that is the face of owner of Thoughtseize, when the prize goes down
Continue
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Welcome back. We missed you.
MostlyLost
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Finally, an answer to Thragtusk in Standard! Now maybe it won't be so dominant anymore.....wait a sec...
ShatterPalm
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(10 votes)
An interesting reprint. Typically the wizards avoid reprinting things like this. Well, it'll be nice if I can crack a few, they could replace my Duresses in my Vamp deck.
.Blaze.
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(3 votes)
I am not looking forward to this being in standard. I am looking forward to trading away any and all copies that I get.
MrMonday
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(8 votes)
I really like this card. Great effect, especially for one mana.
The flavor text, though... I think Wizards was trying to go for "creepy" and kind of missed...
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Heck yeah!
Hunter06
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Why do his hands turn to fog after we took something from his brain?
4/5 Stars
Avensai
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Okay. It's back. Can people stop complaining about wanting a Thoughtseize reprint now?
Kaizeischi
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
@Hunter06:
I guess, from a literal standpoint, our "hands" become pretty transparent once this card is played.
Also, the tip of his head is turning to fog because our plans, just for the next few turns, are pretty transparent as well. :3
TenMatys
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(9 votes)
Why not Ostracize? Ostracism was a procedure under the Athenian democracy (...) used as a way of neutralizing someone thought to be a threat to the state (wiki)
TheWallinator74
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
The terror from Lorwyn returns... and with it, MBC decks fueled by devotion.
Nucleon
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(5 votes)
So is Voldemort living on the back of this guy's head or something?
Fenix.
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
So many decks that have no business running an effect like this will be running it... post-rotation standard is going to be heaven for monored decks.
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Greatest discard card sice 1763.
DritzD27
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
@Hunter06
Based on the gold mask in the image and the similarity in effect, it looks like he is becoming something similar to the Returned (as the Returned are half of a dead person's identity but without the capacity to have or remember any memories).
As for the card, I'm really not looking too forward to playing against such a powerful hand manipulator in the coming months. Oh well.
glowlog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wanna get one of these in the pre-realease tommorow :P
Gcrudaplaneswalker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a great reprint; I heavily questioned this not being reprinted in Modern Masters. Now Modern and Standard players alike are happy, including myself :)
Yozuk
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The old art was better. At least in my opinion.
Atali
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Hilariously, Theros Thoughtseize is rated higher than Theros Swamp, but lower than Theros Forest.
Jitteryowl
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(8 votes)
HIDE YO GODS HIDE YO WIFE
DarkSquirrel
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(6 votes)
I hate cards like this...... They are so powerful that it becomes feasibly impossible to play anything else. and i really don't feel like splashing black just to play this.
P.S
Does anyone know how to rate a card? it won't let me rate it.
BloodCrank
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cool. Another answer for Loxodon Smiter...wait
sweetgab
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best card in Theros. There's a reason why Jund just dominated a recent big Modern event, and the deck owes its success in no small part to Thoughtseize (and its partner in crime, Inquisition of Kozilek). For one mana and 2 life, solves any problem preemptively, whether it's a creature, a planeswalker or a counterspell. All those times you Turn // Burn a Voice of Resurgence for five mana or Warleader's Helix a Domri Radeafter they've already drawn a creature with his +1... if you went Swamp, Thoughtseize instead, problem was already solved on turn 1.
kindofabigdeal
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
On pure in-game effectiveness alone I would rate this card as 5 star. I like the art too. But, even though I got one of these at the pre-release and therefore have no reason to feel bitter, I sort of hate this card. It's just too good to be any fun.
Hollowing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Thoughtseize will be a major player in Standard just like it is in all of the other formats, but I don't think it will warp it nearly as much as people think it will. Decks will need to run some form of lifegain to make up for the life lost from Thoughtseize. Two damage doesn't seem like much, but if you play it turn one using a shockland you are already down four life and your opponent is just down one card.
I think it will do the best in a deck that runs green for Deathrite Shaman, Scavenging Ooze, and Bow of Nylea, or white for cards like Obzedat, Blood Baron, and any extort cards.
