This one isn't that bad. All you need to do is
control a swamp and it's a 3/3 for three mana. I
can appreciate that. It also grants you other
other slivers the ability to regenerate. That
can make a sliver swarm become a pain in the
rear real quick. This is a sliver that I would
definitely play in limited if I were using the
proper colors.
A good
mix of abilites-- it powers up Slivers and
protects them. This is probably the most
compelling reason to use Black in a Sliver
deck, but even then you need only splash a
few Swamps and a Search for Tomorrow or
something. Best of all, you can fearlessly
play this without worrying about powering up
your opponent's Slivers, since it's unlikely
that an opponent would have Slivers and a
Swamp for it to matter.
One of the strongest slivers of all time was
Muscle Sliver from Tempest. It was a bear that
made all your guys better. Well, here we've got
a grey ogre that makes your guys bigger. And
also allows them to regenerate. That's pretty
great for a 3-drop. Is it better than Muscle
Sliver? In a Standard-by-Standard comparison, it
probably is. The dominant sliver decks back then
utilized Muscle/Winged/Crystaline to make a
flying untargetable attack force of significant
size. These days your slivers are much more
ground-bound, but size matters in sliverworld.
This one is also interesting. In red you've got
+2/+0 sliver and Double Strike Sliver. Then
you've got this. If you aren't playing black, it
doesn't actually do anything. If you are playing
black, then you get a pretty nice ability (pump
them up and give them regeneration). In
exchange, you have to dip into the worst sliver
color in existence to make it work (and no
splashing black with Gemhide Sliver, either. You
actually have to have a swamp). To me, the trade
off isn't worth it.
Constructed - 1
Casual - 3
Limited - 3
Aethereal
Sedge Sliver
One of the best slivers in the set. If you're
playing slivers in constructed, this is one of
the reasons why. He's basically a 3/3 for 3,
which is already well above average for a
sliver, he pumps all your slivers, he lets you
regenerate them, and his pump stacks. You do
need a swamp, but that is so easy nowadays. The
playability of slivers in constructed drags down
the rating, but he's pretty good.
In casual, it keeps your slivers on the table
and makes them bigger. Sign me up.
In limited, you definitely include this if
you're playing slivers, no questions asked. Pump
and regenerate helps a *lot*.
Constructed - 3.5
Casual - 4
Limited - 4
Gackley Ferguson
Sedge Sliver. I
kind of like this card. My only qualm with it is
the fact that you need to control a swamp. Most
sliver decks I've seen like to go red/green so
they can blast you as quickly as possible, but I
imagine that if you splashed black it wouldn't
be the end of the world.
