WORST CARD CHALLENGE!!
Challenges and Articles forum
Posted on June 9, 2014, 1:11 a.m. by Vorinclex2497
Hello... My quest is to find the "worst card" in mtg.... So I think to the basics... GOOD cards have benefits... Whether these benefits are easy to acquire or not... Thoughtseize lets look at this card.... BENEFITS: 1st turn move.... you get to see there hand.... You have the player discard a nonland card.... NON-BENEFITS: Sorcery Speed... Nonland only (less specific then Duress but hey)... and you lose 2 life... So, Good cards have benefits and non-benefits. Back on the topic of easy to acquire or not... Archetype of Finality Read just the ability... THAT'S FREAKIN AMAZING! drawback: costs 8 mana... So, as I said, Great ability... Heavy Mana cost... So, I found a card with absolutely NO benefits other then it being a body I GIVE YOU!! Fleshmad Steed ... O__o Oh dear god. Sure, 2 drop 2/2 is cool... Sure one colorless and one black so its not specific, easily splashable... BUT it seems like instead of a benefit for your deck, like all cards should be, it's actually a personal poison. This is, in my opinion the worst card out there... THAT I KNOW OF. Let me know what u guys think :D
In standard, no. Flamecast Wheel is definitely worse. 6 mana for 3 damage to creature only? pretty trash.
if you look on gatherer for the lowest community score, you get Razor Boomerang , which is gross. I also feel that Ember Shot may be in the rankings, but that's me.
Fleshmad Steed is actually an OK card, definitely no better than a 21st pick, but it's a bear in a format with very limited removal, and usually stays untapped long enough to swing, or serve Grey Merchant of Asphodel, which is usually all it needs to do.
June 9, 2014 1:34 a.m.
Archetype of Finality costs 6 mana...
Have you seen the discussion about the worst card in magic? It was very long, and people reached the conclusion that it was Great Wall , as there are no cards with plainswalk that are actually played competitively (In fact there are only 4 creatures with plainswalk).
If you are only talking about standard cards, ignore this post.
June 9, 2014 2:04 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #9
I don't think there is a creature that could be defined as "the worst card ever." At the very least most of them can attack or block.
I have to agree with Great Wall . Trait Doctoring Actually makes it better though. Whodathunkit...
Also, Darksteel Relic .
June 9, 2014 3:32 a.m.
Yup, Wood Elemental is pretty bad. People used to think One with Nothing was pretty bad, apparently it has some niche uses. Search the City is one of the worst rares in recent history, plus it has "huh?" value in terms of flavour (what's it supposed to be?)
June 9, 2014 3:33 a.m.
cerealkyra says... #13
Wood Elemental . I know creatures used to be bad, but come on. At least I can use Darksteel Relic and Steel Golem as a gift in Zedruu EDH.
June 9, 2014 6:24 a.m.
Here's a collection of cards directly from my trash cube:
Horizon Seed , Ignoble Soldier , Security Detail , Takeno's Cavalry , Tireless Missionaries , Aven Soulgazer , Bargain , Caregiver , Convalescence , Fulgent Distraction , Gate Hound , Loxodon Mender , Sandsower , Cephalid Snitch , Saprazzan Raider , Pale Moon , Zephyr Spirit , Vex , Callous Deceiver , Cephalid Scout , Cephalid Aristocrat , Coastal Hornclaw , Crystal Seer , Cut the Earthly Bond , Mindreaver , Into Thin Air , Oboro Envoy , Face of Fear , Numai Outcast , Psychic Spear , Accursed Centaur , Bog Hoodlums , Ashenmoor Cohort , Bloodcurdler , Bog Elemental , Bloodcurdler , Carrion Howler , Chill Haunting , Colfenor's Plans , Corrupted Harvester , Cradle to Grave , Infectious Host , Putrid Cyclops , Break Open , Crazed Goblin , Ember Shot , Goblin Firebug , Sokenzan Renegade , Viashino Skeleton , Fleshpulper Giant , Aleatory , Awe for the Guilds , Barbarian Riftcutter , Sell-Sword Brute , Blockbuster , Boulderfall , Craterize , Elvish Pathcutter , Favor of the Woods , Orbweaver Kumo , Bountiful Harvest , Viridian Scout , Beast Hunt , Culling Mark , Centaur Veteran , Chameleon Blur , Fiddlehead Kami , Llanowar Vanguard , Starved Rusalka , Strength of Cedars , Sustenance , Trailblazer , Azorius Ploy , Rakdos Ringleader , Slinking Serpent , Unnerving Assault , Cyclopean Snare , Goblin War Wagon , Razor Boomerang , Sandstone Deadfall , Aladdin's Ring , Brass Gnat , Flamecast Wheel , Myr Prototype , Leashling , Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper .
