I love the mental image of an assassin who lurks
in the shadows, completely hidden, only
revealing herself when she's ready to go in for
a kill. A 2/1 isn't particularly gutsy, but with
hexproof, your opponent isn't going to be able
to straight-up kill it despite knowing it's
there. Once she's ready to leave her mark, first
strike and deathtouch are a brutal combo-- the
blocking or blocked creature won't live to
strike back. In neither situation does her one
toughness really become a liability, but she has
to shed hexproof for the rest turn to make her
kill, leaving her exposed to any instant-speed
tricks, or post-combat sorceries if she's
killing by blocking. Not a game-ending card, but
definitely a creature whose presence you have to
respect.
I actually really like this card. Yeah, it's
nowhere near as efficient as killing the
creature in question with one of those spells
that looks like it has a targeting restriction
but actually doesn't, but it's not actually in
direct competition - Doom Blade doesn't attack
for damage, and Nekrataal can't deal with a
creature with hexproof. Plus it's the closest
I've ever seen to the Assassin's Creed style of
murder in Magic form. (Too bad "Eagle Strike"
sounds like it would be a white card!)
Welcome back readers todays card of the day is
so amazingly flavorful and playable its
perfection. For three mana you get a 2/1
hexproof body, using the activated ability it
loses protection but gain first strike and death
touch meaning it trades with the majority of
creatures barring certain circumstances. In
standard and other constructed formats having
hexproof is a real boon and based on that and a
relevant second ability this card could see some
fringe play not becoming a formal all-star but
solid. In casual and multiplayer this card owns
combat as long as you keep mana up, keeping up
four mana is a lot to ask but it defiantly can
dominate the board and hexproof is amazing for
survivability. In limited its not quit a bomb
but one of the most powerful black cards easily,
it turns combat into a losing proposition on
defense or offense for your opponent. Overall a
well designed flavorful card that is powerful as
well.
Today's card of the day is Xathrid Skyblade
which is a three mana Black
2/1 with Hexproof and for four mana it loses
Hexproof and gains First Strike plus Deathtouch
until end of turn. The mana cost for the
effect is high which makes it draining to
maintain as well as anticipated by the opponent,
which can be a psychological threat at least.
The effect is more of a secondary benefit,
useful in certain situations, as Hexproof
options are few and far between for Black.
The Skyblade is an excellent target for auras
and equipments and will be very popular in Black
decks using them as a safe and lower cost choice
to build up in current formats.
In Limited this may see the effect used more
aggressively to prevent attacks and is a
fantastic target for Eternal Thirst or counters
from Feast of the Fallen. For both
Hexproof and the reusable effect this is a solid
second or third pick in Booster and easy
inclusion in Sealed when running Black.
To finish a week of interesting cards, we have
Xathrid Slyblade. A 2/1 hexproof creature is
borderline useful, since it won't survive
combat, and only takes down small creatures with
it. The activated ability of gaining first
strike and deathtouch are what makes this guy
intriguing.
The flavor is wonderful. An assassin is waiting
in the shadows. No one even knows she is there,
so no one can stop her. When the right moment
comes, she steps out of the shadows and takes
someone down before they even knew she was
there. But upon stepping out of the shadows, she
has to reveal her location just long enough that
an opposing mage can target a spell at her.
I think most likely, the activation cost of 4
mana is going to be too much for this to see
much serious play. But if it cost any less, and
the combination of deathtouch and first strike
would be too powerful. She will find a place in
my tribal Assassins deck, and I'd be happy to
play her in my draft or sealed deck, but I
that's about the extent of it. Most of the time
she'll just be a 2/1 hexproof while just
threatening more.