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Guy at my shop was saying "I don't see why everyone likes this card so much. I don't think it's that good." I said "Play with it, then you will understand." Hell, Duress is one if my favorite cards, and this is better. One Black to remove target problem from your game, and see your opponent's plans. Plus once you understand the color pie you will know Black can't really deal with not only artifacts and enchantments, but it doesn't counter instants and sorceries either. This does it all. Or just kill a creature which isn't recommended though given Black has the best creature removal already. 5/5 all day every day. I want at least 8.
Morrinkt
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(7 votes)
I can imagine the guy in the artwork screaming "MY COMBO!!!!!!!!" while disintegrating into thin air.
TowerDefender
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like that it says player not opponent. So you could even use it against yourself if you needed to get a specific card into your GY at the expense of showing your hand + 2 life points. Maybe with Rescue from the Underworld and some hideously expensive or off-colour creature.
Hepatizon
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@TenMatys - because 2 things:
1. Ostracize didn't get Timeshifted, so no Modern. 2. Creatures aren't everything. A lot of times the best way to foil their plan is to toss out their Resurrection or Seething Song or Crucible of Worlds. Pre-emptive countering in black for one mana with bonus hand-peeking? Yes please and thank you.
Deadling
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Here I was thinking the two of these I pulled were worthless... Well I can say I'll be taking these right into my local shop, and getting rid of them! lol. Still gave it a 5/5, simply because it's effect is good for the set. Given how much black can use life link so far. Just not my style.
Oatbran
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I need to stop calling my packs... First 2 scavenging oozes, and now 2 thoughtseizes... Magic, I don't want money rares, give me the fun stuff!
Bob111634
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
first theros fnm i reveal my hand-3 land and 4 smiters
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Brought the other one's value down by about $35-40; which is perfect for someone who want's the other's art. I imagine the value will eventually go back up; but either way, glad to see a legacy staple 1-drop not cost $70+.
Confidant, then this!? I wonder if Bitterblossum (though it's much cheaper anyway) will ever get that treatment :D
rZ1987
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Brought back an old classic. Yay :D
Innistrader
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Is the guy in the art being turned into a Returned?
orzhov20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
WHY IS THIS THING WORTH SO MUCH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
adrian.malacoda
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Innistrader the guy in the art is having his thought seized.
Xineombine
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
with this and Quicken in standard, expect your opponents to cry if you run U/B Control
Lifegainwithbite
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Well kids, welcome to new Standard where everyone lives in perpetual fear of this card. Let me illustrate why Thoughtseize is unbelievably powerful and unbelievably unfun.
Let's imagine this scenario: Player 1 keeps a fairly loose hand that relies on Sylvan Caryatid to produce enough mana to survive.
Player 2 turn 1 Thoughtseizes Player 1.
Player 1 loses the game as a result.
This will happen a lot from here on. It might be the mono red crucial two drop or the blue Nightveil Specter that produces enough devotion for Thassa but Thoughtseize will find you and it will destroy everything you love, even if you play it yourself. It's almost as bad as Hymn to Tourach in that respect.
Brutal, brutal card that will see play in every black deck in Standard without fail. I won't like it but I'll use it.
bstric
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Just because you can play this on turn 1, doesn't mean you always should.
Paleopaladin
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(6 votes)
I was going to skip buying anything from this block completely.
Now I see a reason not to.
TexasDice
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Reid Duke wrote an article about Thoughtseize. Probably the best thing StarCityGames made lately.
This is definitely an advanced players card. I watched a new player play this and made the worst calls ever.....
Also...I pulled a FOIL Korean one of these in my foreign booster box IN THE SAME PACK along with the misprint Ashiok (In the Korean first print run, Ashioks first ability was +1 instead of +2)
I know it might sound like I am B.S'ing....but I truly did.
Heretical_Tarp
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Probably one of the only playable answers to Chimney Imp and Storm Crow; you have to stop those cards BEFORE they hit the table, and Duress can't discard creature cards. Of course it's valuable.
