Dat art. Hnnnngh. Also nice flavor text. I would really enjoy using him in standard with Shrieking Affliction.
Flyheight
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Come. Join my party. We'll have such fun together. >=3
steev
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(11 votes)
Yknow how people complain about cards like Howling Mine giving your opponent the advantage first?
This one's for them.
Lazenca_Seifus
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Then Colonel Sandurz walks in through the doorway in the background and says, "No sir! I didn't see you playing with your dolls!"
Anyway, strictly inferior to Craw Wurm because it makes you discard your hand, I mean, come on now.
Leuitikos
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I think this guy could see play in reanimator against control
ChttrBox88
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(15 votes)
"WAKE UP LITTLE MAN IM NOT DONE EATING YOUR MIND."
Nucleon
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Run it with Geth's Grimoire and find yourself with all the resources you could want.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
By the time you play this you shouldn't have much left in your hand anyway, unless it's a Gravecrawler, which is no big deal. The synergy with Blood Scrivener cannot be ignored.
LordOfTheFlies87
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Utterly vicious.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Suck it, control!
Jhyrryl
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Don't forget the theme of this set...this guy is totally empowering Scavenge.
Sel3l3e
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
play with Shrieking Affliction =)
Trygon_Predator
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
"I love you George! We're gonna go places, an' live offa the fat of the lan', and I'm gonna hug you and squeeze you and pat you on the head... George? Why aren't you movin' George?"
blurrymadness
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Demon Jin-Gitaxias, but more timmy (and less blue)
limitededition
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
this guy is a control card if i've ever seen one. he's a big fatty to lockdown the board and he shreds your opponent's hand.
lorendorky
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
I love the idea of casting Ignorant Bliss in response to this trigger on my turn. When the demon comes roaring at you you just say "Duh, I dunno?!"
RAV0004
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(8 votes)
The hellbent enabler we wanted. The hellbent enabler we deserved.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
because not having a hand is how true men play magic
NoIHavent
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love it. I think this is the best mind twist variant I've seen. With Mind Twist you blow up your hand so that they don't have a hand. You need to hit 8 mana to get every card. The requisite number of moxen, rituals, and loti mean you probably don't have a hand either. With this guy, drop him turn 1 or 2, you only need 6 mana, plus you have a 6/4 after it's all said and done, as opposed to the one land and one mox from mind twist. A 6/4! That doesn't even get bolted! This is awesome. Sure, your opponent may Brain Storm and tuck removal, but you can pull the same trick, and yours will be more effective, because, yeah, they kill your beastie, but you don't have to waste your brain storm answering one of their threats, just tucking one of your own! 5/5 all day.
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I guess what he likes most is getting flashed into play, such as with winding canyons.
ToAsTy42o
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
wow... i end my turn with a fatty, and i hope you like your board position cause now we're both topdecking....
metalevolence
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The only way I would changed this card would be making it the legendary Rakdos creature from this set.
Mmmm, the delicious tears of EDH players. The sphincters of blue players everywhere involuntarily clench.
roguepariah
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
MAD Daddy
Both in the Mutually Assured Destruction sense and he looks like he's really angry with that dolly.
(ahem) sorry. "'Action Figure"'
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
"WHY DO YOU LET THOSE SPHINXES REVEAL THINGS TO YOU!!!" - Sire of Insanity
Shouoken
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card to top the curve of an aggressive deck.It protects your attackers from board wipes (which mostly cost 6 too) and you put your opponent in top-deck mode if it can't be answered immediately.
ConsoleCleric
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What it should have said was:
"At the beginning of each end step, all players discard their hands."
Flavor Text: You won't be needing them where you're going.
I get how awesome this card is and the level of card advantage it creates for the color scheme, especially in reanimation decks, at which I reference the following: Leyline of the Void, Rest In Peace, Grafdigger's Cage, Tormod's Crypt. But, this card isn't fun. Most decks aren't built with grave recursion and top decking cards is one of the most boring things in the game. I'm bias, I'll admit it--Rakdos has and will always be me least favorite color scheme simply because of it's evil nature. Nevertheless, I like to see cards in had and responsive play because it makes the participants of the game active. If I wanted a complex game that I could walk away from for my opponents turn and come back after taking a wizz, I'd play chess.
anyway 4/5 for combo potential in a beefy body.
