n00b help: I don't get Eidolon of the Great Revel
General forum
Posted on Aug. 12, 2014, 6:05 p.m. by xXSprinkle_XenocideXx
OK, sorry if this is n00by, but I don't get Eidolon of the Great Revel . If it's used in a burn deck aren't you just doing damage to yourself? Why would you want to burn yourself? I'm getting confused, it says this nowhere online.
Servo_Token says... #3
It hurts you, but it also turns all of your opponents cards into a 2-for-1 for you. It provides damage out of thin air, and it doesn't even need to put itself in danger by attacking to do it.
Also, there are no zeros in the word "noob".
August 12, 2014 6:12 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #4
Damage to yourself in a Burn deck is less important in most circumstances due to the amount of damage you can do to your opponent. In most cases where this card is used, especially in Legacy, there are much lower mana curves, so every time your opponent casts Brainstorm or Ponder , they're eating 2 damage to look at more cards, while you're eating 2 damage to deal 3 more damage to them.
August 12, 2014 6:12 p.m.
xXSprinkle_XenocideXx says... #5
So what you guys are saying is that, even though you will be doing more damage to yourself, your opponent will cast low-cost spells too, just not as commonly.
August 12, 2014 6:14 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #6
The only point of life that matters in MTG is the last one. The other 19 life is just a buffer that allows you to keep playing the game. Remember in a burn deck you'll typically be using spells that cost 3 or less mana, but will also deal 2+ damage at the same time. Take Lightning Strike , for example. It is most certainly worth casting while you control an Eidolon, for the sole reason that, even though you get hit with 2, your opponent is hit with 3, making you come out on top in that exchange.
August 12, 2014 6:15 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #7
Eidolon is a phenomenal card as it puts the opponent in a difficult position. If they let it stick, just about everything they cast (in Modern and Legacy) will cause them damage. If they remove it, they take damage and may be staring at a Vexing Devil or Grim Lavamancer .
In my experience, the damage I take from it is negligible, as it can often lock an opponent out of casting spells unless they remove it. Also, the damage output from Eidolon, Lava Spike , Price of Progress , Chain Lightning , etc. is greater overall.
Your life is a resource. This is why Necropotence is so good, and banned in Legacy.
August 12, 2014 6:49 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #8
I personally don't like Eidolon of the Great Revel . He's an excellent sideboard card, but there are too many situations in which he is just 2 mana 2 damage to your opponent, and potentially 2+ damage to you. I'd prefer to run Keldon Marauders in mainboard over Eidolon of the Great Revel , as you are much more guaranteed to get 5 damage then you are to get 6 damage out of the revel, and without getting hit for it in the face.
August 17, 2014 9:24 p.m.
I've seen some people using it in non Standard formats especially when their foes are trying to keep the curve at 3 and below. I don't think it's very good at all for standard since red wants to be playing cheap spells more than any other color. I mean the green version doesn't let opponents draw cards so why are we hurting ourselves?
Still it has uses against decks that drop a lot of Zendikar and Shocklands. Also it's hilarious when somebody is casting Sign in Blood . The card really picks on Typhoid Rats and Sedge Scorpion abusers even more. If somebody is playing those creatures there's a fair chance their deck was cheaply designed and they'll also be playing Sign in Blood. Ornithopter may end up costing them two life which they desperately need to block with. Void Snare now costs two life. Cancel now costs 2 life. Courser of Kruphix is slightly more balanced by this because it won't see a life gain for 1 or 2 turns. Heck this card even makes Hero's Downfall less threatening because your getting to deal two damage when they try to kill it! Not to mention Underworld Connections .
Nigeltastic says... #2
So the goal of a burn deck is to do essentially precisely 20 damage as fast as possible. You don't care about your own life total as by the time it is relevant your opponent should be dead or easily winning. In that sort of all out sprint, even trading 8 damage on yourself for 4 on your opponent is worth it.
August 12, 2014 6:09 p.m.