MindAblaze
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I like that...oh my god my comboooooooo. Damn you Inspire...this block may turn out to be better than I had initially thought.
Thank you for posting that link! The article was very informative, especially for someone like me who has never had the opportunity to play Thoughtseize.
Ferlord
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
I understand what I'm about to say has nothing to do with the following card, but I'd like to share this with the Gatherer community. If you have the time, please read ahead.
I have heard many comments on cards like Fleecemane Lion and Prophet of Kruphix, wondering why the cards are rated so low. It's not because those cards are not played. It's because someone is purposely doing this.
I have noticed this trend when a new set comes out. Initially, everyone clamours to give great cards high ratings. And then, after a few weeks after it has been released, card ratings plummet.
Snapcaster, initially 4.7 stars out of 5, was once 4.1. Geist of Saint Traft, initially 4.5/5, was 3.9/5. Boros Reckoner was 3.7/5. Thragtusk was below 4 stars for a while. All of these cards were heavily played in Standard because they are good.
In short, someone's changing how they're perceived. I think someone has made 20-30 gatherer accounts and purposely down-rates cards.
If you check now, their ratings are higher. That's because over time, normal people go to rate the card based on how good they think it is. That person can't cast another vote unless they make more accounts.
If you look at the new Commander Pre-con legendaries (Derevi, Nekusar, etc.), you'll notice they're no longer rated higher than 4 stars. In fact, they are around 3.7 stars. I'd bet my True-Name Nemesis that those cards' ratings will go back up to 4+ stars in a year.
My theory is that this person wants discourage casual players from buying more expensive cards, thus, lowering demand. Think about it: If you see a card that's 3.7 stars, would you be more enticed to buy it than one that's 4.0 or more? What if you noticed the 3.7 star card is $10, and the 4.0 is $0.50? You wouldn't want the $10 card.
This is all speculation. I have no proof of this nor do I know who's responsible.
But if you've read this far, please read a little further. I want to test my theory.
I want you to check the rares when the next set come out. Notice how the ratings go. Do a general search of the set, then order them via community rating. See who's on top. Notice the good cards. Then check back in a few weeks and check the ratings. Compare those cards with other cards with similar ratings. See how many people have rated on the once-good card and the other similarly rated.
If this trend stops, then I am just crazy and the down-voters are just illogical people. However, I feel there's a greater force at hand here.
Thank you for reading.
Phelplan
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
5/5 for being a Duress with more options and *gasp* a drawback. More cards should have drawbacks these days. (Or should just have an appropriate mana cost in the first place. I'm looking at you Loxodon Smiter.)
Kadaver666
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I remember getting thoughtseized with a playset of Swansongs in hand. The look on the other guys face was priceless xD
PopcornBunni
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Here again to seize your cash!
LynterriaHatake
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
@Ferlord
While that's an interesting theory, my theory is that after getting beat down by a card enough, some players feel that the card is broken and rate it down.
ThisDude
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Thoughtseize and Surgical Extraction. Thanks.
Belgarath123
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Ferlord
While I'm not sure that exactly that is happening, it is a reasonable theory. One such card might have been Sol Ring. At one time the highest on the gather, it droped about .25. While this could not be an example, it does seem a bit odd.
Nice idea though, and I like your comment.
BongRipper420
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Finally! It was about time for a reprint of one of the best discard spells of all time. The only discard spell that can even be compared power-wise being Inquisition of Kozilek. Honorable mention to the notorious Hymn to Tourach.
David.O
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
@Ferlord I honestly do agree players are rating cards in bad judgement, Many of the Theros gods once had high ratings now they are rated lower then some crappy spells. Good comment, and I hope it brings some awareness to payers.
SevesDariku
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I'm currently running Dimir in Standard (Dimir-Control, not Dimir-Mill), and when I first started to put my deck together a friend told me that I HAD to run four-of with Thoughtseize. I looked up the card, and meh... Seemed 'alright' I thought, but I just could not figure out the price tag...