June 9, 2014 6:54 a.m.
@ MindAblaze!: I actually have to stick up for the Darksteel Relic . It's definitely not a great card and is certainly useless by itself, but it has some use in Affinity/Artifact decks and anyone running a Phylactery Lich could easily run a few. Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas could find some use for it as well.
June 9, 2014 11:16 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #18
For sure. Most cards can be used someway. Like I said...even Great Wall can make islandwalkers blockable with Trait Doctoring
It's all about whether this is in a vacuum or not. By itself Darksteel Relic does absolutely nothing. There isn't really such a thing as "in a vacuum" in magic though.
June 9, 2014 11:21 a.m.
Yeah, definitely. Believe it or not, I've even seen Trait Doctoring
used a few times at FNMs for cheap heroic triggers. It didn't really help them enough to pull out a win, but hey, points for finding some use for it.
But yeah, in a vacuum, if such a thing can ever apply, Darksteel Relic is indeed a useless card. If nothing else, it costs nothing, though, as opposed to overpriced cards like Rakdos Ringleader or, going back a ways, Scornful Egotist , as that one is -ALL HAIL THE GREAT LORD EGOTIST!
June 9, 2014 11:32 a.m.
I'm sure its not the worst card ever but its definitely my least favourite card in standard at the moment Boulderfall
June 12, 2014 5:48 a.m.
By the way, turn 1 Thoughtseize without a good reason is bad and OP should feel bad.
June 12, 2014 6:15 a.m.
@TexasDice Turn 1 Thoughtseize is great for
A: Looking at the opponents hand
B: Making them discard a card that could lose you the game
If you don't know why turn 1 Thoughtseize is good don't call someone else bad.
June 12, 2014 7:10 p.m.
It's bad because
A: You waste two cards worth of information.
B: You'll probably take something redundant and later wish you hadn't.
Thoughtseize is great if you have a concrete goal to achieve with the card. Land a safe creature by taking a removal spell, take a problematic card you can't deal with right now. If you don't have a plan, the card will damage your gameplan more than your opponents.
Tell me, what turn 1 play in standard is worth doing up to 4 damage to yourself just to stop it? Did they reprint Brainstorm or Dark Ritual ?
June 12, 2014 7:21 p.m.
Juju Bubble Alabaster Leech it is true though Razor Boomerang according to the community is the worst and I don't disagree.
TexasDice can you link me the trash cube list on my page or something. Ever since loading ready run mentioned the strictly worse cube I have wanted to make a cube of garbage.
June 13, 2014 4:30 a.m.
lord_of_the_snakes says... #26
here's a link to the cube I'm working on, this probably has a lot of cards for this list.
June 16, 2014 7:17 a.m.
I think you are looking at Thoughtseize completely wrong...
You asked "Tell me, what turn 1 play in standard is worth doing up to 4 damage to yourself just to stop it?"
... the better question is "What better T1 play does Black have than to remove a threat before your opponent can even play it?"
For some reason, you are assuming that you are only going to stop their T1 play... why bother? If their T1 play isn't a threat, hit their T2 play... or their T3 play... or their T6 play. Hit whichever will give you the biggest advantage in the long run.
