The words "each" and "twice" make me happy. What a brilliant card for EDH, among other things.
Flyheight
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Blows past exsanguinate as soon as you hit 7 or more mana. Are they sure this was supposed to only be uncommon?
Tivoko
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
It goes without saying that this is a bomb in multiplayer games (whoops, guess I said it), but I think the fact that it's uncommon is what I love the most. The art choice is also wonderfully creepy and the colors contrast well with each other.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(5 votes)
Compares positively to Exsanguinate, if you can afford the additional color weight. Terrific art too, looks like a Blind Guardian album cover or something.
Nagoragama
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(14 votes)
XWWBB: Target multiplayer game immediately gangs up on you and kills you.
drpvfx
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
Debt to the Deathless: Because Exsanguinate doesn't make your playgroup hate you quite enough. 5/5
Tybaltic
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
A quick way to remember how much life you drain is to just know that each mana past the initial 4-cost nets you 2 life.
5 mana - 2 life 6 mana - 4 life 7 mana - 6 life 8 mana - 8 life
Etc., etc.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
The art alone forced me to give this a 5/5. And the flavor text of course... The WWBB in the mana cost looks so sexy together... This card will flat out win games in Multiplayer.
LordOfTheFlies87
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
AMAZING ART.
Also, fun card.
Nucleon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That silver rarity symbol is what makes me happiest about this card.
Edit: Come to think of it, I suppose this an indicator that Chalice of the Void or Orochi Hatchery-style XX costs have been phased out by Wizards due to I guess being potentially confusing.
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I have never really liked the strange Ironman look to the Vampires of Exsanguinate. I now no longer need to justify not-playing that card, as I can simply say "I see no reason to play Mono-Black when Obzedat and this Are 'Tings. I mean sure Mono-Black is pretty cool, but adding 5 White lands to a Mono Black deck allows you to be a real dick, which is fun"
Oh, and because I'm DarthParallax...I see no reason not to play RED as well! KAALIA!!!!!!!!!!!! 3:D
My "play all the Dick cards" Kaalia Deck is going to love the frak out of this one ^_^ I need to find a good mana generator for it- looks like I have to buy a Cabal Coffers at the least, but Crypt Ghast is also promising :)
The advantage of death grasp: - more forgiving casting cost - deals more damage if you spend five or less mana - can be used earlier in the game or when you are tight on mana - can be used to not only kill players, but also planeswalkers and creatures
The advantage of this card: - the lifeloss can't be prevented - can finish off several players at once - gets more efficient the more opponents there are in the game - gets more efficient the more mana you spend
Well, I guess they're simply too different and can't replace each other. Death grasp is a multi purpose kill spell, for both 1vs1 and multiplayer games, that is useful from the early to late game, whereas Debt to the Deathless is a multiplayer finisher, used to kill off several opponents that are on low health, while giving you a cushy life bonus compared to the remaining opponents.
So, most of the X cost spells of this block have been rare, yet this was uncommon, as it's not that exploitable, apparently. APPARENTLY.
Rainbow ramp decks will now proceed to not just kill one player, but every player. My friend runs such a deck using lots of mana-ramping defenders like Overgrown Battlement and that one from Return To Ravnica, and has already shot me to pieces with Mind Grind.
If you have the means to ramp up to 14 mana with the right colours you'll annihilate most of your opponents. Doran colour decks are going to worry me in particular. Plus, even if you don't kill everyone there's still the TONNES of life you'll have to allow you to take a few punches before your next turn.
lorendorky
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I really like seeing cards printed that reward a player for committing to their colors like this.
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
it's uncommon!
rollinsclone
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Well the art makes me think the Phyrexians have found a way to Ravnica..... That aside, I can't wait to put this in Vish Kal EDH.
Fenix.
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Candidate of one of the best arts in this set.
Pipikako
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Multiplayer beast !!!
Dragasm
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Wait...this isn't a rare?
ZEvilMustache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Most people here are excited that this is uncommon. I think it's a mistake. Cards this complicated should be rare. An X in the cost and doubling? Rare.
Khazuki
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Honestly...this card feels mythic to me. Really.
GlintKawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
whoa, awesome flavor, art, and ability. wait, this ISN'T a rare!? 5/5
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This card's going to make you lose two times X friends in a hurry.
legion-air
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
what a lovely card a crypt ghast on the previous turn, might as well read does 4 times X. 5/5 from me.
This card is a win condition. If you get to this bomb, it's like seeing a sphinx's revelation go off. Only the game is actually over without concession. It's living the dream but when an opponent drops Zhur-Taa Ancient you are most likely at around a 12-16 point life swing on this card. And that's in set. Makes that 7/5 beater all the more risky with this at uncommon.
SRSFACE
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Crypt Ghast was waiting for an X-Drop card in his colors to just blow people up. The previous Orzhov X-drop this set just reanimated stuff and it was dependent on things being in your graveyard anyway, so it didn't really sync with him.
