As someone who wasn't around for the Invasion block, I like to call this "My Little Fact or Fiction."
DoctorKenneth
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
@McThor:
And when my Emrakul shuffles back in, I'll thank you for the Instant-speed, arcane Divination.
Though to be fair, this isn't something you'd run outside a deck that's mostly blue. The instant speed really helps it, obviously, as that precious counterspell mana is open. But nine times out of ten, you'll want some straight-up instant card draw. The exception is when you're pulling some shenannegins with the Arcane mechaninc, and even then there are better Arcane spells to be doing that with. Also, Arcane wasn't really super-popular.
Of course, ten times out of ten, you'll be wanting to use it's big brother, Fact or Fiction. So don't get me wrong. This isn't exactly good. Hell, even Truth or Tale is preferable, as it leaves you with considerably more options. And having options is good.
Troutz
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Not that bad actually. It gets bad ratings on dumb name with even dumber art alone though.
PolskiSuzeren
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It gets beat out by the almighty fact or fiction. Still, not bad.
Edward_Mass
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's not Fact or Fiction (FoF). It'll never be Fact or Fiction. And, as Wizards has already made clear, they're committed to keeping Fact or Fiction out of Standard and Modern. So, let's just drop it already.
Now, with that out of the way, let's actually review the card, shall we? It's really pretty sweet.
An instant-speed Divination-like spell with only two real drawbacks: You reveal the cards (big, but not a deal breaker); your opponent denies you one of them (minor, despite what some claim). I'll repeat that. Your opponent denying you ONE CARD out of three is LESS IMPORTANT than them seeing all three cards in the first place.
I'd go so far as to say that Murmurs is strong enough, as a card, to warrant a rarity bump if it were every reprinted (and I despise rarity bumps in practice). The only reason it's not rated higher is that it's outclassed by its big sister, Gifts Ungiven.
And let's remember that Gifts Ungiven is a boss in every format where it's legal. Let's remember that old FoF we were just talking about. In both cases, your opponent has influence over what you get. Hell, Gifts let's them choose outright. Yet both those cards are all-stars.
So, the huge drawback people are worried about is really nothing. And comparing this unfavorably to Truth or Tale? That mess of a card? DoctorK, are you high? I'll take two cards over 1 any day, especially if I'm spending 2+ mana on the spell. Truth or Tale is, ultimately, just a bad cantrip. The options mean nothing and the selection process is poorly worded as well as being unnecessarily drawn out.
4/5
Mode
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's Instant Speed and an Arcane, two reasons that make it worth to consider playing instead of Counsel of the Soratami (which is this block's, and the original Divination). Still, out of the three cards, your opponent will get rid of the biggest threat. Unless your deck heavily utilizes the graveyard (for example if you have cards with (cheap) Flashback), in which case it's often win/win for you either way and your opponent might just pick a land card.
Comments (9)
Forest
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
Forest
Opponent: hmmm...
Terrible.
And when my Emrakul shuffles back in, I'll thank you for the Instant-speed, arcane Divination.
Though to be fair, this isn't something you'd run outside a deck that's mostly blue. The instant speed really helps it, obviously, as that precious counterspell mana is open. But nine times out of ten, you'll want some straight-up instant card draw. The exception is when you're pulling some shenannegins with the Arcane mechaninc, and even then there are better Arcane spells to be doing that with. Also, Arcane wasn't really super-popular.
Of course, ten times out of ten, you'll be wanting to use it's big brother, Fact or Fiction. So don't get me wrong. This isn't exactly good. Hell, even Truth or Tale is preferable, as it leaves you with considerably more options. And having options is good.
Now, with that out of the way, let's actually review the card, shall we? It's really pretty sweet.
An instant-speed Divination-like spell with only two real drawbacks: You reveal the cards (big, but not a deal breaker); your opponent denies you one of them (minor, despite what some claim). I'll repeat that. Your opponent denying you ONE CARD out of three is LESS IMPORTANT than them seeing all three cards in the first place.
I'd go so far as to say that Murmurs is strong enough, as a card, to warrant a rarity bump if it were every reprinted (and I despise rarity bumps in practice). The only reason it's not rated higher is that it's outclassed by its big sister, Gifts Ungiven.
And let's remember that Gifts Ungiven is a boss in every format where it's legal. Let's remember that old FoF we were just talking about. In both cases, your opponent has influence over what you get. Hell, Gifts let's them choose outright. Yet both those cards are all-stars.
So, the huge drawback people are worried about is really nothing. And comparing this unfavorably to Truth or Tale? That mess of a card? DoctorK, are you high? I'll take two cards over 1 any day, especially if I'm spending 2+ mana on the spell. Truth or Tale is, ultimately, just a bad cantrip. The options mean nothing and the selection process is poorly worded as well as being unnecessarily drawn out.
4/5
Still, out of the three cards, your opponent will get rid of the biggest threat.
Unless your deck heavily utilizes the graveyard (for example if you have cards with (cheap) Flashback), in which case it's often win/win for you either way and your opponent might just pick a land card.