I now HAVE my four-of, and count these as an absolute GODSEND (no pun intended). I will almost always keep my starting hand if I have a swamp and a Thoughtseize, as dropping it turn one or two seems to nearly double my win rate.
This card singlehandedly kills off the best reason your opponent kept their 'good' hand. WORST case scenario, you know EXACTLY what is coming, and when running Dimir-Control, knowing what to save spells for is amazing.
Easy 5/5, pity about the price tag, but well earned in my opinion.
DoorDie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This reprint, coupled with a complete lack of sufficient hate cards for black in any color besides black, makes black the best color in Standard.
Drewskithelegend
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Why rate this card at all? It's playable in every format where people play non land cards (which rather precludes Momir Basic, now that I think about it) and is a staple black card in many of those formats. It was at one point one of the most expensive cards in the game and for good reason. I gotta say, I don't really like the art on this version... What's happening, Is he turning into the Sandman or exploding or what, and what does that have to do with stealing memories?
@Ferlord, Your conclusion seems feasible to say the least and it certainly wouldn't be the most insane thing somebody has ever done to fix prices/demand (According to a publication I subscribed to that deals in magic finance, somebody spent $20,000 to essentially corner the market on Birthing pod in the wake of pro tour Born of the Gods, raising the price from a low of $5-7 to $15-20.) I think it is equally likely that playrs rate cards based on speculation, but as we have seen in the past, player perception is frequently wrong. The top-down nature of the game makes it fairly tricky to evaluate how good a card is in the format as a whole. I mean with some cards you can just tell that they are going to be kickass no matter what format they are in, but other cards are much worse than they look and some are much better than they look. With relatively few reviewers and low/high expectations that vary from player to player, the aggregate rating will be high/low while the card is new, and as more people rate the card, especially once the card has seen more exposure and has established itself as good or bad in the metagame, the rating will settle. In addition the more noteworthy the card is (either really good or really bad) the more reviews it will receive.
Vursor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I see a pattern with this card. -So much so that I developed a habit for peeking at my opponent's hand. Sin Collector/Cloudshift will follow up as a contribution to this pattern.
This card is just too damn inspiring, I feel like a prophet in the early game. Any creatures that make it to the battlefield get banished Banisher Priest.
5/5
Ajones99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This was pretty much the most common rare I was getting from boosters I was opening. Then I saw how much they were worth and thought 'thank god I'm getting these from boosters'.
Goatllama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm feeling bold, I think I'll post a comment. Aside from the obvious, this makes the player reveal their hand. Nice little distinction I didn't notice right away.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Utility staples shouldnt be rare. They should be common cards.
mdakw576
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Thoughtseize is certainly a great card, and it's a good block to get it back (to let black have some way to deal with enchantments). The reprint made it from a ridiculous $60+ to a much more affordable $15-20 (which will probably drop to like $10-15 after rotation, then slowly climb from there).
However, what I don't like is how it's just so far and ahead one of the best cards in standard right now, and I'd go so far to say that it IS the best card in standard (mutavault is really only good because of thoughtseize turning games into a grind and attacking with land 2/2s is a thing, mutavault was not particularly good in INN-RTR standard with all the thragtusks, resto angels, and huntmasters around). Sphinx's revelation, elspeth, and so on are also strong, but they are all these big mana cards that do splashy things at the end of the game. But thoughtseize is pretty 1-of-a-kind (duress doesn't cut it).
It's not that I think Thoughtseize is broken, but the power level in Theros overall is a pretty huge step back compared to previous blocks, which causes Thoughtseize to stand out more. I don't like it when such a disruptive card is probably the best card in standard. It doesn't lead to the best games. Thoughtseize destroys combos. Thoughtseize destroys synergy. Thoughtseize causes games to boil down to "who has the most goodstuffs in their deck".
Soul__Power
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The card so powerful, Wizards makes you pay 2 life to use it. If your deck combos, this card takes that away. If you only have 1 legit play in the first six turns, this card takes that away. If you have an answer for a card I need to protect, this card takes that away.