Usually people will keep a hand based on 1-2 cards that they think will give them the advantage. Often, getting rid of it is almost as good as putting them in top-deck mode, as they don't know when they are going to get what they need.
In the mean time, you know what is in their hand, and know exactly what to expect and when to expect it.
June 16, 2014 10:34 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #28
Hold up. Are we discussing whether or not Thoughtseize is bad? Is this real life?
June 16, 2014 10:57 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #29
I was choosing to read it as "there is a time and a place to play Thoughtseize " because I couldn't believe it any other way...
June 16, 2014 10:58 a.m.
Or, you just don't play anything on turn 1. Because it's not necessary, unless you have a perfect curve to play out. Always utilize every inch of information and disruption when it's actually relevant.
If you hit a sixdrop with your turn 1 thoughtseize, you have close to completely wasted it. That's because your opponent now has another 5-6 turns to replace the strategy he might hasn't even dedicated a thought about yet with something else. You should always thoughtseize something that is relevant NOW, not a hundred turns away. Disruption should never be used to just annoy the opponent, but also to give you an edge throughout the game.
If you'd want to land a "safe" Desecration Demon
for example, you play Thoughtseize on turn 3 (or 2, if you already have something better to do on 3, vice versa), not 1. That way you don't play it into the chance of your opponent topdecking into removal blindly, since he'd get atleast three more cards to draw without you seeing one of them. And if his hand is redundant on turn three, you may just choose another play.
Also, just compare; would you rather know your opponent has a hand with a temple and six other cards in hand, or would you rather see said temple (a card you couldn't have taken in the first place) on the battlefield and seven other cards in his hand? Play number two allows us to see an additional card and one could even deduct what the card was, that was either scryed away or topped.
I see the wrong usage of Thoughtseize at every FNM and also in way to many games at SCG-Opens and Grand Prix's on camera. Not all "Swamp, Thoughtseize, go!" plays are bad or wrong (Slow Hands or Pack Rat are two great examples), but a lot of them are too hasty and not well thought out.
Hell, the only reason my Rakdos Control deck is able to beat MBD is probably based on the sole fact, that nobody seems to know how to thoughtseize correctly.
... And I should probably stop going way offtopic everytime I read about turn 1 Thoughtseize. Sorry Tappedout.
June 16, 2014 12:11 p.m.
Psyloarchy says... #31
Phyrexian Colossus , Starfall , Spiteful Blow , Stonewise Fortifier are some good candidates, but Chimney Imp is the worst of all time (so far...).
Also, Trait Doctoring can deal with annoying protections; so it's not as terrible as it seems.
June 17, 2014 12:31 a.m.
All of those first four cards are playable...
Starfall and Spiteful Blow are amazing in limited, while Stonewise Fortifier is atleast a curve filler.
Also, ever heared about Voltaic Key ?
June 17, 2014 5:56 a.m.
@TexasDice You aren't going to say turn one Voltaic Key is a bad play? (Joking about Thoughtseize )
June 17, 2014 5:58 a.m.
Not really, since Vintage games usually end on turn 1.
June 17, 2014 8:58 a.m.
Psyloarchy says... #35
Voltaic Key , like Trait Doctoring seems useless at first, but still has its uses (Voltaic Key +Master Transmuter +Filigree Angel + some more artifacts: but-loads of life gain!). However I still think Chimney Imp is the worst (but Llanowar Vanguard , and Zephyr Spirit came close)
I mentioned Phyrexian Colossus , because the life-pay is too much (unless you want it in a lifegain deck), and it may be a 7drop for an 8/8, but 7 mana is still a lot (have you ever heard someone say' 'Quilled Slagwurm is the most underrated card'? Nope). The others, I mentioned, because I thought they were over priced.
Some more honourable mentions are Scourge Servant , and Stonehorn Chanter
June 17, 2014 12:47 p.m.
And I mentioned Voltaic Key, because it can untap Phyrexian Colossus, making it amazing. Go figure.
June 17, 2014 12:57 p.m.
