Silent-Blade Oni – Planechase 2012
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2023
Ratings:
Constructed: 1.75
Casual: 4.00
Limited: N/A
Multiplayer: 3.67
Commander [EDH]: 3.75
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty‘s ninjas are mostly efficient or close to it, even if you don’t pay their ninjutsu costs. It’s easy to forget that this wasn’t the case for the older ninjas. Silent-Blade Oni’s stats aren’t exactly bad, but it’s kind of awkward if you have to hardcast it and have it sit there, telegraphing what you’re hoping to do on your next attack step. You’re really hoping to get it in play as a surprise, and it can be hard to get exactly everything to line up (something that won’t be blocked, when your opponent has something impactful in their graveyard for it to cast). But this is sometimes easier in multiplayer, like the chaotic Planechase games it was originally intended for, and the times it makes something huge happen are worth the effort.
Somebody really needs to get some updated Planechase stuff on the release schedule. It’s not like there’s an ongoing multi-planar invasion or something . . .
Constructed: 2
Casual: 4
Limited: N/A – hasn’t been in a draftable set
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
ninininininjaaaaaaaaa
Originally debuting in Planechase 2012‘s “Night of the Ninja” structure deck, Silent-Blade Oni was actually the first multicolored ninja, and it fit well into the theme of exacting a steep price from an opponent that let it hit them, stealing the most desirable spell from their hand. This costs six mana to do, though, and it’s not likely you’d want to cast this for seven mana and leave it to die on the spot. It’s a certainly powerful card if it gets through, but it is expensive and runs against the usual ninja approach of coming in early and wrecking things that way. It’s not terrible, but I think there are definitely far better options.
Constructed: 1.5 (it’s limited to Legacy and Vintage, and it’s way too cumbersome to work there)
Casual: 4
Limited: N/A (only has been in Planechase and Commander)
Multiplayer: 3.25 (more opponents usually means someone will be vulnerable)
Commander [EDH]: 3.5
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