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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Strangleroot Geist
Image from Wizards.com

Strangleroot Geist
Dark Ascension

Reviewed February 7, 2012

Constructed: 4.10
Casual: 4.10
Limited: 4.00
Multiplayer: 3.20

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 of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Strangleroot Geist

That rare animal, the green creature with haste, is usually a stronger play than an equivalent black or red creature with haste, simply because a green creature having haste is a special occasion and WotC want to make it special. Does Strangleroot Geist deserve the honor to which it has been bestowed? Well, it has two power for two mana. Most 2/x's with haste in black and red cost three mana at least. Then again, Green gets a 3/2 with trample for GG and nobody seems to bat an eyelash. But of course, Strangleroot Gesit can hit just as hard as that,once it's already died once. Undying makes a great addition to any combat-minded creature, whether it wants to attack or block. Haste here seems like WotC's subtle hint that they want people to attack with undying creatures, not block with them. But really, it's great at either job, and will usually take out at least one creature in combat before it's over and done with. It also helps solve green's typical weakness to board wipes, and here the haste really shines, as it can swing for 3 before your opponent can replay a suitable blocker.

Constructed- 3.75
Casual- 3.5
Limited- 4
Multiplayer- 4


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Strangleroot Geist

I may have been a little hard on Doom Blade type spells recently. It's not always as easy as it looks trying to kill everything that hits the table, especially now that Dark Ascension is here. The phrase "a creature you want to die" is thrown around fairly often, but I don't feel that it's usually warranted - that's all different now, of course. What's most notable about Strangleroot Geist is that it would be a good creature if it didn't have undying. Haste alone is good protection against the inevitable destruction spells you will face, and adding the undying ability means that it will overload certain opposing hands all by itself (as in, before the big guns even hit the table) and makes it a creature that no deck wants to see on the other side of the battlefield.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5


Paul

Welcome back readers todays card of the day is Bloodghast er Strangleroot Geist a powerful and aggressive green two drop, which unlike Bloodghast only comes back once. In standard this card will see play in some capacity a 2/1 haste that comes back as a 3/2 is just so aggressive and having a small amount of built in protection from removal with undying is quite powerful. The possibility for double Birthing Pod activations exists as well; overall I predict this card seeing a fair amount of standard play. In extended and modern this could see play in decks utilizing green and needing a powerful early drop, I predict this being playable but have no idea in what style decks it will excel. In legacy and vintage this card is a psyeudo bloodghast in green meaning it will fill a niche for certain decks but overall I don’t predict this having the same impact on the format like Bloodghast did, and in vintage I doubt anyone would sleeve this up for their decks. In casual and multiplayer this is a powerful early aggressive card that can also be a pro chump blocker if there is need for it making it valuable not to mention the combos with undying. In limited its solid but requires double green so it’s not likely to be splashed but if your leaning towards heavy green this is an obvious pick up. Overall a powerful aggressive card that will see a small or medium amount of play in casual and constructed.

Constructed: 3.0
Casual: 3.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 2.5

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Strangleroot Geist which is a two mana Green
2/1 with Haste and Undying. Aside from the double Green cost this is an excellent card that is a serious early game threat as both a 2/1 and 3/2 with Haste. Removal is inefficient against it as is blocking twice with creatures that it can destroy, so the overall advantage is heavily in the Geist's favor. Expect to see this card in many Green decks for quite some time.

In Limited the double Green is a noticeable drawback for getting this into play early, but even later in the game a 2/1 that returns to play as a 3/2 is useful. The Haste allows this to work well in an offensive role should an opportunity present itself, though it can block twice in a stall as well which might be more common. An easy pick in Booster after a Green rare and should be played in any Sealed deck with a strong Green mana supply.

Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 4.5

John
Shultis
Phoenix
Gaming

Welcome to the second card in our two-for Tuesday at Pojo.com’s card of the day section! This time, we are looking at Strangleroot Geist from Dark Ascension. Strangleroot Geist is an uncommon green creature Spirit that costs two green mana for a 2/1. Strangleroot Geist has haste and undying.

I honestly was not a big fan of the Strangleroot Geist while I was looking at the spoiler for Dark Ascension. But since I have had an opportunity to play with the card, and see how easily it is to break the card, I must say it is becoming one of my favorite green uncommons from the set. Since it has haste, it is a nice attacker on turn two, that even if it is blocked by something, it comes right back, even stronger for next turn. Or you could hold it back for a decent block on your second turn, then at the beginning of third turn, sacrifice it for some ability that benefits you, and then it comes back into play as a 3/2, that is still able to then attack! Some popular combos involving the Strangleroot Geist include sacrificing it to Altar’s reap during your first Mainphase, drawing two cards, then attacking with a 3/2. Then there is sacrificing it to Artillerize, dealing 5 damage direct, and then attacking. Or even using it with Birthing Pod to get a slightly bigger creature, such as Predator Ooze, out, and then attacking, which you would then be able to sacrifice the Strangleroot Geist again! But the combo that I had a great deal of enjoyment utilizing is with Deadly Allure. Deadly Allure gives a creature Deathtouch and forces it to be blocked. When used with an Undying creature, it is a win win situation. You kill a creature of theirs, and then get a bigger creature in return!

Limited: 5/5
Casual: 5/5
Constructed: 5/5
Multiplayer: 2/5


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