"oh look! i can pay one mana of each color to get a 3/3! but wait! it can remove counters from permanents. oh wait, that gives it a permanent -2/-2. and i can only do it twice? sign me up."
sorrow's path, meet spinal parasite, fifth dawn's addition to the card hall of shame.
Draugnor
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I've seen one of these up to 18/18 due to multiple Energy Chambers and a Cranial Plating. While the parasite itself pretty well sucks, it just goes to show that even the worst cards can still be combo'd to devastating effect.
(I just wish I had done that combo instead of the other guy)
Mode
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
-1/-1 is a cool idea, but it really wasn't necessary on this creature. 0/0, 1/1 or even 2/2 for that guy would have been still far away from being broken. Even in a triple-colored deck the Parasite could become no larger than 2/2 and you could activate the ability once only and thereby even kill him. That's certainly not worth a five-mana investment, i'd rather play a simple Medicine Runner, Vampire Hexmage or Clockspinning instead.
@Zulp: I don't think so. For five mana you are offered a broad selection of burn spells which will easily remove more than one or two tiny loyality counters, and the aforementioned Vampire Hexmage does a better job if you're going the direct way of loyality removal, too.
@Draugnor: Once your opponent made a big guy out of this creature, he could have made an even bigger threat out of another one. (By the way, i doubt it was 18/18 when considering that Cranial Plating only gives +1/+0 and does not help activating this creature's ability either)
@mn6334: The ability does synergize with Persist creatures, yet there are simply a lot of better options for doing so (Juniper Order Ranger, Heartmender or similar cards that even allow loops.)
True_Smog
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
What the hell is wrong with this card ?!
ClockworkSwordfish
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
The hell?!
Velacteis
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
5 mana for a 4/4 is decent for an artifact. The redeeming factor is that if something would remove him from play you can remove the counters in response without even having to pay for mana.
Chamale
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Velacteis: True, (5) for a 4/4 artifact creature is good. But in that case, this creature doesn't cost (5), it costs WUBRG. Far better creatures exist for that cost, such as Fusion Elemental, and 8/8 for WUBRG with no abilities. If you want an artifact creature, Reaper King is a 6/6. This card is just useless in almost any context, unless you really need to remove some quest counters.
18scsc
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
forget Fusion Elemental, i'd rather have Malstorm archangle, or if you feel like playing WUBRG any way, just pay WWUUBBRRGG for a progenitus.
Tera_GX
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Aw, I was a bit excited to see the unusual -1/-1 base, but I do agree it is otherwise quite a shame. I have a powerful counter-manipulating artifact deck, but this guy would not be the candidate for most of my effects.
It's greatest use would be if I were using my counter-manipulating deck, and my opponent started taking control of some of my power cards, then he could start destroying me with this card. But that scenario makes little sense. All "real" good qualities of this card are covered by other things in the kind of deck it would go in.
I can perpetuate Persist a lot better with other cards than can this guy, as well as robbing my opponent of his counters.
jsttu
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I wonder if this card was foreshadowing for scars of mirrodin, as the phyrexians used parasitic spines, called mimetic spines, to control and discipline it's troops, such as Greven Il-Vec.
blindthrall
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Andrew Ryan was right. The parasite is worthless.
tcollins
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I think it would've worked if the card instead was designed as: Spinal Parasite {4}
Sunburst, Sunburst Remove two +1/+1 counters from Spinal Parasite: Remove a counter from target permanent. -1/-1
That way it enter the battlefield as a 7/7 for {WUBR}/{WUBG}/{WBRG}/{WURG}/{URBG} at best.. i understand that's well above the curve, but Fusion Elemental is an 8/8 for {WUBRG}, and is less susceptible to removal because he retains his colours and isn't subject to cards like Naturalize. I know that this is probably too powerful, but as is Spinal Parasite is mediocre at best, sadly this is the often the case with most of the sunburst cards.
Superllama12
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Great concept, a parasite is nothing without a host; however, maybe it would be cool if it were an equipment where the creature gets +1/+1 for each counter, and can remove two to remove another counter
Aidan_McDermott
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
I wish I could rate this -1/5.
ICEFANG13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@ chives5602
I believe in power creep a bit, I feel like newer cards clearly are better than older cards. Its not something I love, but it is what it is, magic will either go up slowly or quickly. Cards at the same power level means a dead game, and it is for $$, its not like anyone wants Magic to die.
What you said makes no sense whatsoever, I don't like players that just complain that power creep isn't here, it is, but I also don't like players who complain about power creep.
So lets see, you spend WUBRG to deal with 3BB, nice. I mean if this creature is as good as you say it is, then it should deal with that easily, I mean you spent all five colors on it.
