Pojo's Magic The Gathering news, tips, strategies and more!

Pojo's MTG
MTG Home
Message Board
News & Archives
Deck Garage
BMoor Dolf BeJoSe

Columnists
Paul's Perspective
Jeff Zandi
DeQuan Watson
Jordon Kronick
IQ
Aburame Shino
Rare Hunter
Tim Stoltzfus
WiCkEd
Judge Bill's Corner


Trading Card
Game

Card of the Day
Guide for Newbies
Decks to Beat
Featured Articles
Peasant Magic
Fan Tips
Tourney Reports


Other
Color Chart
Book Reviews
Online Play
MTG Links
Staff



This Space
For Rent

Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day


Image from Wizards.com

Psionic Blast
Time Spiral


Reviewed January 08, 2007

Constructed: 3.83
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 


Jeff Zandi

 5 Time Pro Tour
 Veteran

Psionic Blast

No other reprinted, time shifted card in Time Spiral dropped as many jaws as Psionic Blast. If you walk into a game store hoping to buy a Time Spiral edition Psionic Blast, be prepared to pay upwards of twenty dollars American! While the reprinting of Psionic Blast was definitely a hit with fans of Magic: the Gathering everywhere, the card has not yet been popular in constructed formats. There is no doubt in my mind that Psionic Blast and its twin brother Char will soon be a big part of some kind of blue/red control/burn deck. In limited, Psionic Blast is a very high pick, as much for its limited play value as for its trade value. Blue is widely regarded as the best color in Time Spiral draft, making Psionic Blast an easy first pick almost every time.

CONSTRUCTED: 3.5
CASUAL: 3.5
LIMITED: 4.0
 

Aethereal

Psionic Blast

The original Char, back with a vengeance. This card is fetching high prices for a good reason: it gives a very powerful burn spell to a color that has no right to it. This card is what helps decks like U/G aggro work, as they don't have to splash red to fling 4 damage at an opposing troublesome creature. Due to the color this card is in, it gets a slightly higher rating than Char.

In casual, this is a highly expensive card, so you may prefer Char over this, but if you have it, more power to you.

In limited, first-pick material. This can take out many relevant creatures for a cheap price, and double as a finisher.

Constructed - 4.5
Casual - 3
Limited - 4
 

BMoor

Psionic Blast

Direct damage in blue? Given how powerful Char was in Ravnica block, it should come as no surprise that this is a good card. However, a lot of people see this and start dreaming about a deck with 4 Char and 4 Psi Blast. Don't use 4 Char and 4 Psi Blast in a deck. That's 16 damage to yourself. Granted, you'll have done 32 damage, but there's a much better way to use Psi Blast-- in decks that don't have access to Char. Monoblue Control can always use a card that can deal with creatures after they hit play. And of course, in limited this is the best removal spell you could ever hope to get. Just don't stick your neck out to play this alongside Char.

Constructed- 4
Casual- 5
Limited- 4
 

GB250

Psionic Blast

This is the card that everyone said they would never dare reprint. Spot removal, even burn, in blue? That's insane!

As it turns out, Psi-Blast's second chance at play has been a big selling point of Time Spiral. The prospect of getting one has probably sold more than one booster box or tournament pack. In that sense, the Blast has done its job well.
...But we already have Char in T2. If the powerhouse red instant didn't exist, I wouldn't be surprised to see burn players splashing blue for the Blast. But since Char is an exact same copy of it in Red, Psionic Blast can be a little redundant for a burn deck. It is not the best of ideas to run four Char and four Psionic Blasts in the same U/R deck, because you are liable to take a ton of damage from three or more castings a game, a weakness your opponent may exploit. Nevertheless, Psionic Blast is very effective in blue decks not running red. There will be a place for powerful cards like this in Constructed as long as we need good removal and burn to the face.

Constructed 4/5. The Good Stuff. Blue builds will do well to have this, as it can stop threats that break through their counter wall. I think it still needs to find a really good home, but when it does, it will be very strong.

Limited 5/5. Hate draft it, rare draft it. If you see it, you probably won't need or want to pick anything else.

Casual 4/5. It's freakin' Psionic Blast. It gives you a chance to show off your foily timeshifted one to your buddies. May make your friends hate you if you brag too much.
 
Copyright© 1998-2006 pojo.com
This site is not sponsored, endorsed, or otherwise affiliated with any of the companies or products featured on this site. This is not an Official Site.