Guul Draz Assassin

Creature — Vampire Assassin

Level up {1}{B} ({1}{B}: Put a level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.) [1/1]

Level 2-3: {B}, {T}: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. [2/2]

Level 4+: {B}, {T}: Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. [4/4]

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (48)

Vessiliana on What is a Man? (a hyper aggro Edgar Markov EDH)

1 year ago

It looks great! For me, this is one deck where I am not sure a Mana Crypt would justify itself. The more of those 1-drops you add, the less useful colorless mana becomes.

Vampire of the Dire Moon is great, and so is Guul Draz Assassin. Extra power in your tiny vamps is fun. Dusk Legion Duelist is good, and so is Duskborne Skymarcher. Flying on a 1-drop is cool.

If you can manage to squeeze in a bit of a snack for your vampires, Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim is low mana value and bleeds for your vampires while cushioning your life total!

TypicalTimmy on Do we know what Plane …

2 years ago

I've heard strong evidence for Zendikar, but honestly he strikes me far more as Kaldheim. Here's why:

• It is often depicted as Nordic men being absolute behemoths in size and stature. In reality, according to Google, skeletal remains place their average height at 5'7" with an average Northern European male height at 5'8". This means that in reality, Nordic men were actually average, or even slightly less average, in height than the typical man of their era. Regardless of this, in all depictions, they are regarded as towering brutes. And Garruk, true to this fantasy stereotype, stands at 8'2".
• In Western fantasy depictions of Nordic culture, the "viking helmet" often bore horns. We know this today to be false. However, taking inspiration from this, Garruk's helm having tusks is a nice homage - even if it became more of a happy coincidence many years after his inception.
• The paint and / or tattoos he covers his body, armor and axe in are very strongly reminiscent of Norse artwork and styles of painting, with bold, hard lines crossing over one-another, especially in their Runes.
• In Kaldheim, Bretagard was the realm of Man and is associated with {GW} magic and mana. Garruk is mono-green, excluding the {B} he gained from his curse. As this curse was not natural and not part of his birth / ignition, I think it is safe and fair to exclude it for the analysis. Yes, he continued to show black mana in the use of his card Garruk, Cursed Huntsman. However, Throne of Eldraine released in 2019. Since then we have had three new Garruks; Garruk, Savage Herald, Garruk, Unleashed and Garruk, Wrath of the Wilds - all of whom now lack {B} mana.
• Again, while it may be somewhat stereotypical in nature, it is also not without precedent that Nordic men carried and used axes. Axes were seen with far more utility, although there is a strong difference between a woodcutting axe, a hatchet and a battleaxe. Regardless, axes were a keen and strong point of their culture. And, just so happens to be what weapon Garruk carries. Honestly, what he carries is more akin to a Bardiche, which did not see development until centuries after the Nordic empires fell. However, it has strong ties and developments from the Danish Halberd and similar polearms of that era. Now that is not to say that the weapon vanished for centuries and suddenly reappeared after some historian rediscovered it - That isn't how the evolution of weapons and armor works. What actually happens is someone develops a piece of armor that better thwarts modern technology. Someone reciprocates with developing a weapon that makes that armor inferior. And so the armor is updated to ward against that new weapon, and a dance ensues as armor and weapons evolve to out-pace one another. Regardless, what Garruk carries and wields serves not only as a cultural reminder, but an actual weapon of fact.
• Garruk is seen wearing the furs of animals he likely has slain. It is known that Berserkers of the Norse era wore pelts as well, such as wolves, foxes and yes even bears.
• And lastly, Garruk's father's name is Raklan, who was a Taskmage who lived on a farm. That spelling is actually very similar to the real-world male name Raakel, which meant "Sheep's Friend", as well as Rakim and a few more that aren't really worth listing. You can check out names of that era with this website

Honestly there is really only three main points that "tie" Garruk to Zendikar:

• His ability to control their beasts (Which doesn't count, as he can do this on all Planes as that is part of his magic)
• His abnormal size (Which means nothing; Zendikar is known for titanic forces, but so is Tarkir, Ikoria, Ixalan, etc. Just because someone is "big" does not mean they came from Zendikar)

Segue: Often speculated, people mention Garruk's "growth magic" and how powerful it is on Zendikar. But this does not mean he is a native to that world. Liliana's powers are strongest on Innistrad, despite her being native to Dominaria. Different Planes have different types of mana, and it is inevitable a Planeswalker would find a world where their mana is strongest. For example, Ashiok's magic was the most powerful on Theros, due to that world's working of "Devotion". By tapping into the innate fears everyone had, he could make them believe his terrors were far more real than they were. Because of how Theros works, belief gives power, and so their fears manifest in far more dramatic forms - meaning Ashiok's powers are far stronger on Theros than nearly anywhere else. Despite him, in my opinion, being likely from Tarkir under the rule of Silumgar as a Priest. But that's for another thread.

• His right-arm gauntlet resembling the armor and weapons of the Guul Draz Assassin, which only proves he has been to Zendikar and likely took one of these from a fallen enemy; Not that he was physically born there. Perhaps best seen on Garruk Relentless  ^Flip

I honestly feel like Garruk is far more aligned with being a native to Bretagard than Zendikar.

