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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!

Artisan of Kozilek
Image from Wizards.com

Artisan of Kozilek
Rise of the Eldrazi

Reviewed June 4, 2010

Constructed: 2.60
Casual: 3.40
Limited: 4.00
Multiplayer: 3.40

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

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Artisan of Kozilek

Nine mana is a lot, no question. And in today's Standard, nine mana is frequently just too slow to make a difference. But if you can get there, a 10/9 with annihilator 2 plus the best creature out of your graveyard is quite a reward! And remember, the reanimation ability takes place when you cast the Artisan, not when it resolves. Even if your opponent has a counterspell at the ready, you get your dead creature back.

Constructed- 2
Casual- 4
Limited- 3.75
Multiplayer- 4

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Artisan of Kozilek
 
What exactly is defined as a "fair" deal for creatures that cost nine mana? I honestly don't know, as you often get creatures that are rather narrow or have flavorful drawbacks like Leviathan. If I had to guess, I would say that Artisan of Kozilek is at least fair, and probably better than fair, considering that one of the traditional downfalls of grave-to-battlefield strategies is spells that do nothing without a graveyard to interact with. Tormod's Crypt is good at what it does, but what it does does not involve dealing with a 10/9 creature that destroys everything when it attacks.
 
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5

Paul

Magic The Gathering Card of The Day: Artisan of Kozilek
 
Welcome back readers today's card of the day is an interesting reanimating colorless Eldrazi. For a mere 9 mana you get a 10/9 Annihilator 2 creature which allows you to return a creature card from your graveyard to play. In standard the only Eldrazi I see getting play are the main three legendary ones, this card is nice for uncommon and it says something about power creep when a card likes this is considered OK or meh. In extended and eternal this card wont see play baring some sort of shenanigans. In casual and multiplayer this card is an interesting addition to Eldrazi or decks utilizing mana ramp, a free resurrection is nothing to sneeze at and the body can hold back some players. In limited if you can get enough mana its a decent card. Overall a good Eldrazi card overshadowed by its more powerful brethren.
 
Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 3.0
Limited: 3.0
Mutliplayer: 3.0

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Artisan of Kozilek which is a 10/9 for nine mana with Annihilator 2 and when cast returns a creature from the graveyard back to the battlefield.  The mana cost is a bit high, but the overall benefit can be pretty impressive with the right target in the graveyard.  Because the effect is specific to being cast and the lack of innate evasion or Trample this won't see too much play in the constructed formats, but a fast mana acceleration deck may try using this as part of a finishing combo.
 
For Limited this is a truly impressive Eldrazi that can quickly change the shape of the battlefield and makes an excellent topdeck card.  The cost is lower than some of the other Eldrazi and getting the creature of your choice back nets a solid card advantage.  Absolutely a first pick in draft and can be played in nearly any Sealed build thanks to the colorless nature.  Just be sure to read the text on other Eldrazi closely as some are shuffled into the library instead of remaining in the graveyard.
 
Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 3.5


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