Pointed Discussion

Within these pits, Goblin Sharpshooter likes his job the most.

This card and teh new lightmine field seem synergistic

Goblin Sharpshooter works great with this card, but if you're on a budget, Deathbringer Thoctar works as well, despite having a higher converted mana cost. And unlike the Sharpshooter, the Thoctar can actually win you the game after he clears the board.

If you don't maind losing your creatures, Yamabushi's Storm seems like a nice choice.

Fatties are null and void when this card is in play. (unless they're ridiculous, like Darksteel Colossus or something)

Free deathtouch for any damage? Yes please.

Edgar Allen Poe Hell Yeah! We Need More Famous Authors And Philosophers Being Quoted On Magic Card Flavor Text

unfortunately for cool flavor text, sudden extinction of life is very much the plan of this card.

Should be called "Death Pits of Death"

Deathtouch for everyone!

@ metalevolence and everyone else:

metalevolence said: "unfortunately for cool flavor text, sudden extinction of life is very much the plan of this card."

Actually, this card is best made use of when the deck design is somehow for all creatures to die except for yours.

I'm not gonna give away my particular strategies, but I've had some deck concepts where my creatures remain on the field, while creatures of other players pretty much die at my will - thanks to this card.

I've gotta put this card overall at about 4 of 5. It's simply powerful and game-dominating when utilized correctly; but it's not like a staple or something that fits into any deck, or even any black deck.

How does this work against creatures that prevent all damage dealt to them, such as Fog Bank? Are they still "dealt damage", and get destroyed?

Caltrops would prevent anything from getting through to anyone. Circle of flame would prevent anything without flying from getting to you, specifically. A fully leveled Lord of Shatterskull Pass would slaughter entire battlefields. Glorious, meaningless slaughter...

@Totema.
Fog Bank states "combat damage." So if I attack you, and you block with Fog Bank. No matter the Power of my creature, it would not deal damage to your creature. Since Fog Bank has 0 Power as default without any buffs, and stated that it deals no damage by it's own affect, it would deal no damage to my creature. Both would be safe from this enchantment. However, if I casted Tremor, again your creature would be safe. It's non-combat damage, but it does only affect non-flying creatures. Any non-flying creature on the field would die from this affect, unless prevented per card allowance, or indestructible, or etc. Later I have Blood Cultist, using it's ability and dealt 1 damage to Fog Bank. This is not combat damage, and would strike your creature. Fog Bank would only take 1 damage, not lethal damage since has Toughness 2. Death Pits of Rath would check and see that Fog Bank did take damage, and then destroy it. Thus giving my Blood Cultist a +1/+1 counter.

I like how when the death pits are out, Murder is less of a guaranteed death than Hornet Sting.

Everlasting Torment & this, will allow someone to kill Progenitus with any non-targeting damage. Pyrohemia would be like : kill everything, no regen, no prevention. All players take 1 damage. Tatterkite would or would not make it...since damage would be in -1/-1 counters? Or is that a side note...damage is damage...? Anybody know? Ahh I looked it up: damage isn't prevented by Tatterkite, just doesn't affect it because it's "wither." Triggers based on damage dealt still happen. Even the ***roach dies.

Oh my goooodness: undying with this & E. Torment would constantly fill your board up with +1/+1 counter guys...and if they die from damage...undying triggers again (because everything has wither). Geralf's Messenger, much?

"everything has deathtouch."

electrickery

this + Eater of the Dead + Hermetic Study = study of the dead. eat it, Visara