Also, why are you nominating limited playables as WORST CARD CHALLENGE!!- Contestants? Just like into the lists posted, these are BAD cards. You know, a card doesn't have to be Thundermaw Hellkite to be above bad. Ever heard about mediocrity?
June 17, 2014 1:03 p.m.
Psyloarchy says... #38
@TexusDice Sorry about that. At my mtg club at my school; we like to make fun of limited cards, like Phyrexian Hulk , so that's why I nominated them. I (and johnydude) thought that you were nominating Voltaic Key as one of the worst cards. I have heard of Voltaic Key before, but I never thought of using it with Phyrexian Colossus . Also, what do you mean by "curve filler"?
June 17, 2014 6:12 p.m.
Grizzly Bears , Hill Giant , Pensive Minotaur and Craw Wurm are not the most exiting cards to open in your sealed pools or draft pods. They don't have the most flashed out effects and are often times "strictly worse", than other cards in the pack.
But you don't always have the luck of opening those cards, and if you're only playing the super good cards, you won't have a consistent mana curve or even playable colors. So you lay out you deck, notice a lack of two mana creatures and then see the vanilla 2/2 for two mana. It's nothing fancy, but it's still better than nothing. Because nothing can't attack your opponent.
Stonewise Fortifier is a bear with upside, as is Oreskos Sun Guide . The effect might not be the most insane thing to do, but their job is to attack for two damage.
June 18, 2014 7:51 a.m.
Another card in standard for which I see no redeeming features is Loathsome Catoblepas I cringe whenever I see it in a draft, I just know he's gonna wheel to me as my last pick from the booster :'(
June 18, 2014 6:23 p.m.
selesvyaloverer8 says... #41
Norin the Wary , he is a 2/1 for 1 but he always flickers himself and he cant attack or block or do anything at all
June 19, 2014 midnight
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #42
Steel Golem was actually the only win-con in a top tier deck when it came out. Before being replaced by a few better cards, like Masticore .
June 19, 2014 6:48 p.m.
Oh my God! So so many ways Norin the Wary can be exploited to be AMAZING!
June 19, 2014 6:53 p.m.
Yeah, Norin the Wary definitely doesn't deserve to be in the worst card category. He's more of a niche card, like Donate or something.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Scornful Egotist yet. Sky Swallower looks pretty bad too, though I'm sure there's some way to break it.
June 20, 2014 5:07 a.m.
cerealkyra says... #45
Scourge had a 'converted mana cost matters' theme in it, works with cards like Ancient Ooze , Rush of Knowledge and Torrent of Fire .
June 20, 2014 5:23 a.m.
I vote Force of Savagery . Unless u have a buff that counts toward all creatures you control... it's useless.
June 20, 2014 10:27 a.m.
elementalheroflamewingman says... #47
One with Nothing ? The only combo I can think of is playing a Swamp , or any land that produces black, play Dark Ritual , cast Sinkhole targetting your swamp, then finish off the game with One with Nothing .
June 20, 2014 10:37 a.m.
I was going to choose One with Nothing elementalheroflamewingman, but than I realized that there are lots of good interactions with the grave so sometimes playing it is good. Not the best card by any means, but not the worst ever made.
June 20, 2014 10:40 a.m.
elementalheroflamewingman says... #49
TheGamer. There are niche cards in the game, then there are cards like One with Nothing that needs actual justifications to make it seem playable. Discarding your entire hand is never a good thing, not even when you play rakdos. (It was a terrible mechanic).
June 20, 2014 10:47 a.m.
Most cards can be used for something, even if they look bad on the surface. For example, Force of Savagery + Varolz, the Scar-Striped = 8x +1/+1 counters for 2G! I'm inclined to argue that in fact every card that we might consider utterly useless is actually just waiting for the right card/s to combo it with to become amazing, but then I am a Johnny player ;P
-Fulcrum says... #2
Even though I know it's not the worst card out there, it's probably the worst Mythic. Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded
June 9, 2014 1:21 a.m.