Ike38
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This thing is insane with Havengul Lich. I mean... Super Insane... Game Finisher
Step 1: Exile Simian Spirit Guide get your red mana. Play Lotus Petal. Step 2: Sac Lotus Petal, play Dark Ritual, use 2 of the black mana and the still remaining red mana from Spirit Guide to play Seething Song. You now have 5 red mana floating and one remaining black mana. Step 3: Play Sire of Insanity and let the insane train leave the station! CHOO CHOO!
Lockwert
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Style points for casting One With Nothing in response for his triggered ability
Chronos_Mysty
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I expected this to be a lot more popular - it's a control player's nightmare. Sure, naming Demon on your Cavern of Souls wouldn't be your first instinct for Standard, but if it will stop the control player I'd do it.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Madness deck?
swagtusk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combos well with shrieking affliction
TexasDice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
+ Flavor + Artwork + usability + Pricetag
- lack of any red\black decks.
Okay srsly, this guy is AWESOME. Loxodon Smiter is your last hope.
EDIT: http://i.imgur.com/vm8h51a.jpg
Wormfang
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
in one of those beautiful moments of synergy Sire of Insanity really likes Head Games.
Fill their hand with all the things you don't want them to have and then next turn cast sire and watch them lose it all.
Ansem717
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combos well with cards that 'store' your hand, like Bane Alley Broker or Moonring Mirror and with those, you can have self benefit with Braids, Conjurer Adept (Yea that's pushing it). But still, Hand Storage makes this card fun. I'd have also suggested Bottled Cloister, but that triggers after Sire of Insanity triggers, so that's a no. Or you can have some fun screwed up giggles with your friends at casual play with Knowledge Pool.
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Who rates this under 4,5 is an idiot...
AwkwardInvasion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Cabbieboy Shrieking Affliction does it and can just sit there the whole game while you curve off it into cards like liliana, mind rot, or rakdos's return.
Cabbieboy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So, stupid question. Is there a card in standard that makes your opponent lose life when they discard cards? I want to make a win-condition with something like that. Discard your hand, and bleed to death. mwahaha.
EDIT: DUSKMANTLE GUILDMAGE. That's what I was looking for. "Well, let's see who's going to mill themselves to death first...you, or me?" I adore the flavor this card adds to any control deck!
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is probably one of the best cards for Reanimator made in the last little while. If anything, this should always be your turn 1-dark ritual/entomb/exhume. They'll either draw a land (not a spell that stops Sire) or a spell (can't be played without lands).
If they're lucky, they'll draw Plains and then Swords to Plowshares/Path to Exile. One way or another, you'll get 6 damage in and their hand empty. If you draw a Reanimate and you discarded a creature or two with Sire, then they have the deal with another creature. Maybe Nullstone Gargoyle? How about Jin-Gitaxias? Muahaha!!!
You guys! I just realized... He might be a relative of SEYMOR GUADO.
TheShadow344
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Kr-azi
You will not keep the cards going into your turn. There are two ways that what you suggest could play out.
1. You have Sphinx's Revelation in your hand. At the beginning of the end step, Sire of Insanity's ability goes on the stack. You do nothing, and neither does your opponent. Sire's ability resolves, and so you discard your hand (including the Revelation).
2. This time, instead of doing nothing while Sire of Insanity's ability is on the stack, you cast Sphinx's Revelation in response. Assuming no one does anything else, Revelation resolves (since it is on top of the stack) - you'll draw X cards and gain X life. Then (also assuming no one does anything else) Sire's ability resolves - you'll discard your hand, which includes all the cards you drew from Revelation.
In summary, there is no way that you can go into your next turn with a stocked hand. Once Sire's ability resolves, you'll have no hand. You either discard Revelation or you discard all the cards you just drew off Revelation.
However, you could use Revelation to attempt to draw into some instants and then cast those (still in response to the Sire's ability as the ability is still on the stack at that point).