Ok so you have a 4/4 that costs way more than his 3/3 (because of color weight). So you got him!
Well except Ob Nixilis, the Fallen has Landfall, so after 1 land, its a 6/6, and you aren't winning anymore.
Oh wait, you already counted that. Ok so Spinal Parasite removes 2 counters to remove 1 of his? ooooo scary! What a sick card.
So you are left with a 0/0 (which is +2/+2 from an equipment that you didn't name, the cheapest being Copper Carapace, so you invested another 4 mana into it, WUBRG4 =/= a pathetic 2/2 with no abilities, also it can't block, so yeah) vs his 4/4 which gets bigger and saps your life for each land, even if he didn't play any more lands, you've already wasted so much mana and turns and cards on this sad 2/2 that can't block.
Oh one more thing, never say something is better when you equip it, if you hadn't equipped it, is there any doubt this card would be worthless in the situation you provided? Almost every card gets better when you equip it with any equipment.
Yes there is power creep, good job on proving it with such a great example.
If this card was even a 1/1, or a 1/1 that came into play with a +1/+1 counter would it be good? Kinda maybe, a 7/7 for WUBRG that you can put at 1/1 and remove three counters? At least its something
Choose a better card for your arguments on power creep, this card was outclassed a long time ago.
Edit, after reading what you say on other cards, I'm shocked, you play a modular and sunburst deck, so you are using all of your creatures to keep his one back? You must be one of those players that plays with the obvious good cards and for some reason a bunch of horrible cards in a vintage deck and complains when you lose because of your deck building 'skills'. They probably cheated.
chives5602
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@ ICEFANG13 First let me just say wow. Apparently you did not account for the the fact that you can take the counters off the parasite and the equipment keeps putting the counters back on. So I'm just going to assume that your a new player. And second where in the comment did I say it is so awesome all by it self. My whole argument was about it not being terrible in a tribal deck that apparently people don't seem to play that much anymore. Third have you actually played with a sunburst deck ? As for me complaining when I lose because of my deck building 'skills'. I don't think they cheated I just have fun, and It does not lose all that often. Again as i said before a majority of the people on here, seems like you included think cards like this belong in the trash just because you don't win on turn one, two, or three.
They should explore the negative mechanic more, its a cool idea
this however is total garbage, unfortunately
1.5/5 Stars
Manite
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
One of the few creatures that's actually better with Godhead of Awe on the battlefield.
Enelysios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Every single part of this card is underwhelming.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sunburst isn't a good ability. I know there'll be some people who'll defend Sunburst to the nth degree, but there are so few sunburst cards that are worth the investment and effort.
One thing I'd like to rationalize is the more colours you need, the harder it becomes. This should be obvious, but some people I know don't think so.
Imagine there was a 0/0 creature that came into play with 5 +1/+1 counters and had : Double the amount of counters on it. Would you think that to be a good creature? Of course you could abuse the counters, but you need to usually wait a turn before that happens. Personally, I'd think it to be an over-costed creature that is rather slow. This is Solarion.
Imagine another creature that was a -cost 3/3 that came into play with 5 +1/+1 counters and had ", remove a counter from this: destroy a creature" and ", remove a counter: return this to your hand". I'd say it's overcosted as well, and multiple other cards that cost less can do it better (Avatar of Woe, Visara the Dreadful, Royal Assassin (to a degree), Intrepid Hero (again, to a degree)). But then, I hear praise for Suncrusher.
Don't get me wrong: Clearwater Goblet is an actually good Sunburst card and Pentad Prism is always a necessary piece of some weird combo deck that can win on turn 2 or 3. But most of them are overcosted cards that if they showed you what their colours really were, you'd think they weren't that good.
Comments (21)
"oh look! i can pay one mana of each color to get a 3/3! but wait! it can remove counters from permanents. oh wait, that gives it a permanent -2/-2. and i can only do it twice? sign me up."
sorrow's path, meet spinal parasite, fifth dawn's addition to the card hall of shame.
(I just wish I had done that combo instead of the other guy)
0/0, 1/1 or even 2/2 for that guy would have been still far away from being broken.
Even in a triple-colored deck the Parasite could become no larger than 2/2 and you could activate the ability once only and thereby even kill him.
That's certainly not worth a five-mana investment, i'd rather play a simple Medicine Runner, Vampire Hexmage or Clockspinning instead.
@Zulp: I don't think so. For five mana you are offered a broad selection of burn spells which will easily remove more than one or two tiny loyality counters, and the aforementioned Vampire Hexmage does a better job if you're going the direct way of loyality removal, too.
