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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Viper's Kiss
Image from Wizards.com

 Viper's Kiss
- Theros

Reviewed November 14, 2013

Constructed: 2.60
Casual: 3.00
Limited: 3.30
Multiplayer: 2.50

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 of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Viper's Kiss

The biggest problem with Pacifism is that it doesn't stop a creature from using its abilities, and thus can't stop a creature like Elite Arcanist whose ability is its only real asset. Viper's Kiss, ironically, kills an Arcanist with the -1/-1. But more importantly, it fills a niche of activated ability shutdown. The Kiss doesn't remove things like flying or trample, however, and so the creature is still able to attack and block (though it is slightly less of a threat for being smaller). This could be important, as it encourages the opponent to go aggressive with the creature instead of simply generating an advantage through its ability. If you have a good board presence, Viper's Kiss forces the opponent to play your game even as it makes the creature slightly worse at that game. And since most ability-focused creatures aren't exactly solid in combat for their size anyway...

Constructed- 3.5
Casual- 4
Limited- 4
Multiplayer- 3


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Viper's Kiss

This is a deceptively tricky little card. It's tempting to look at it and count the number of creatures that it can't kill and the number of gigantic things that are popular in various settings. But often, it's not the power or toughness that really gets you - it's an ability of some kind. Viper's Kiss gives black a way to actually stem an Ant Queen or Selesnya Guildmage-related token tide, which it has sometimes lacked. If it comes down early enough, it even stops things from using their monstrosity ability. It proves that you don't have to be a block-tweaked copy of Terror to be relevant among the selection of black removal spells, and does so very well.

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5


Paul

Welcome back readers todays card of the day is quite interesting for the small investment of one mana this enchantment can kill pesky 1/1 creatures of which there are plenty of powerful options. Secondly it can stop the activated abilities of creatures giving it more range than a simple kill spell for small creatures. In standard I could see this card appearing in sideboards not only does it kill problematic creatures it can shut down the powerful activated abilities of creatures, definitely not maindeck material but a solid sideboard option. In modern and eternal formats the same concept applies against the right deck this could be obscenely powerful while others it falls flat it has some potential however as it is quite a unique ability. In casual and multiplayer this card can also put in some work. The power and toughness lowering aspect is less relevant but shutting down activated abilities puts a damper on all sorts of powerful creatures. In limited its great as it stops monstrous, triggers heroic in a pinch and can act as removal. Overall a solid card that may see some sort of competitive play but provides a unique and powerful effect elsewhere as well.
 
Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 2.0
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 2.0

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Viper's Kiss which is a one mana Black aura that gives the enchanted creature -1/-1 and prevents activated abilities from being played.  While this is a solid enough card and effect, Black has no shortage of actual removal spells for one or two mana more. 
Having this in hand and a target with an activated effect that is a threat or a creature with one toughness or power is likely to be a fairly small percentage of the time.  In some situations this might be a better choice and it may see sidedeck play as the format shifts, but overall removing a threat is far better than weakening one.
 
In Limited with removal scarce and activated effects plentiful this is an effective tool for a deck using Black.  Other cards might be better, but they are less likely to be in your pool so including this in a Black build in Sealed is almost always the right choice. For Booster this is not as high a priority as true removal, but is still decent as a midrange to late in color choice.
 
Constructed: 2.5
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 2.5


Skid Rambo

Viper’s Kiss is a common that can do more than kill a measly 1/1. Viper’s Kiss can slow down any creature with a Monstrous ability or render a Deathrite Shaman completely useless. Asking for more out of Viper’s kiss would be just greedy. It is just a common for one mana. There are plenty of creatures out there in the Magic world that this card can affect. Viper’s Kiss is not a bad Draft card and some Casual players may find a place for it.

Constructed: 2
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 2.5
Multiplayer: 2


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