Kirbster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Turn one Dark Ritual, Entomb, Exhume. Lets see how your opponent handles a 6/4 when he doesn't have an opening hand.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Insane card. All their counterspells, removal cards, whatever just get trashed when you cast this. And you can build around flashback or whatever graveyard use you want.
With a lot of luck, topdeck Plains, then topdeck Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile would also work. Still you should be in much better shape even if they get that lucky.
Kr-azi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hey, quick question on this card for anyone who might see it. It puts an effect on the stack at the start of the end step, correct? After each spell or effect on the stack resolves, active player gets priority, correct?
I'm trying to figure out if there's any reason I can't have this out, wait until the beginning of my opponent's end step, wait for this to resolve, and when they pass priority, do something like a Sphinx's Revelation. I'm thinking it should work and I should keep the cards going into my turn since the Sire's ability has already resolved. Am I missing something? -------- @Shadow344 Ah yes, duh, Revelation wouldn't work. I threw that out as an example, but I was actually thinking about tapping a permanent, like Trading Post. In current standard, I believe Underworld Connections would also work, wouldn't it, because you could in response to the resolution of the Sire's effect.
Thrawcheld
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art seems to be a reference to Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son", albeit less grisly.
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Works with Scavenge or in a mill deck. R/B/? decks are coming, i can feel it in my teeth.
EDIT: My first view of this card did not set off the Revelation Hate Alarm. Now it's going off. I think that Black Devotion could actually splash red not only for this and Dreadbore, but also for Mogis, God of Slaughter. His global effect is just crippling, especially against a bad matchup for Black Devotion like Esper Control. Esper's win cons are usually Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Ætherling, and both of those are kind of shut down by Mogis. With Ætherling, saccing it is not really an option, so they lose 2 life a turn. With Elspeth, the tokens become more and more irrelevant, especially once Elspeth is off the field. With this guy on the field as well, Esper won't be able to play much to deal with it, and since Esper usually doesn't run more than 4 Ætherling and Elspeth total, that gets rid of their only win cons.
car2n
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Because I'm craaazy for youuuu...!" -Madonna, Sire of Insantiy.
MechaKraken
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He is awesome sideboard material for battling U/W control decks.
HOWEVER.
He needs protection to do that. There is nothing stopping your opponent from simply casting Detention Sphere to get rid of him before they have to discard their hand. To a U/W control deck, Sire = auto-counter. And if the small chance transpires that they can't counter him, (due to no counters in hand), they will use the aforementioned sphere as soon as possible.
Alpha Authority can protect the sire from u/w control (or at least until it is detention sphere'd so the opponent can cast another sphere on Sire) and so can Simic Charm (but this would require running 4 colors, which isn't very good).
So, protecting the Sire might not be the way to go, since that will bring it's own set of problems to your deck. The way I would play this, would be to cast Slaughter Games first on turn 4 if possible, and get rid of Sphinx's Revelation or Supreme Verdict. Then turn 5, if I happened to have another Slaughter Games, I would use it to get rid of Detention Sphere, also taking the opportunity to note what is in my opponents hand. If I see something I don't like (Dissolve, Last Breath, Syncopate) I will try to cast Duress or Thoughtseize to get rid of that too. If they counter, then that is okay, since it is one counter less when it is time to cast Sire. When the way is clear, I'll play anything else I can from my hand first, and then play this guy. After passing, it all comes down to seeing what the opponent will do on their turn and if they can draw an answer. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Underworld Connections and Blood Scrivener can help refill your hand, but be careful not to kill yourself while using them.
Playing him requires some luck on your part, but also remember that he is best played mid-game, during the time when your opponent might have a few answers, but not nearly as much as the late-game staying power a U/W control deck can achieve. Sire will not stay on the board long during late-game against a control deck, if he even makes it to the table at all. Slaughter Games will be this guy's wingman, use it to remove threats (verdict, revelation, breath, dissolve, syncopate) or if you are feeling lucky, Elspeth, Sun's Champion or Jace, Architect of Thought. If you can't nail the planeswalkers with SG, then don't worry, because that is also what Dreadbore and Hero's Downfall are for. Skullcrack and Fate Unraveler can also deal with Revelation, so your main targets to hit would be Verdict, D-sphere, or the counter spells.
