Phantasmal Image – M12
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2024
Ratings:
Constructed:
Casual:
Limited:
Multiplayer:
Commander [EDH]:
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Phantasmal Image still holds the record as the cheapest universal clone effect – Mockingbird can become a 4/4 or higher for just one mana, but only if the original is a token. As such, the Image has a history of high-power plays, ranging from the massive tempo gain of getting a Titan and still having four mana open, through to being a blue Tarmogoyf in a much more literal sense than we usually see. The fact that it has a clear downside is unusual for clone effects in general, though I find it to be a refreshing element of balance; it does mean that some of the decks that could otherwise use it best won’t actually be able to, as it can’t carry equipment or auras for an aggressive strategy. Even so, the cost is extremely hard to resist, and it does great work when called upon even in the 2024 context.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 4
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 3.5
Phantasmal Image is a card with a pretty robust competitive history; while it disappears if it gets targeted, it’s an otherwise unconditional two-mana Clone effect, and that’s far and away the cheapest rate for such an effect. Back in the days of the old legendary permanent rule, Phantasmal Image was a reliable out to a creature like Geist of Saint Traft, and even now being able to borrow something else or double up on your own things is oft worth the price of admission. Be mindful of the limits of this card, and it can serve a pretty solid role in most decks as a result of its cheapness and its puissance.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 4
Limited: 3.25
Multiplayer: 3.5
Commander [EDH]: 4
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