Discard has always been one of the most iconic mechanics black has going for it and this card is the pinnacle of discard in my opinion. The ability to see the opponent's hand can be underrated at times and the versatility of being able to grab the creatures Duress can not make this card one of my all time favorite discard cards.
5/5 for versatility and strength without being overpowered
Comments (66)
The flavor text, though... I think Wizards was trying to go for "creepy" and kind of missed...
4/5 Stars
I guess, from a literal standpoint, our "hands" become pretty transparent once this card is played.
Also, the tip of his head is turning to fog because our plans, just for the next few turns, are pretty transparent as well. :3
Based on the gold mask in the image and the similarity in effect, it looks like he is becoming something similar to the Returned (as the Returned are half of a dead person's identity but without the capacity to have or remember any memories).
As for the card, I'm really not looking too forward to playing against such a powerful hand manipulator in the coming months. Oh well.
P.S
Does anyone know how to rate a card? it won't let me rate it.
I think it will do the best in a deck that runs green for Deathrite Shaman, Scavenging Ooze, and Bow of Nylea, or white for cards like Obzedat, Blood Baron, and any extort cards.
1. Ostracize didn't get Timeshifted, so no Modern.
2. Creatures aren't everything. A lot of times the best way to foil their plan is to toss out their Resurrection or Seething Song or Crucible of Worlds. Pre-emptive countering in black for one mana with bonus hand-peeking? Yes please and thank you.
Confidant, then this!? I wonder if Bitterblossum (though it's much cheaper anyway) will ever get that treatment :D
Let's imagine this scenario:
Player 1 keeps a fairly loose hand that relies on Sylvan Caryatid to produce enough mana to survive.
Player 2 turn 1 Thoughtseizes Player 1.
Player 1 loses the game as a result.
This will happen a lot from here on. It might be the mono red crucial two drop or the blue Nightveil Specter that produces enough devotion for Thassa but Thoughtseize will find you and it will destroy everything you love, even if you play it yourself. It's almost as bad as Hymn to Tourach in that respect.
Brutal, brutal card that will see play in every black deck in Standard without fail. I won't like it but I'll use it.
Now I see a reason not to.
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/26855_Thoughtseize-You.html
Also...I pulled a FOIL Korean one of these in my foreign booster box IN THE SAME PACK along with the misprint Ashiok (In the Korean first print run, Ashioks first ability was +1 instead of +2)
I know it might sound like I am B.S'ing....but I truly did.
Of course it's valuable.
Thank you for posting that link! The article was very informative, especially for someone like me who has never had the opportunity to play Thoughtseize.
I have heard many comments on cards like Fleecemane Lion and Prophet of Kruphix, wondering why the cards are rated so low.
It's not because those cards are not played. It's because someone is purposely doing this.
I have noticed this trend when a new set comes out. Initially, everyone clamours to give great cards high ratings. And then, after a few weeks after it has been released, card ratings plummet.
Snapcaster, initially 4.7 stars out of 5, was once 4.1. Geist of Saint Traft, initially 4.5/5, was 3.9/5. Boros Reckoner was 3.7/5. Thragtusk was below 4 stars for a while.
All of these cards were heavily played in Standard because they are good.
In short, someone's changing how they're perceived. I think someone has made 20-30 gatherer accounts and purposely down-rates cards.
If you check now, their ratings are higher. That's because over time, normal people go to rate the card based on how good they think it is. That person can't cast another vote unless they make more accounts.
If you look at the new Commander Pre-con legendaries (Derevi, Nekusar, etc.), you'll notice they're no longer rated higher than 4 stars. In fact, they are around 3.7 stars. I'd bet my True-Name Nemesis that those cards' ratings will go back up to 4+ stars in a year.
My theory is that this person wants discourage casual players from buying more expensive cards, thus, lowering demand. Think about it: If you see a card that's 3.7 stars, would you be more enticed to buy it than one that's 4.0 or more? What if you noticed the 3.7 star card is $10, and the 4.0 is $0.50? You wouldn't want the $10 card.