That's about all I can say on him, just send him in and protect him well! Good luck!
JimmyNoobPlayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@MechaKraken: Detention Sphere won't be useful against Sire unless they are lucky enough to topdeck it. It doesn't say, "At each player's end step, that player discards his or her hand," it says, "At each end step, each player discards his or her hand." Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.
Vastator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hilariously merciless, brutal, ruthless.
It's terrifying, mortifying, petrifying!
It will leave your opponents handless and helpless. --- Okay, enough with the theatrics. Imagine enchantments and/or creatures that force an opponent to draw cards, loose life for each card drawn, and then loose more life for each card discarded and then loose even more life for not having a hand combined with THIS.
Comments (57)
Absolutely excellent
This one's for them.
Anyway, strictly inferior to Craw Wurm because it makes you discard your hand, I mean, come on now.
(and less blue)
Mmmm, the delicious tears of EDH players. The sphincters of blue players everywhere involuntarily clench.
Both in the Mutually Assured Destruction sense and he looks like he's really angry with that dolly.
(ahem) sorry. "'Action Figure"'
"At the beginning of each end step, all players discard their hands."
Flavor Text: You won't be needing them where you're going.
anyway 4/5 for combo potential in a beefy body.
More abstractly, works well with Scavenge, Flashback, Unearth, and Hellbent (note the flavor text). Has synergy with Reassembling Skeleton, Down in the Filth, Vigor Mortis and Varolz, the Scar-Striped.
Even more abstractly, Golgari. Jund is looking good.
Works well against control, basically. Sphinx's Revelation. Blue?
Competes with Rakdos's Return and similar cards.
Hand: Simian Spirit Guide, Lotus Petal, Dark Ritual, Seething Song, Sire of Insanity, (and 2 of any other card ect.)
Step 1: Exile Simian Spirit Guide get your red mana. Play Lotus Petal.
Step 2: Sac Lotus Petal, play Dark Ritual, use 2 of the black mana and the still remaining red mana from Spirit Guide to play Seething Song. You now have 5 red mana floating and one remaining black mana.
Step 3: Play Sire of Insanity and let the insane train leave the station! CHOO CHOO!
+ Artwork
+ usability
+ Pricetag
- lack of any red\black decks.
Okay srsly, this guy is AWESOME. Loxodon Smiter is your last hope.
EDIT: http://i.imgur.com/vm8h51a.jpg
Fill their hand with all the things you don't want them to have and then next turn cast sire and watch them lose it all.
EDIT: DUSKMANTLE GUILDMAGE. That's what I was looking for. "Well, let's see who's going to mill themselves to death first...you, or me?" I adore the flavor this card adds to any control deck!
If they're lucky, they'll draw Plains and then Swords to Plowshares/Path to Exile. One way or another, you'll get 6 damage in and their hand empty. If you draw a Reanimate and you discarded a creature or two with Sire, then they have the deal with another creature. Maybe Nullstone Gargoyle? How about Jin-Gitaxias? Muahaha!!!
One way or another, always watch out for Mental Misstep, Force of Will, or Daze.
You will not keep the cards going into your turn. There are two ways that what you suggest could play out.
1. You have Sphinx's Revelation in your hand. At the beginning of the end step, Sire of Insanity's ability goes on the stack. You do nothing, and neither does your opponent. Sire's ability resolves, and so you discard your hand (including the Revelation).
2. This time, instead of doing nothing while Sire of Insanity's ability is on the stack, you cast Sphinx's Revelation in response. Assuming no one does anything else, Revelation resolves (since it is on top of the stack) - you'll draw X cards and gain X life. Then (also assuming no one does anything else) Sire's ability resolves - you'll discard your hand, which includes all the cards you drew from Revelation.
In summary, there is no way that you can go into your next turn with a stocked hand. Once Sire's ability resolves, you'll have no hand. You either discard Revelation or you discard all the cards you just drew off Revelation.