You guys have no idea how much I want this to happen:
T4: Crypt Ghast
T5: Tesya, Envoy of Ghosts
T6: Debt to the Deathless for X = 5 or 6
Sel3l3e
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this is only card you should not paying with the extort
MadParr
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I read the comments twice. Did nobody see the combo with Vizkopa Guildmage?
I agree with BarrelRoll... I think a lot of Magic art would make awesome metal album covers and vice versa. Check out an album called 'Hate' by 'Thy Art is Murder'... that should be a Magic card... White Chapel and Born of Osirus have a few album covers with great art too... among many others. As for the card... wicked. This will see EDH play for sure... and yes, that art is sik...
Sanguineous
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This + Vizkopah Guildmage + 12 Mana = Automatic multi-player win
Xinsden
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Such ana amazing card. I was fortunate enough to pull two of these during a draft.
aAlso, "Deathless..." That world makes me think of the antagonists of the infinity blade series who also have the same title
This + Vizkopa Guildmage + 8 mana = Auto-win if you have 9 or more opponents. For 4 - 8 opponents, you need 9 mana, For 3 opponents, 10 mana, For 2 opponents, 11 mana For 1 opponent, 12 mana, but personally I wouldn't bother trying to combo this when you can finish any number of opponents with this + 14 mana and forget the guildmage. Plus, the guildmage combo nets you less lifegain than playing it straight in smaller games.
Then again, the guildmage can finish 9+ opponents with a couple of extorts, which should be easy for Orzov with much less mana.
When I think of the decks built around trying to fire off a 21 mana player-kill spell, and doing it competitively, I can't help but think that this is gonna be a staple storm deck spell for a while.
All_Is_Dust
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This has to be my favorite card from Dragon's Maze. It feels so mythic, but it's not which is awesome. I once cast this for 16 on FNM. Long live the Orzhova!
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love {X} mana cost cards that get better and better the more mana you spend on them. This one, specifically. Say you're playing a four-player game. Would you pay 5 mana to gain 3 life and have each opponent lose 1? Of course not. Would you pay 8 to gain 12 life and have each opponent lose 4? I certainly would.
Fenizrael
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I want to run a multiplayer mana ramp deck around this card. Grand Abolisher is a great for throwing a spanner in the works, too.
TheBringer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run two as finishers in my Dega control deck that usually wins through damage straight to the face. Absolutely brutal, and great art. Looks like a mythic rare but isn't which is amazing.
raptorman333
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
let's do the math, this doesn't get better than Exsanguinate until you sink 6 mana into it: MANA////Life Steal: EXSANG////////This 2/////////////////////0////////can't play 3 /////////////////////1////////can't play 4 /////////////////////2///////////0 5/////////////////////3////////////2 6/////////////////////4////////////4 7/////////////////////5////////////6 8/////////////////////6////////////8
and this is where i would finally start to consider using this card over exsanguinate--at 8 mana. so basically, i'd never play this card over exsanguinate because of 1) the color restriction and 2) the time at which i could use this. 3.5/5
Tugnbud
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I got me a playset of these, A playset of Council of the Absolute and a group of soon to be not friends. Seriously, with his comboing with The Vizkopa Guildmage and being so easily rampable with Crypt Ghast I would be suprised to not see this get any constructed play besides me. ITS JUST SO ABUSEABLE!
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Got a foil one of these. It is beautiful. The card is really good too. 5/5
I got to cast this in a 5-player multiplayer game a little while ago. It was a long game. I cast it for x=15. It was glorious (30 damage killing 3 of my opponents, and gained me 120 life).
The math here doesn't add up to it being a good option unless you are putting in a ton of mana, and if you can do X=8 or some such with this, you are probably at the point in the game that you don't need to. If your black/white deck is doing its job they should be properly softened up for a finishing blow. No need to cast an X spell for the win anyway, I have cast Exsanginate for a few life before and it has won me games turns later.
Still, great art, an awesome name, cool concept and the word double will make this hit many an EDH table. It will probably be devastating at those times anyway, and it will be totally rad, so I am all for this card!
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sure would be a pity if someone cracked a Tainted Sigil after this, don't you think?
orzhov20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sanguine Bond plus this. 4 damage for every extra mana paid.
Syrtees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Where X is the combined value of your opponents' souls.
EvilDarkVoid
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Super-powered Extort, the Orzhov keyword in this block. Ironically, it plays poorly with actual Extort cards because of this; except in fairly rare cases, the mana you would use to Extort this would be more effective if you just poured it into {X}.
BlackDeathKiller1212
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card as it comes in handy with when I play my bf and a friend of ours. I have four in a black/white deck and they are amazing. Took my bf out with one of them after using a few turns to widdle his life down.
meero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Art is so amazing I think it's a rare every time I see it.
Charmaster87
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm in love with this card!
SeriouslyFacetious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The other day my partner got knocked out of a 2v2 EDH... I figured my demise was imminent. So I pumped a mere 9 mana (X=5) into this spell, thinking "this will buy me some time". I had Sanguine Bond out, and before I knew it one opponent lost 30 life killing him while I gained 20! It was enough to rally for the win.
