I'm a big fan of this card. Many of the greatest
creatures in Magic are light on offensive power
but have incredible abilities while in play -
Qasali Pridemage, Sprouting Thrinax, Ohran
Viper, Dark Confidant, Hypnotic Specter.
Domestication offers a cost-effective way to
turn these creatures, and many others besides,
against their owner. Ironically, it is one of
the few creature-stealing Auras stands out
slightly less in its Limited environment, which
is heavy on Eldrazi and other outlandishly sized
creatures.
Magic The Gathering Card of the day:
Domestication
Welcome back readers today’s card of the day is
an interesting Mind Control variant with a
stringent requirement. For four mana you get to
control a creature with power less than four or
else you must sacrifice your enchantment. This
card reminds me of Threads of Disloyalty a
cheaper card with similar requirements to what
it could steal, where Threads of Disloyalty saw
play I don’t think Domestication will see as
much action. Threads could take a fully powered
up Tarmogoyf and still be lethal,, it could also
take its fair share of weenies and utility
creatures , heck now it could even steal fully
leveled up creatures it’s still good.
Domestication is more limited as you can never
grab a truly powerful creature with it, although
the utility is there. In standard this card
could be a cheaper alternative to Mind Control
depending on the power level of creatures in the
metagame. In extended threads is almost better
in all but the narrowest conditions. In casual
and multiplayer this card serves a purpose but
the slightly lower mana cost doesn’t make it
more playable than Mind Control of similar
effects. In limited it’s a good card not a high
pick but if you’re committed to blue I would
grab it.
Today's card of the day is Domestication which
is the old Control Magic with a limitation on
the creature's power. Most serious threats
are going to be four power or higher, so this is
really relegated to a sidedeck choice or
combination with some kind of Black sacrifice
effect in an unknown metagame. If the
local metagame features a great number of three
power or lower finishers, such as Vampire
Nighthawk it might be played in the maindeck.
Otherwise stick to the more reliable counter and
bounce that Blue is best known for.
In Limited this can do a bit better as the field
advantage of removing a blocker or stopping a
leveler can be major. Several colors have
some kind of sacrifice effect to combine with
this, though having both at the same time and
the mana to play them seems unlikely. In
Booster this should be drafted after more direct
removal and solid creatures at it really isn't
reliable enough and the cost is a bit high and
specialized at two Blue. For Sealed if you
are running a good supply of Islands anyway this
isn't a horrible addition, just somewhat
situational. If you get a four or five
life point attack or block as a result you
probably got your money's worth.
