Well, Fish decks now have an answer to Tarmogoyf, besides splashing white for Path.
At least, for the one turn that it takes until this guy gets killed.
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★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Should see play in every format. What a wonderful Merfolk, even if it isn't a lord.
blurrymadness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Bringing color hate back in a bit more than it had been recently. Very cool
DaLucaray
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(7 votes)
Hey. It's a 2/2 for 2 in blue. That alone makes it pretty good.
Purplerooster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Yeah it doesn't permanently take care of the creature and dies to removal, but if this isn't killed the turn it is played it will at least stop an attack. Nice answer to Thragtusk, Reckoner, and Voice, because killing them in combat has its drawbacks.
Avensai
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Its tribal affiliation, its cost, as well as its favorable stats make this a deceptively powerful enemy hoser. At the very least, I think this effect is more creative than the one they slapped on Mindsparker. This will at least draw removal away from a more valuable creature or else keep a dangerous attacker out of commission.
SyntheticDreamer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If this weren't a Merfolk, I'd say it wouldn't be very useful, but as it is, this is going to see a ton of play as a cheap way to neutralize Goyf.
Sonserf369
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Exactly what blue needs: a well costed, on curve way of dealing with Savage Summoning.
JaxsonBateman
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Removal that comes on a body - definitely sideboard material.
Other pluses include that it's a 2/2 for UU and it's tribal affiliation. It also will trade with Geist of Saint Traft (which might be a negative, but not too bad).
Downsides include that it doesn't stop Delver of Secrets or Bloodbraid Elf (the elf is simply too fast, Delver is too blue), gets eaten by Abrupt Decay and can be countered. Then again, whoever would seriously waste a Force of Will on this fish clearly doesn't know what they're doing. Still, very playable card in the eternal formats, and I'm proud to see it in a core set.
Cygore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Good art. Good for standard play.
LordOfTheFlies87
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Weirdly low rating. This is going to get played.
Tamerlein
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Probably won't see much constructed play, but it will probably make a decent impact in other formats in Merfolk tribal.
4.5/5
NuclearRainboom
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A perfectly sideboardable card in control decks. I pulled 2 from a fat pack, and they haven't failed me.
kor6sic6
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pulled two so far, and they're already sideboard material in my modern deck. Waiting to see if they're worth it in my Esper sideboard in standard.
Oxman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There are to date 40 monoblue merfolk with cmc 2. Seven of those have a double-blue cost like this card. Among those are Coralhelm Commander, Master of the Pearl Trident, Lord of Atlantis and Grimoire Thief.
Any way, if you see a merfolk with a two-blue manacost ANYWHERE. Kill it before it kills you.
Lord_Skoonie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Who would've guess that its mana cost would become more relevant than its ability? Being able to activate Thassa, God of the Sea by turn 4 at the earliest is ridiculous.
sweetgab
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Lord_Skoonie: Not true. The ability is very important.
Think Elvish Mystic into Domri, them going second. If you have no turn two play, you're in a pretty bad shape. Even if you have a Frostburn Weird, you'd still be wasting your turn three just to kill Domri, and they have four mana the next turn. If you can lock down the elf though, they can't make a Domri turn two, nor a Polukranos turn three. As long as you have a Specter or a Thassa you're already on your way to winning.
Against anyone who plays green or red, this ability is as strong as Banisher Priest's, at one less mana. And Banisher Priest is already pretty strong.
Comments (22)
At least, for the one turn that it takes until this guy gets killed.
In modern: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, Tarmogoyf, Grim Lavamancer, and Deathrite Shaman.
In Legacy: Tarmogoyf, Grim Lavamancer, Knight of the Reliquary, Noble Hierarch, Deathrite Shaman, Scavenging Ooze, and any goblin.
Other pluses include that it's a 2/2 for UU and it's tribal affiliation. It also will trade with Geist of Saint Traft (which might be a negative, but not too bad).
Downsides include that it doesn't stop Delver of Secrets or Bloodbraid Elf (the elf is simply too fast, Delver is too blue), gets eaten by Abrupt Decay and can be countered. Then again, whoever would seriously waste a Force of Will on this fish clearly doesn't know what they're doing. Still, very playable card in the eternal formats, and I'm proud to see it in a core set.
4.5/5
Seven of those have a double-blue cost like this card.
Among those are Coralhelm Commander, Master of the Pearl Trident, Lord of Atlantis and Grimoire Thief.
Any way, if you see a merfolk with a two-blue manacost ANYWHERE. Kill it before it kills you.
Think Elvish Mystic into Domri, them going second. If you have no turn two play, you're in a pretty bad shape. Even if you have a Frostburn Weird, you'd still be wasting your turn three just to kill Domri, and they have four mana the next turn. If you can lock down the elf though, they can't make a Domri turn two, nor a Polukranos turn three. As long as you have a Specter or a Thassa you're already on your way to winning.
Against anyone who plays green or red, this ability is as strong as Banisher Priest's, at one less mana. And Banisher Priest is already pretty strong.