I do not believe it was announced where Garruk was actually from, as of yet, but if I had to pick between a pre-existing world or creating an entirely new one - as seems to be the going trend, I'd say Bretagard from Kaldheim is where he's from.

Artwork by Brad Rigney. Please support their work.

koylucumert on level up cards outside of …

2 years ago

how does level up cards work when outside of the battlefield? which stats do they use? for example, can Alesha, Who Smiles at Death bring back Guul Draz Assassin?

wallisface on Please Help: Elves vs Vampires

2 years ago

Your brothers deck you linked doesn’t have either of those cards, but:

• Dark Ritual isn’t modern legal. Assuming you guys are sticking to that format, he shouldn’t be playing that card

• Guul Draz Assassin needs to be level 2 before it can start doing anything (and remember level-creatures start at level 0). So the earliest he can tap it to -2/-2 something is his 3rd turn (which also means he’s done almost nothing else). Elves have lots of lord-effects that grow themselves bigger, and based on your list you’re already running a lot - so getting your creatures to 3 toughness before he can snipe them all should be pretty easy. Other than that, having interaction to kill/fight his creature should be enough.

legendofa on Please Help: Elves vs Vampires

2 years ago

Cards like Blossoming Defense and Snakeskin Veil give your creatures hexproof plus a little toughness buff. Rabid Bite and Blizzard Brawl or Prey Upon give you some removal options.

If he plays T1 Guul Draz Assassin, T2 level up, you might be able to just outnumber that, with T1 Elvish Mystic, T2 Elvish Mystic and Llanowar Elves. This isn't an unreasonable start and gives you a significant board and mana advantage. With a playset each of Llanowelves, Mystics, and Arbor Elfs, you should be able to make a fast, reliable start and get around the Assassin play. Dark Ritual gives a big shot of mana for one turn, but Elves are capable of sustaining that level of mana production. Good luck!

Eismoritz on Please Help: Elves vs Vampires

2 years ago

Hi everyone, I need some help with my elves deck.Elf Deck Most of the time I play against my brother who plays his vampire deck. Mono Black Vampires (Modern) Most games I lose because of a turn 1 Guul Draz Assassin that instantly kills all my elves as I try to play them. Also a turn 1 Dark Ritual puts me at a huge disadvantage before I even get to play a card. Do you have any ideas to counter or deal with this vampire deck as a mono green elf deck? I prefer not to splash colors and I rather stay modern legal with affordable cards. However, any ideas are welcome. Thanks

Skysurfer on Vito & Vamps

3 years ago

Right off the cuff I would cut Blood Seeker , Voracious Vampire and Brave the Sands as they dont help you win with your life shenanigans. Keeping 1 copy of Blood Seeker may be decent against token or creature decks but that's up to you. Blood Burglar to me seems like a sub-optimal version of Vampire of the Dire Moon and Tithe Drinker so I would swap those. If you have the wallet, Exquisite Blood makes you go infinite with Vito so its an easy swap with Boon Reflection and Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord is insane, especially when combined with cards like Champion of Dusk and Sanctum Seeker . Indulging Patrician and Silversmote Ghoul is a path if you can consistently get to 3 life each turn. Some copies of Fatal Push or Heartless Act may do you some good because spot removal is nice in modern. You could also be spicy and go Abiding Grace + some decent one drops like Knight of the Ebon Legion , Indulgent Aristocrat , Guul Draz Assassin , Guul Draz Vampire and Vampire Cutthroat . That aside, Nighthawk Scavenger , Blood Artist , Legion's Landing  ^Flip, Legion Lieutenant , and Drana's Emissary seem like they would fit nicely. I might cut some Cleric of life's bond as well, because its almost purely overshadowed by faster growing cards like Ajani's Pridemate and Sprite Dragon atm. I might also consider cutting 1 Boon Reflection and 1-2 lands to fit the mana curve a little more nicely. A lot of these are just pure suggestions, so the choice on what path is up to you. All in all, very cool deck. I am a big fan of trying to make Vito work, I hope you are successful in your journey and I hope this helps.

aanimeeye on A Grave Ultimatum

3 years ago

I really appreciate both your comments :). What I'm trying to go for is a grindy/value deck

Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons : I'd be sad to see her go, unfortunately she does clash with herself being legendary and her effects are almost always blocked or fizzle if I don't target my creature. I put her in because I liked the menace interaction with Call of the Death-Dweller . Stitcher's Supplier -> Hexdrinker ?

Chevill, Bane of Monsters (and my maybeboard of Glissa, the Traitor + Mishra's Bauble ) is my attempt to fix my draw. I love Guul Draz Assassin , his value especially in winning contested boardspace games, the down side is that he is slow. KablamoBoom Driven / Despair seems awesome and I'd love to include it, sideboard tips too.

I would basically want to have deck which feels like I earned the win through skill. Looking at other decks Grim Flayer and Traverse the Ulvenwald seem like great additions, maybe Lurrus for the Tarmogoyf value. I'm just not sure there are enough/strong enough cards to win against the horrors in modern right now