime.
I myself use Crypt Ghast in my Oona, Queen of the Fae Edh deck. While not a powerhouse by any means, it does good work, and the extort life drain can be pretty useful since black has a fair amount of life loss with things like Necropotence etc.
Comments (63)
Have no fear, you can use extort cards in mono-black EDH since the white mana is part of the reminder text, which has no effect on color identity. Yay!
Also, once it's on the field -> Stolen Identity
903.4. The Commander variant uses color identity to determine what cards can be in a deck with a certain commander. The color identity of a card is the color or colors of any mana symbols in that card’s mana cost or rules text, plus any colors defined by its characteristic-defining abilities (see rule 604.3) or color indicator (see rule 204)
903.4b Reminder text is ignored when determining a card’s color identity. See rule 207.2.
Great card for any extort or even any B/X deck that wants to ramp faster. This card will see lots of play imo.
"Maybe it will get the Commander people to rethink their color identity rules concerning hybrid which (as I've gone on record as saying) I believe are flawed." (Source: http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/39498314157/its-unfortunate-that-extort-cant-be-played-in#notes )
A keyword is just a stand-in for written out rules for the sake of space efficiency; since the black-white hybrid mana is effectively a part of the rules for extort, it is treated as a part of this card's rules text. The reminder text quotes the rules for extort verbatim since it's an unfamiliar mechanic.
We'll be waiting on a ruling on this. Maybe the commander guys will make an explicit exception for extort, but I'm personally hoping for a total rework of the color identity rules (which are awful).
tl;dr: Yes, the hybrid mana symbol is in the reminder text, but it's also in the extort rules, making Crypt Ghast illegal in non-white-and-black commander decks.
Also, amazing synergy with Realmwright. Turns your basics into the old Ravnica block karoo lands!
Could you guys IMAGINE if NEW PHYREXIA WERE STILL LEGAL IN STANDARD?!
OBLITERATORS! GIVE ME LOTS OF OBLITERATORS!
GIVE ME ALL THE OBLITERATORS o.O
^ It's official: this thing is legal in mono-black EDH deck, as of 1/25/13.
On an unrelated note, Crypt Ghast makes me wish we had mana burn back. It's Extort ability neatly dodges all those awkward instances where you would have burned when paying odd mana costs.
this has potential to be fun- not too broken, but incremental life loss/gain plus mana machine is awesome.
just don't add Sanguine Bond of Exquisite Blood...
or, well, do it!
T2: Heartless Summoning
T3: Crypt Ghast
T4: Griselbrand
He had mana left over. He could have afforded to not make his T3 or T4 land drop.
*Screams silently*
I learned thehard way in other rounds never want to attack with him against anyone with any creatures or open mana, but sitting back this guy is a beating.
...
*Reads*
Uh...
*Reads and thinks of Avacyn's Pilgrim*
It does WHAT?!
And never-mind being able to use it in mono black edh...it can run in any edh deck with black, period : ). The same is true for the white cards with the mechanic.
BWUHAHAHAHAHAH
However, it's nice feeding mana to Jiwari's ability though.
4/5 Stars
It'd also include a few big creatures, like Desecration Demon and Bloodgift Demon.
It's probably too slow for Standard, but it sounds like a fun idea.
EDIT: YAY!!!!!!! Thanks marmaris74 and others, I love this card!
And as a casual card it's combolicious as well, cheaper than Nirkana Revenant, and now you can have BOTH and rock out a killer Exsanguinate or Devil's Play or Comet Storm by turn 6 or 7.
But the deck i like it the most is probably Dimir > Cypher + extort card + enough mana to extort spells; Crypt Ghast + Mind Grind is just not pleasant to your oponent.
Note that Crypt Ghast's ability triggers even if the mana you tap for isn't black; you could tap a Watery Grave for blue mana and still get the extra black from the Ghast.
Also, if Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is on the board or you control Prismatic Omen, all of your lands are swamps.
- the land-typing was relatively new and up until recently, lands were not specified to be any specific color. I believe that changed in 2010 or 2011.
- all cards that search for a land-color are merely looking for the color to exist in the rules text of the card, which would act as a qualifier. So, hence my confusion in regards to tapping a Cave of Koilos for a colorless to activate.
If I'm wrong, cool.
Remember kids. Cheating is wrong. But Crypt Ghast is just so right.
So let's run 4, make it B/U with a lot of clone cards and see how much mana we can get out of a single swamp.
The answer? Perhaps the answer is Infinite Reflection. Which is TOTALLY splashable, by the way.
Extort is a dual ability that appears equally in both black and white, like first strike is dual colored ability that appears equally in both white and red. (see boros recruit, Tundra Wolves, Striking Sliver) In fact there's no reason at all it should say "pay w/b", since only white and black cards have the cost... It should have just been printed as "pay an extra 1,..." Except for one reason:
Mark Rosewater specifically requested the design team to make Extort have the hybrid w/b cost in it so that extort cards could only be used in white AND black EDH decks, not one or the other.
Or, more accurately, he designed it so that the people in charge of the EDH format would remove the ridiculous (in his mind) rule that hybrid cards can't be played in mono colored EDH decks. In Magic Design, Hybrids are cards that can fit into either of the colors it is (for example, Merfolk of the Depths is a card that could be printed at 4GG OR 4UU, without changing or editing anything besides perhaps it's creature types in any way. Gold Cards on the other hand, are cards that give abilities that exist solely because the card is that color (Skyward Eye Prophets gets vigilance because it's white, card draw because it's blue, and land accel, however bad, because it's green. With any one of those colors lacking, they would not have printed skyward eye the way it was).
It's interesting to note that the people who run Elder Dragon Highlander changed the entire rule on color identity just to spite the entire design philosophy behind hybrid costs, while still allowing this card to be run in mono black EDH decks. (the exact kind of deck that ALREADY has too much of this ability)
So I guess Crypt is Cee Lo Green, he's great even without PoB
Say I have a Crypt Ghast out, and four basic Swamps out - now I want to play an 8cmc card, let's say Griselbrand. - Am I able to do this? it's hard to explain why we're confused, but I'll try and be clear...
Do I have four mana, then when I tap those - I have ANOTHER four mana - So I have two sets of four mana? (in which case I wouldn't be able to cast Griselbrand, I'd only be able to cast a 4cmc, then another 4cmc.)
Or, do each of my lands 'count as' two mana? (In which case I'd effectively have 8 mana, so I would be able to cast Griselbrand.)
In both situations I would have spent 8 mana, but there's a difference between 8 all at once, or 4 and then another 4...
Again, I understand it probably is a stupid question and we're missing something very obvious.. but we're really not sure - any help would be much appreciated = )
You would have 8 mana, so yes, you can cast a 8cmc.
Your mana only empties at the end of steps and phases.
In the 8th episode the main high school female protagonist is playing MTG against some elementary school boys, and she plays a Crypt Ghast. She is losing but then cheats and slips a powerful high CMC finisher on top of her deck that can't be answered for a comeback.
Never thought I'd see the day where even in anime there is a Magic match lol.. Guess this means i have to get back into Magic and stop bumming around watching Anime.
I myself use Crypt Ghast in my Oona, Queen of the Fae Edh deck. While not a powerhouse by any means, it does good work, and the extort life drain can be pretty useful since black has a fair amount of life loss with things like Necropotence etc.