A very disrupting card, for both players. As the
player who saw the Smallpox coming, you can play
around it by having no creatures to sacrifice or
no cards in hand to discard, making it that much
more powerful for you. A lot of Haakon decks are
using it to discard Haakon and sacrifice a
Knight, thus essentially ignoring two of the
four requirements. Madness decks like it too. In
a pinch, it can also be played simply if your
opponent has one nasty creature.
A modified version for pox from back in the day.
Pox was good, smallpox is ok. This card is very
versatile. Can be used for removal against
untargetable creatures such as troll ascetic, in
land destruction decks along with rain of tears,
and in discard decks. The only problem I've had
with this card is make sure you are in a
position when this helps your out more. If you
are pretty mana screwed DO NOT play this card. I
personally like playing this card mid game when
you are pretty good control.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 4
Limited: 3
David Fanany
Player since
1995
Smallpox
Apart from having one of the best card names
ever, Smallpox is an excellent card - in the
right deck. The problem with it is that because
the cost to its user is so potentially high,
decks have to be set up with it in mind
(Flagstones of Trokair, Haakon, Genesis, etc).
If you face a deck designed to abuse it or are
playing a slower deck, watch out. Otherwise,
it's less than spectacular. In Time Spiral
limited, I guess it's removal . . . kind of . .
.
Constructed: 2/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
PsychoAnime
#1
Magic Noob in Canada since 2002
Smallpox
At first it's a symmetrical effect. But let's
say you're sacking a used Ravenous Rat, a
Terramorphic Expanse and discarding a Fiery
Temper. Now follow that up with a really big
Tarmagoyf and you'll see why this card is just
so good. It's mad advantage and speeds up The
Rack rather well.
In casual, Smallpox is a great beginning to a
theme-ish deck. It's also really annoying.
In limited, it's much harder to use this to your
advantage here. You'll likely give yourself a -1
in advantage here. BB is also harder to pull
off.