I was actually able to say "I accidentally the game". It felt good
Kosmonautti
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5/5 for the most Metal of all MtG art
Aldehyde123
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I truly love this card... great artwork and holy crap does it rape... I've won my games using my extort deck close to 8 times now, with crypt ghast on the field and then playing this card... ensures victory when playing a multiplayer game, even with havoc festival on the field (though it does mess around with the dynamic of the extort deck) or a creature equipped with quietus spike.
Comments (56)
TWICE?!
Because Exsanguinate doesn't make your playgroup hate you quite enough.
5/5
5 mana - 2 life
6 mana - 4 life
7 mana - 6 life
8 mana - 8 life
Etc., etc.
Also, fun card.
Edit: Come to think of it, I suppose this an indicator that Chalice of the Void or Orochi Hatchery-style XX costs have been phased out by Wizards due to I guess being potentially confusing.
Oh, and because I'm DarthParallax...I see no reason not to play RED as well!
KAALIA!!!!!!!!!!!! 3:D
My "play all the Dick cards" Kaalia Deck is going to love the frak out of this one ^_^ I need to find a good mana generator for it- looks like I have to buy a Cabal Coffers at the least, but Crypt Ghast is also promising :)
The advantage of death grasp:
- more forgiving casting cost
- deals more damage if you spend five or less mana
- can be used earlier in the game or when you are tight on mana
- can be used to not only kill players, but also planeswalkers and creatures
The advantage of this card:
- the lifeloss can't be prevented
- can finish off several players at once
- gets more efficient the more opponents there are in the game
- gets more efficient the more mana you spend
Well, I guess they're simply too different and can't replace each other.
Death grasp is a multi purpose kill spell, for both 1vs1 and multiplayer games, that is useful from the early to late game, whereas Debt to the Deathless is a multiplayer finisher, used to kill off several opponents that are on low health, while giving you a cushy life bonus compared to the remaining opponents.
Rainbow ramp decks will now proceed to not just kill one player, but every player. My friend runs such a deck using lots of mana-ramping defenders like Overgrown Battlement and that one from Return To Ravnica, and has already shot me to pieces with Mind Grind.
If you have the means to ramp up to 14 mana with the right colours you'll annihilate most of your opponents. Doran colour decks are going to worry me in particular. Plus, even if you don't kill everyone there's still the TONNES of life you'll have to allow you to take a few punches before your next turn.
You guys have no idea how much I want this to happen:
T4: Crypt Ghast
T5: Tesya, Envoy of Ghosts
T6: Debt to the Deathless for X = 5 or 6
Vizkopa Guildmage + Crypt Ghast + Debt to the Deathless only gets better the more players in the game.
Check out an album called 'Hate' by 'Thy Art is Murder'... that should be a Magic card...
White Chapel and Born of Osirus have a few album covers with great art too... among many others.
As for the card... wicked. This will see EDH play for sure... and yes, that art is sik...
aAlso, "Deathless..." That world makes me think of the antagonists of the infinity blade series who also have the same title
For 4 - 8 opponents, you need 9 mana,
For 3 opponents, 10 mana,
For 2 opponents, 11 mana
For 1 opponent, 12 mana, but personally I wouldn't bother trying to combo this when you can finish any number of opponents with this + 14 mana and forget the guildmage. Plus, the guildmage combo nets you less lifegain than playing it straight in smaller games.
Then again, the guildmage can finish 9+ opponents with a couple of extorts, which should be easy for Orzov with much less mana.
Along with Crypt Ghast, let's not forget Liliana's Shade and Liliana of the Dark Realms herself.
When I think of the decks built around trying to fire off a 21 mana player-kill spell, and doing it competitively, I can't help but think that this is gonna be a staple storm deck spell for a while.
Grand Abolisher is a great for throwing a spanner in the works, too.
Absolutely brutal, and great art. Looks like a mythic rare but isn't which is amazing.
MANA////Life Steal: EXSANG////////This
2/////////////////////0////////can't play
3 /////////////////////1////////can't play
4 /////////////////////2///////////0
5/////////////////////3////////////2
6/////////////////////4////////////4
7/////////////////////5////////////6
8/////////////////////6////////////8
and this is where i would finally start to consider using this card over exsanguinate--at 8 mana. so basically, i'd never play this card over exsanguinate because of 1) the color restriction and 2) the time at which i could use this.
3.5/5
I got to cast this in a 5-player multiplayer game a little while ago. It was a long game. I cast it for x=15. It was glorious (30 damage killing 3 of my opponents, and gained me 120 life).
The math here doesn't add up to it being a good option unless you are putting in a ton of mana, and if you can do X=8 or some such with this, you are probably at the point in the game that you don't need to. If your black/white deck is doing its job they should be properly softened up for a finishing blow. No need to cast an X spell for the win anyway, I have cast Exsanginate for a few life before and it has won me games turns later.
Still, great art, an awesome name, cool concept and the word double will make this hit many an EDH table. It will probably be devastating at those times anyway, and it will be totally rad, so I am all for this card!
Where X is the combined value of your opponents' souls.
I was actually able to say "I accidentally the game". It felt good