However, you could use Revelation to attempt to draw into some instants and then cast those (still in response to the Sire's ability as the ability is still on the stack at that point).
@kirbster
Brutal. Only thing I can think of to stop it is Force of Will, Foil, or Mental Misstep.
With a lot of luck, topdeck Plains, then topdeck Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile would also work. Still you should be in much better shape even if they get that lucky.
I'm trying to figure out if there's any reason I can't have this out, wait until the beginning of my opponent's end step, wait for this to resolve, and when they pass priority, do something like a Sphinx's Revelation. I'm thinking it should work and I should keep the cards going into my turn since the Sire's ability has already resolved. Am I missing something?
--------
@Shadow344 Ah yes, duh, Revelation wouldn't work. I threw that out as an example, but I was actually thinking about tapping a permanent, like Trading Post. In current standard, I believe Underworld Connections would also work, wouldn't it, because you could in response to the resolution of the Sire's effect.
EDIT: My first view of this card did not set off the Revelation Hate Alarm.
Now it's going off.
I think that Black Devotion could actually splash red not only for this and Dreadbore, but also for Mogis, God of Slaughter. His global effect is just crippling, especially against a bad matchup for Black Devotion like Esper Control. Esper's win cons are usually Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Ætherling, and both of those are kind of shut down by Mogis. With Ætherling, saccing it is not really an option, so they lose 2 life a turn. With Elspeth, the tokens become more and more irrelevant, especially once Elspeth is off the field. With this guy on the field as well, Esper won't be able to play much to deal with it, and since Esper usually doesn't run more than 4 Ætherling and Elspeth total, that gets rid of their only win cons.
HOWEVER.
He needs protection to do that. There is nothing stopping your opponent from simply casting Detention Sphere to get rid of him before they have to discard their hand. To a U/W control deck, Sire = auto-counter. And if the small chance transpires that they can't counter him, (due to no counters in hand), they will use the aforementioned sphere as soon as possible.
Alpha Authority can protect the sire from u/w control (or at least until it is detention sphere'd so the opponent can cast another sphere on Sire) and so can Simic Charm (but this would require running 4 colors, which isn't very good).
So, protecting the Sire might not be the way to go, since that will bring it's own set of problems to your deck. The way I would play this, would be to cast Slaughter Games first on turn 4 if possible, and get rid of Sphinx's Revelation or Supreme Verdict. Then turn 5, if I happened to have another Slaughter Games, I would use it to get rid of Detention Sphere, also taking the opportunity to note what is in my opponents hand. If I see something I don't like (Dissolve, Last Breath, Syncopate) I will try to cast Duress or Thoughtseize to get rid of that too. If they counter, then that is okay, since it is one counter less when it is time to cast Sire. When the way is clear, I'll play anything else I can from my hand first, and then play this guy. After passing, it all comes down to seeing what the opponent will do on their turn and if they can draw an answer. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Underworld Connections and Blood Scrivener can help refill your hand, but be careful not to kill yourself while using them.
Playing him requires some luck on your part, but also remember that he is best played mid-game, during the time when your opponent might have a few answers, but not nearly as much as the late-game staying power a U/W control deck can achieve. Sire will not stay on the board long during late-game against a control deck, if he even makes it to the table at all. Slaughter Games will be this guy's wingman, use it to remove threats (verdict, revelation, breath, dissolve, syncopate) or if you are feeling lucky, Elspeth, Sun's Champion or Jace, Architect of Thought. If you can't nail the planeswalkers with SG, then don't worry, because that is also what Dreadbore and Hero's Downfall are for. Skullcrack and Fate Unraveler can also deal with Revelation, so your main targets to hit would be Verdict, D-sphere, or the counter spells.
That's about all I can say on him, just send him in and protect him well! Good luck!
It's terrifying, mortifying, petrifying!
It will leave your opponents handless and helpless.
---
Okay, enough with the theatrics. Imagine enchantments and/or creatures that force an opponent to draw cards, loose life for each card drawn, and then loose more life for each card discarded and then loose even more life for not having a hand combined with THIS.
Oh it's good to be bad ...