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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day


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Willbender 
Legions Uncommon


Reviewed February 10, 2003

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

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Card of the Day Reviews 


Scott
Gerhardt

This card is good.  Plain and simply, good.  It's a Wizard, and it can redirect a spell OR AN ABILITY!  This is the part the really makes him good.  Make a Sharpshooter hit itself.  Have your opponent Corrupt himself or his own creature.  The possibilities are endless.  On top of that, this card may almost singlehandedly revive a card I have long thought very good, but never had a deck - Voidmage Prodigy.  There were already a few decent wizards, but with another wizard that works on its own as a Pesudo-Counterpsell, it's good.  On top of that, it's an ability, so it can't be countered by normal methods once it's flipped.  This is the second best uncommon in the set, and will almost undoubtedly find a place in Standard constructed.

In limited, I would play this and not blink.  Redirecting that all-important removal spell could be the thing that ends a game.  He will always be useful unless they Infest right after you cast him.  Not a reason to play blue, but there is NO reason to not play him if you are playing blue in any limited format.

Constructed: 4
Limited: 4.5
Current Price:
$1.45


Chris
Gerhardt

Now this Wizard may actually see some play in constructed if blue ever finds its feet in the current environment. It's a cheap spell that can redirect not only a spell, but an ability -- that's what makes it exceptional. Since it's hiding in the unmorphed position, it can hit as a surprise, yet is not subject to counterspells, and after your opponent knows you're running it, all unmorphed cards carry that suspicion about them, giving your opponent the willies, if nothing worse.

In limited, a really nice addition to builds that include blue. Especially helpful in the current Legions, 'Unmorph...surprise!' environment. A 3-6 pick

Constructed: 3.5
Limited: 4.25


Judge Bill

Scott and I were having a discussion about the playability of Legions in non-block constructed environments today. He figures this is one of the top 2 cards that will see play, of a very shallow list. While I agree the list is shallow, I disagree that this is one of the best cards of the new set. I see this at best being a counterspell for targeted effects. While this is good for things that target, it doesn't solve the wizard deck's 2 major problems - Slice and Dice, and Engineered Plague. And for non-wizard decks, I think they have many better cards to stop spells, and as for the ability part of it, the only ability I would want to deflect right now would be Sparksmith, and maybe Visara. Visara isn't even that biig of a deal, because if I'm playing blue, she should never resolve.
 
In limited, though, this thing is great. deflects all sorts of creature kill, which should be in short supply. Just as long as they don't have a zombie for the Cruel Revival, you should be fine.
 
Constructed: 2
Limited: 4.75


Andy
 Van Zandt

Willbender
Not overcosted, and a decent ability.  Could see some play in wizards decks.
  In limited, the fact that it can redirect abilities too makes it a very
strong pick.
constructed 3
limited 3.2


Brett
Livingston

No Review


Jason
Chapman

Willbender has both a powerful and useful effect, which unlike instants, can get around counters but has a greater vulnerability since it is part of a 2/2 creature. I think that the card is decent and playable although weaker than instant versions of the same effect.

 

Constructed – This is the best format for cards like this, a decent choice but probably not the best to fill the necessary role – 2.65

 

Limited – Lots of creatures here and not so many spells – 2.25

 

PEZ –  A little slow to go off and the targeted effects, in general, aren’t as earth shattering without the rares – 2.00


IQ
Willbender

This guy's a 2/2 for three that can't do anything until turn 4, unless you're playing mana acceleration. Mana acceleration means playing green and this guy is simply too slow for a blue green deck, so I only see him being effective by turn 4. I don't think he's that great and I would even take Meddle over him because it can be played turn 2. In limited he can be rally good tho, not just because he morphs but also because he's ability is not that bad. It's not great either but I've seen worst.

Constructed 1.8

Limited 2.5

Scott Sager Misdirection has always been one of my favorite cards, throw in the fact that Willbender can misdirect effects as well and you have a very solid ability.  Of course this card most wants to be played alongside Voidmage Prodigy in a wizard deck (which might be viable once Legions is legal) and that demands a mono blue commitment.  Normally this would not be a bad thing, but blue looks to be surrendering the crown as king of the Magic color wheel in the future.

In limited this card should be playable in any deck that can support blue.  Counter-magic is rare in limited and a misdirection ability should prove to be invaluable.

Constructed: 4

Limited: 4

 

 

 

 

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