Don't know why its low rated, its a card that requires a deck specailizing in life gain, which clerics do well, and this card, in turn shines like a godly beacon in this decks. When you pull off an infinite life combo (easy in a cleric deck) suddenly this card becomes a 1BB = All your creatures get +infinite/+infinite.
EX: Children of Korlis
GhelmaroftheSimic
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
This is the enchantment being removed with Wipe Clean
Econael
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Like it a lot in my cleric deck.
@Callipsa:
I figure at the moment where you have infinite health, your opponent will forfeit the game anyway.
@Hairless Thoctar: Yes, although Unspeakable Symbol is better because you can distribute the counters freely, not investing a ton of life in a single, vulnerable creature.
Works pretty well with life steal. I've actually won games by pairing this with Mourning Thrull. It should work decently with the BW lifelink theme of Eventide. Powerful when used correctly, and cheap enough to matter - 4/5.
Could potentially be worth it in a Spike deck, but it's unlikely.
Shadoflaam
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Econeal: I once played an EDH game in which my opponent had infinite life and 30 effectively indestructible (because of rune-tail, kitsune ascendant, his general) 1/1 tokens, and I was at 2. Playing a Glissa, the Traitor EDH deck, I commented: "You know, a lesser man would have scooped", and proceeded to top-deck a Carnifex Demon with 3 swamps and 4 forests open. His creatures wiped, I stalled until I got out a Blightsteel Colossus, at which my opponent forfeited. Infinite life doesn't mean infinite wins. Also, decent card.
Names_Suck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd say this is made better now with proliferate. Still only marginally playable though.
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Without any combo: it's decent to bad. Can sometimes rescue creatures, or turn additional life into damage. But if you combo it... Here some examples right out of my head: - symbol + spike weaver = stalling any attacks against you for a long time - symbol + persist creatures => basically reanimating your creatures for 3 life each - symbol + spike feeder... Now that is fun. First, you can get 2 of the 3 life you paid per counter back at any moment. Add a doubling season for example. Pay 3 life, put two counters on the feeder. Remove the two counters, gain 4 life. Rinse and repeat. It's unlimited life and a creature with unlimited p/t. Or with that white card that doubles life gain, that does the same job.
It's also good for multiplayer politics, or in team games.
metalevolence
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is for skithiryx EDH.
creepycrawler
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ghave, Guru of Spores makes this so you can pay life for Saprolings! How cool is that?
CJM2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I didn't even know this existed. I was using Souldrinker in my W/B Leech Life deck...this is so much better, since I can use it on creatures with Lifelink instead of having to equip Souldrinker withBasilisk Collar. I'm getting 4 immediately.
Atali
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The simplest combo is cheap lifelink creatures, they will rapidly recover the life you pay making them bigger.
Mourning Thrull or Vault Skirge effectively becomes a Baneslayer if you feed it 12 life, and you can just feed more chunks of life into it for an exponentially growing, flying lifelinker. Removal magnet for sure, but there are enough fairly cheap flying lifelinkers around that losing one won't hamstring your strategy.
TheHandyman
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is the enchantment formerly known as...?
Lord_Ascapelion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
3 life is a bit steep for a single +1/+1 counter. However, it can be made to work, as people here have suggested.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pretty sweet card. Just having this out will really make an opponent think twice about attacking or blocking.
You dont want to burn all your life right when you drop this. Save it in your pocket. The threat of using it sometimes is more then enough.
DeckMechanic
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign Life is demanding without understanding I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong... But where do you belong?
azure_drake222222
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oona's blackguard. This is an excellent three drop for her, as you can pump her up not only for damage, but to make her cause discard on T3.
I also just realized why this cost is so high (in life), this effectively makes all of your creatures unblockable as your opponent won't want to engage in unfavorable trades. After all, you're in black, you're crazy enough to do it! On top of this, they need board position to survive your swarm of crazies.
If you go this route it's also easy to dump 15-18 life against-non-burn decks and have a massive beater they have to get rid of. Consider lifelink black creatures with this. A vampire nighthawk on this or even a child of night becomes very scary as they get pumped each turn just a bit more to get passed blockers and nab large amounts of life; allowing further pumping.
:D
Nezon7up
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave duh LOL
alot of time in edh 40 life to pay
OlvynChuru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The trick to playing Unspeakable Symbol well is to use the ability when it matters. 3 life may seem like a lot just for one counter, but if that counter can create good card advantage, it is worth paying the life for.
For example, let's say I have out an Unspeakable Symbol and a 4/4 Sengir Vampire, while you have out a Serra Angel. I have a decent amount of life. I attack you. Are you going to block?
If my opponent does block, I will be fine paying 3 life to get rid of their angel and keep my vampire.
Comments (23)
EX: Children of Korlis
@Callipsa:
I figure at the moment where you have infinite health, your opponent will forfeit the game anyway.
Souldrinker in enchantment form.
Works pretty well with life steal. I've actually won games by pairing this with Mourning Thrull. It should work decently with the BW lifelink theme of Eventide. Powerful when used correctly, and cheap enough to matter - 4/5.
I once played an EDH game in which my opponent had infinite life and 30 effectively indestructible (because of rune-tail, kitsune ascendant, his general) 1/1 tokens, and I was at 2. Playing a Glissa, the Traitor EDH deck, I commented: "You know, a lesser man would have scooped", and proceeded to top-deck a Carnifex Demon with 3 swamps and 4 forests open. His creatures wiped, I stalled until I got out a Blightsteel Colossus, at which my opponent forfeited. Infinite life doesn't mean infinite wins.
Also, decent card.
But if you combo it... Here some examples right out of my head:
- symbol + spike weaver = stalling any attacks against you for a long time
- symbol + persist creatures => basically reanimating your creatures for 3 life each
- symbol + spike feeder... Now that is fun. First, you can get 2 of the 3 life you paid per counter back at any moment. Add a doubling season for example. Pay 3 life, put two counters on the feeder. Remove the two counters, gain 4 life. Rinse and repeat. It's unlimited life and a creature with unlimited p/t. Or with that white card that doubles life gain, that does the same job.
It's also good for multiplayer politics, or in team games.
Mourning Thrull or Vault Skirge effectively becomes a Baneslayer if you feed it 12 life, and you can just feed more chunks of life into it for an exponentially growing, flying lifelinker. Removal magnet for sure, but there are enough fairly cheap flying lifelinkers around that losing one won't hamstring your strategy.
You dont want to burn all your life right when you drop this. Save it in your pocket. The threat of using it sometimes is more then enough.
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong...
But where do you belong?
I also just realized why this cost is so high (in life), this effectively makes all of your creatures unblockable as your opponent won't want to engage in unfavorable trades. After all, you're in black, you're crazy enough to do it! On top of this, they need board position to survive your swarm of crazies.
If you go this route it's also easy to dump 15-18 life against-non-burn decks and have a massive beater they have to get rid of. Consider lifelink black creatures with this. A vampire nighthawk on this or even a child of night becomes very scary as they get pumped each turn just a bit more to get passed blockers and nab large amounts of life; allowing further pumping.
:D
alot of time in edh 40 life to pay
For example, let's say I have out an Unspeakable Symbol and a 4/4 Sengir Vampire, while you have out a Serra Angel. I have a decent amount of life. I attack you. Are you going to block?
If my opponent does block, I will be fine paying 3 life to get rid of their angel and keep my vampire.