This seems really sweet in a control deck utilizing boardwipes. Cast a Supreme Verdict, then attack in for 4? Neat. Works with Mutavault, too -- you just need to be sure and animate the Armor first.
Jake1991
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
2Spooky4Me
lilwolf2005
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(12 votes)
THE FLAVOR... OH GOD, IT'S GETTING IN MY EYES!!!
DaLucaray
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Ooh, man...eqiupments? My only problem is that you have to re-equip it. I suppose it's useful for when the equipped creature is destroyed. I like how you will always get a better creature out of equipping it.
Pigfish99
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Emergency equipment, basically. Incase of board wipe, animate armor. will probably save your skin a few times.
marmaris74
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(10 votes)
No one has mentioned it, but this is the first card in a while with an activated ability for 0.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Living weapon? Try living armor. This is going to be awesome in control shells as a beater that can get in after your Supreme Verdict or Terminus.
Goatllama
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(7 votes)
Wrath, activate all 4 in a row (stack dem triggers!), take 16!
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(10 votes)
I want to play two of these, and equip one to the other. DOUBLE ARMOR POWEEEEEEERRRRRR
Purplerooster
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(4 votes)
I can see why this was printed in M 4- Teen.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
first card I've seen that got above a 4.5/5 on flavor alone
flavioal28
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
I think this is good enough to see some fringe play in wrath heavy control decks. Note that if you have more than one in play, you can activate each plate's ability in response to the other, so you're cheating your way into having more than one attacking equipment out there. Also, very good design. 4.5/5
awesomeperson007
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Can you trigger one, and then in response trigger the other, so that they both animate?
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Meh. Way to expensive just for the +4/+4 for powercreep standards. But the 0: ability might make this worth it...
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If only this was just a bit better. It's awesome, don't get me wrong. I love the flavour and I've considered it many times for my Tajic EDH deck, but every time I think about it, I realise it's basically the same thing as gideon, champion of justice, but usually worse. It is harder to kill though, so that's a plus.
To make it better? I think just less equip cost would be awesome. +4/+4 is quite a bit though, and it's awesome that you can lose the equipped creature, and then block with the armour.
Tiggurix
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
The creature part of this artifact has the creature type that I always thought Haunted Guardian should have. I always found it weird that its creature type was "Construct" when both the name and the flavour text made it clear that it was just a haunted set of armour. Hopefully, with the release of this card, they may at least change it to "Spirit Construct", or something.
sceadu
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I really like this guy in a control deck for fun. Blow up everything with Supreme Verdict, Animate a Gideon, a couple of Mutavaults, and this sounds like fun, not particularly strong but fun throw in some extra wrath effects and counter spells.
Murmeldjuret
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Haunted Guardian got a buddy, now they can start forming a new tribe. Every tribe had humble beginnings.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is good, plain and simple. Gets around Wraths most of the time, is an instant speed surprise blocker with a sac outlet, can be cheated out (it's an artifact..) and easily tutored for the same reason.
Further? Any deck gets an on curve 4/4 for 4 that doubles as a means to make small flyers and such very scary.
4/5?
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I saw spirit and was like Yusss. But then I read the rest and I was like awwww.
rollinsclone
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wonder if this will show up in Death Cloud decks?
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Strong card.
nullsurface
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I really enjoy this card. Magical armor that comes alive when no one is looking? It's great.
Be aware, though: cards like Pacifism and Claustrophobia are very strong against this as they effectively disable the "come to life" ability of the armor. If you can't remove enchantments, I strongly recommend a way to sacrifice your paralyzed creatures.
LordRandomness
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
ACTIVATE this ability only if you control no creatures? You mean, you can activate multiple copies of it, then animate more things with similar abilities like Mutavault? Very interesting.
zenitramleirdag
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ rollinsclone deathcloud decks? possibly.. how about pox decks! you can activate it before you activate your mishra's factory..
This cards flavour is overwhelming. It's armour that you strap on your dudes and makes them more powerful, but then if they die it can carry on the fight without them.
5/5
Manite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Nullsurface: Those only enchant creatures. Haunted Plate Mail stops being a creature at the end of turn, therefore the auras fall off as a state-based action.
Ferlord
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Gee Scoob, this suit of armor is reeeeeeeeaaaaalllly spooky!
Rootkit9208
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this spooky bad boy is going to see play in control decks. He's not JUST a wincon, but he's also a a fantastic blocker. This is the only equipment that sees use at more than sorcery speed that I've ever seen.
Zylo-
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I play Modern Format only. I rate and review cards based on their usefulness in that format. I may also be wrong about cards so take my comments with that context in mind!
I loved this card when it came out... But quickly realized that it takes 8 mana to get this thing out... In modern format, that is a very high casting cost... Compare that to any of the swords at 5cmc or something like Runechanter's Pike at 4cmc to play/equip...
I believe that this card will do best in a deck that is loaded with mass removal... possibly with reanimation.
I would have rated this higher but the cmc was too much for me...
kor6sic6
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Activate your four Plate Mails in response to the other, then activate at least two Mutavaults. Swing.
TowerDefender
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Dies to Annul, Naturalize, Fade into Eternity and the like. But not so much of a problem in a control deck. How about MBC with Crypt Ghast to get it out and equip it with four swamps.
Comments (42)
To make it better? I think just less equip cost would be awesome. +4/+4 is quite a bit though, and it's awesome that you can lose the equipped creature, and then block with the armour.
Further? Any deck gets an on curve 4/4 for 4 that doubles as a means to make small flyers and such very scary.
4/5?
Be aware, though: cards like Pacifism and Claustrophobia are very strong against this as they effectively disable the "come to life" ability of the armor. If you can't remove enchantments, I strongly recommend a way to sacrifice your paralyzed creatures.
deathcloud decks? possibly..
how about pox decks! you can activate it before you activate your mishra's factory..
5/5
I loved this card when it came out... But quickly realized that it takes 8 mana to get this thing out... In modern format, that is a very high casting cost... Compare that to any of the swords at 5cmc or something like Runechanter's Pike at 4cmc to play/equip...
I believe that this card will do best in a deck that is loaded with mass removal... possibly with reanimation.
I would have rated this higher but the cmc was too much for me...
Thank you for pointing out that cards that destroy artifacts do, in fact, destroy artifacts. Where would we be without people like you?
FOUR 4/4s!!!