@Draugnor: Once your opponent made a big guy out of this creature, he could have made an even bigger threat out of another one. (By the way, i doubt it was 18/18 when considering that Cranial Plating only gives +1/+0 and does not help activating this creature's ability either)
@mn6334: The ability does synergize with Persist creatures, yet there are simply a lot of better options for doing so (Juniper Order Ranger, Heartmender or similar cards that even allow loops.)
It's greatest use would be if I were using my counter-manipulating deck, and my opponent started taking control of some of my power cards, then he could start destroying me with this card. But that scenario makes little sense. All "real" good qualities of this card are covered by other things in the kind of deck it would go in.
I can perpetuate Persist a lot better with other cards than can this guy, as well as robbing my opponent of his counters.
Spinal Parasite {4}
Sunburst, Sunburst
Remove two +1/+1 counters from Spinal Parasite: Remove a counter from target permanent.
-1/-1
That way it enter the battlefield as a 7/7 for {WUBR}/{WUBG}/{WBRG}/{WURG}/{URBG} at best.. i understand that's well above the curve, but Fusion Elemental is an 8/8 for {WUBRG}, and is less susceptible to removal because he retains his colours and isn't subject to cards like Naturalize. I know that this is probably too powerful, but as is Spinal Parasite is mediocre at best, sadly this is the often the case with most of the sunburst cards.
I believe in power creep a bit, I feel like newer cards clearly are better than older cards. Its not something I love, but it is what it is, magic will either go up slowly or quickly. Cards at the same power level means a dead game, and it is for $$, its not like anyone wants Magic to die.
What you said makes no sense whatsoever, I don't like players that just complain that power creep isn't here, it is, but I also don't like players who complain about power creep.
So lets see, you spend WUBRG to deal with 3BB, nice. I mean if this creature is as good as you say it is, then it should deal with that easily, I mean you spent all five colors on it.
Ok so you have a 4/4 that costs way more than his 3/3 (because of color weight). So you got him!
Well except Ob Nixilis, the Fallen has Landfall, so after 1 land, its a 6/6, and you aren't winning anymore.
Oh wait, you already counted that. Ok so Spinal Parasite removes 2 counters to remove 1 of his? ooooo scary! What a sick card.
So you are left with a 0/0 (which is +2/+2 from an equipment that you didn't name, the cheapest being Copper Carapace, so you invested another 4 mana into it, WUBRG4 =/= a pathetic 2/2 with no abilities, also it can't block, so yeah) vs his 4/4 which gets bigger and saps your life for each land, even if he didn't play any more lands, you've already wasted so much mana and turns and cards on this sad 2/2 that can't block.
Oh one more thing, never say something is better when you equip it, if you hadn't equipped it, is there any doubt this card would be worthless in the situation you provided? Almost every card gets better when you equip it with any equipment.
Yes there is power creep, good job on proving it with such a great example.
If this card was even a 1/1, or a 1/1 that came into play with a +1/+1 counter would it be good? Kinda maybe, a 7/7 for WUBRG that you can put at 1/1 and remove three counters? At least its something
Choose a better card for your arguments on power creep, this card was outclassed a long time ago.
Edit, after reading what you say on other cards, I'm shocked, you play a modular and sunburst deck, so you are using all of your creatures to keep his one back? You must be one of those players that plays with the obvious good cards and for some reason a bunch of horrible cards in a vintage deck and complains when you lose because of your deck building 'skills'. They probably cheated.
First let me just say wow. Apparently you did not account for the the fact that you can take the counters off the parasite and the equipment keeps putting the counters back on. So I'm just going to assume that your a new player. And second where in the comment did I say it is so awesome all by it self. My whole argument was about it not being terrible in a tribal deck that apparently people don't seem to play that much anymore. Third have you actually played with a sunburst deck ? As for me complaining when I lose because of my deck building 'skills'. I don't think they cheated I just have fun, and It does not lose all that often. Again as i said before a majority of the people on here, seems like you included think cards like this belong in the trash just because you don't win on turn one, two, or three.
this however is total garbage, unfortunately
1.5/5 Stars
One thing I'd like to rationalize is the more colours you need, the harder it becomes. This should be obvious, but some people I know don't think so.
Imagine there was a
This is Solarion.
Imagine another creature that was a
But then, I hear praise for Suncrusher.
Don't get me wrong: Clearwater Goblet is an actually good Sunburst card and Pentad Prism is always a necessary piece of some weird combo deck that can win on turn 2 or 3. But most of them are overcosted cards that if they showed you what their colours really were, you'd think they weren't that good.