Grim Haruspex vs Smothering Abomination
Standard forum
Posted on Sept. 20, 2015, 6:19 a.m. by pleasiodmakerblooloo
I realize that both of the aforementioned cards have pros and cons of their own, so I would like to put my question into a little more context. The deck that I want to make is a BGw sacrifice deck that also contains Rally the Ancestors for value. The problem is that I will be running at least 8 creatures that create eldrazi spawn. So while Grim Haruspex is cheaper and comes down a turn earlier, he won't be able to draw me cards off of these tokens. I feel that running both would be unnecessary as I am also running Vampiric Rites (sorry, the Vampiric Rites is a link to a deck, I'm not sure how to get the card.
So, is Grim Haruspex better for being cheaper for casting and Rally, or (in this deck where no other creatures are over 3CMC) is Smothering Abomination better for hitting tokens?
KablamoBoom says... #3
My experience with Grim Haruspex is he becomes an instant target for any removal and then pop, he didn't draw you anything. In standard I prefer Smothering Abomination because you can get some turn-two or -three scions out and then turn four, regardless of removal, sac in response to generate some advantage. This is however a purely meta-reliant thing. I just have had bad luck getting Grim Haruspex to stick over a turn.
Out of curiosity, how is he drawing you cards if all you're sacking is tokens?
September 20, 2015 1:04 p.m.
KablamoBoom you have to take into consideration that a lot of removal in Standard is rotating (no more Lightning Strike, Hero's Downfall, Bile Blight, Drown in Sorrow, Ultimate Price got worse so that card I don't think will be played as much as it once was, etc.). The removal we got is either slower or is just strictly worse. It seems to be that BFZ is going to bring a lot more early game creatures instead of holding removal so I don't think there'll be as much "Must kill that creature" until we see what the top decks will be.
September 20, 2015 1:55 p.m.
pleasiodmakerblooloo says... #5
I'm sacrificing creatures that leave behind tokens, if that makes any difference.
September 20, 2015 2:47 p.m.
Also keep in mind that a 4/3 flying is a big deal. Grim Haruspex isn't gonna close out any games.
September 20, 2015 3:29 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #11
The question that's been haunting me is if I have Smothering Abomination, Flamewake Phoenix and Butcher of the Horde How many times can return phoenix for 1 red mana, sacrifice the pheonix, draw a card. As I am unsure if I can repeate the process multiple times or if the 'begining of combat' stops the phoenix from being recurred multiple times in one combat. I just want red draw a card.
IzzetGod says... #2
Something you also should take into consideration is that Smothering Abomination will only trigger if you sacrifice the creature. With Grim Haruspex the creature can die in any fashion any you get to draw a card. Downside is that if you're just sacrificing your Eldrazi Scion's he won't draw you cards. Assuming you will have a lot of non-token creatures as you are playing Rally the Ancestors; Grim Haruspex I'm pretty sure is the better choice in this case.
September 20, 2015 10:17 a.m.