All the GOOD limited players saw the value of
this card right away. Well, all the REST of the
good limited players did, anyway. When I saw
this card, I wasn't thinking about this cards
ability to sac itself to give a creature
-6/-6 until end of turn, I was really only
thinking about how I was paying four mana for a
3/1 guy that taps to give a creature -1/-1. Some
people are calling this card the equivalent of
Viashino Fangtail from Ravnica. I strongly
disagree. When I panned this creature upon first
glance, I WAS wrong, but not because Disciple of
Tevesh-Szat is anywhere nearly as useful as
Viashino Fangtail. The Disciple is an important
card in Coldsnap limited simply because the
creature removal options are SO GRIM that the
Disciple's secondary ability, the one that costs
SIX mana. I'm probably not going too far out on
a limb to describe this card as mostly worthless
in constructed play.
This card isn't all the a great for constructed
play. It's a four casting cost three power
creature. That just doesn't cut it unless the
creature's ability is great. And the ability on
this guy is far from what I would call great.
Both abilities are average at best. I do think
that in limited play I wouldn't mind having one
or two of these, but otherwise, I'm steering
clear of it.
It's reusable removal, so it gets the nod in
Limited immediately. And its second ability is
very nice as well. But it's also a 3/1 for 2BB,
which means any one point of damage from
anywhere can kill it and unless you can give it
haste, it's essentially operating under the old
Legend rule-- once one gets out, all others
after it die. I'd say pass on this unless it's
Limited, or you need an excuse to say "Tevesh
Szat" in your best hissing, gutteral Krovikan
Vampire voice
