Reviewing 18 Zendikar Black Cards for Sealed
September 20, 2009 | Posted by Dee
Here’s my take on the 18 Zendikar black cards that have been spoiled so far on MTG Salvation.
Bala Ged Thief – 3B
Creature – Human Rogue Ally (Rare)
Whenever Bala Ged Thief or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, target player reveals a number of cards from his or her hand equal to the number of Allies you control. You choose one of them. That player discards that card.
2/2
Obviously this creature gets better the more allies you play. I would play it if I had at least four other allies in my deck. Even if you just make your opponent discard a land, it can be worth it because of landfall.
Blood Tribute – 4BB
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker – Tap an untapped Vampire you control. (You may tap a Vampire you control in addition to any other costs as you cast this spell.)
Target player loses half his or her life, rounded up. If Blood Tribute was kicked, you gain life equal to the life lost this way.
This card seems playable if you have at least four vampires in your deck. However, it’s not that good since it doesn’t affect the board. I wouldn’t play it over a solid creature.
Bloodghast – BB
Creature – Vampire Spirit (Rare)
Bloodghast can’t block.
Bloodghast has haste as long as an opponent has 10 life or less.
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Bloodghast from your graveyard to the battlefield.
2/1
Solid vampire that never dies unless it gets exiled.
Gatekeeper of Malakir – BB
Creature – Vampire Warrior (Uncommon)
Kicker {B} (You may pay an additional {B} as you cast this spell.)
When Gatekeeper of Malakir enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, target player sacrifices a creature.
2/2
This guy is solid but not great because of the triple black mana cost including kicker. Play at least eight black sources, so you can kick it on a regular basis.
Guul Draz Specter – 2BB
Creature – Specter (Rare)
Flying
Guul Draz Specter gets +3/+3 as long as an opponent has no cards in hand.
Whenever Guul Draz Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.
2/2
This card is close to a bomb. It has evasion and provides a ton of card advantage if left unchecked.
Halo Hunter – 2BBB
Creature – Demon (Rare)
Intimidate (This creature can’t be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
When Halo Hunter enters the battlefield, destroy target Angel.
6/3
Five mana for six power, evasion, and a conditional removal triggered ability makes this creature a bomb.
Hideous End – 1BB
Instant (Common)
Destroy target nonblack creature. Its controller loses 2 life.
Black’s common instant removal. Solid.
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet – 5BB
Legendary Creature – Vampire Warrior (Mythic Rare)
{B}{B}{B}, {T}: Destroy target creature. If that creature is put into a graveyard this way, put a black Vampire creature token onto the battlefield. Its power is equal to that creature’s power and its toughness is equal to that creature’s toughness.
5/5
One of the most powerful cards in the set for sealed. Think of it as a reusable Mind Control on a 5/5 body. The mana cost for its ability is steep so make sure you’re playing at least eight black sources.
Mind Sludge – 4B
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Target player discards a card for each Swamp you control.
This spell needs at least 10 Swamps to be playable. With 10 Swamps, it’s a solid discard spell.
Needlebite Trap – 5BB
Instant – Trap (Uncommon)
If an opponent gained life this turn, you may pay {B} rather than pay Needlebite Trap’s mana cost.
Target player loses 5 life and you gain 5 life.
The trap ability is too situational and the normal mana cost is too high. Don’t play this card.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen – 3BB
Legendary Creature – Demon (Mythic Rare)
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may have target player lose 3 life. If you do, put three +1/+1 counters on Ob Nixilis, the Fallen.
3/3
Another black bomb and another reason to save lands in your hand.
Quest for the Gravelord – B
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may put a quest counter on Quest for the Gravelord.
Remove three quest counters from Quest for the Gravelord and sacrifice it: Put a 5/5 black Zombie Giant creature token onto the battlefield.
This card is solid. Just make sure to play enough creatures to trigger it. I think 13 or more creatures is the way to go.
Sadistic Sacrament – BBB
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker {7} (You may pay an additional {7} as you cast this spell.)
Search target player’s library for up to three cards, exile them, then that player shuffles his or her library. If Sadistic Sacrament was kicked, instead search that player’s library for up to fifteen cards, exile them, then that player shuffles his of her library.
The casting cost is steep and the actual effect is weak. Even if you kick it, 10 mana is a lot to ask for especially when you want to save lands in hand for landfall. Pass on this card.
Sorin Markov – 3BBB
Planeswalker – Sorin (Mythic Rare)
[+2]: Sorin Markov deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life.
[-3]: Target opponent’s life total becomes 10.
[-7]: You control target player’s next turn.
4
Planeswalkers have usually been bombs. Sorin is not an exception.
Soul Stair Expedition – B
Enchantment (Common)
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a quest counter on Soul Stair Expedition.
Remove three quest counters from Soul Stair Expedition and sacrifice it: Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Similar to Disentomb. It can get one more creature, but it’s a pretty bad topdeck late in the game if you don’t have a lot of lands in hand. I rate it barely playable.
Vampire Hexmage – BB
Creature – Vampire Shaman (Uncommon)
First strike
Sacrifice Vampire Hexmage: Remove all counters from target permanent.
2/1
Solid early drop that can kill planeswalkers.
Vampire Lacerator – B
Creature – Vampire Warrior (Common)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life unless an opponent has 10 or less life.
2/2
I won’t be playing this creature unless I have a very aggressive deck. Vampire Lacerator is usually too risky since sealed games often get into a stalemate. During stalemates, Lacerator can be a hindrance or a dead draw.
Vampire Nighthawk – 1BB
Creature – Vampire Shaman (Uncommon)
Flying
Deathtouch (Creatures dealt damage by this creature are destroyed. You can divide this creature’s combat damage among any of the creatures blocking or blocked by it.)
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
2/3
Nice stats and three great abilities. One of the best three drops in the set. Play this guy if you’re playing black.
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