This is all speculation. I have no proof of this nor do I know who's responsible.
But if you've read this far, please read a little further. I want to test my theory.
I want you to check the rares when the next set come out. Notice how the ratings go. Do a general search of the set, then order them via community rating. See who's on top. Notice the good cards. Then check back in a few weeks and check the ratings. Compare those cards with other cards with similar ratings. See how many people have rated on the once-good card and the other similarly rated.
If this trend stops, then I am just crazy and the down-voters are just illogical people. However, I feel there's a greater force at hand here.
Thank you for reading.
While that's an interesting theory, my theory is that after getting beat down by a card enough, some players feel that the card is broken and rate it down.
While I'm not sure that exactly that is happening, it is a reasonable theory.
One such card might have been Sol Ring. At one time the highest on the gather, it droped about .25. While this could not be an example, it does seem a bit odd.
Nice idea though, and I like your comment.
I honestly do agree players are rating cards in bad judgement, Many of the Theros gods once had high ratings now they are rated lower then some crappy spells. Good comment, and I hope it brings some awareness to payers.
I now HAVE my four-of, and count these as an absolute GODSEND (no pun intended). I will almost always keep my starting hand if I have a swamp and a Thoughtseize, as dropping it turn one or two seems to nearly double my win rate.
This card singlehandedly kills off the best reason your opponent kept their 'good' hand. WORST case scenario, you know EXACTLY what is coming, and when running Dimir-Control, knowing what to save spells for is amazing.
Easy 5/5, pity about the price tag, but well earned in my opinion.
I gotta say, I don't really like the art on this version... What's happening, Is he turning into the Sandman or exploding or what, and what does that have to do with stealing memories?
@Ferlord, Your conclusion seems feasible to say the least and it certainly wouldn't be the most insane thing somebody has ever done to fix prices/demand (According to a publication I subscribed to that deals in magic finance, somebody spent $20,000 to essentially corner the market on Birthing pod in the wake of pro tour Born of the Gods, raising the price from a low of $5-7 to $15-20.) I think it is equally likely that playrs rate cards based on speculation, but as we have seen in the past, player perception is frequently wrong. The top-down nature of the game makes it fairly tricky to evaluate how good a card is in the format as a whole. I mean with some cards you can just tell that they are going to be kickass no matter what format they are in, but other cards are much worse than they look and some are much better than they look. With relatively few reviewers and low/high expectations that vary from player to player, the aggregate rating will be high/low while the card is new, and as more people rate the card, especially once the card has seen more exposure and has established itself as good or bad in the metagame, the rating will settle. In addition the more noteworthy the card is (either really good or really bad) the more reviews it will receive.
This card is just too damn inspiring, I feel like a prophet in the early game. Any creatures that make it to the battlefield get banished Banisher Priest.
5/5
However, what I don't like is how it's just so far and ahead one of the best cards in standard right now, and I'd go so far to say that it IS the best card in standard (mutavault is really only good because of thoughtseize turning games into a grind and attacking with land 2/2s is a thing, mutavault was not particularly good in INN-RTR standard with all the thragtusks, resto angels, and huntmasters around). Sphinx's revelation, elspeth, and so on are also strong, but they are all these big mana cards that do splashy things at the end of the game. But thoughtseize is pretty 1-of-a-kind (duress doesn't cut it).
It's not that I think Thoughtseize is broken, but the power level in Theros overall is a pretty huge step back compared to previous blocks, which causes Thoughtseize to stand out more. I don't like it when such a disruptive card is probably the best card in standard. It doesn't lead to the best games. Thoughtseize destroys combos. Thoughtseize destroys synergy. Thoughtseize causes games to boil down to "who has the most goodstuffs in their deck".
Discard has always been one of the most iconic mechanics black has going for it and this card is the pinnacle of discard in my opinion. The ability to see the opponent's hand can be underrated at times and the versatility of being able to grab the creatures Duress can not make this card one of my all time favorite discard cards.
5/5 for versatility and strength without being overpowered