This card is a 2/2 for two mana. That's already
a reason to play most small creatures. But it
gives you the ability to stop just about
anything from being played. That's astrong
ability on a card. It's REALLY good against
combo decks. Stopping one key part of the combo,
for even a turn or two, can give you the window
of time you need to defeat them.
This card can be brutally good in any 60-card
format-- IF you use it correctly. This card got
a lot of use from the pundits up at Pro Tours
and teh like, becasue they knew how to metagame
and were thus able to correctly name a card that
their opponent relied heavily on. In casual
playgroups, it might have the same effect since
you have probably seen your friends' favorite
decks before. In Limited, however, it's a
complete dud. Limited decks are too random for
this to make an impact. If your opponent draws
his bomb game one, and you're playing blue/white
anyway, you might sideboard this in, but most
often he's just a WU 2/2.
Constructed- 4
Casual- 3
Limited- 1.5
KC MetroGnome
Meddling Mage
Oh Meddling Mage, the pain in the butt of all
pains in the butt (wait, that's Pithing Needle
now). As a 2/2 for 2, you're ahead of the curve
in U/W. You're probably not the beatdown player
with this in your deck, but it's still worth
noting. There are decks out there that simply
roll over to Meddling Mage. Even more decks roll
over to it if you've got some counterspell back
up to protect it. There's a reason it gets
played in so many decks, and there's a reason
that Fish Decks love him so much. He's one of
two reasons to play W as your fish splash
instead of another color (the other being Swords
to Plowshares). He's that good.
That said, leave him on the bench in limited
unless you need to side him in to protect
against some bomb you've seen from your opponent
(or unless you need another bear). Limited is
just too unpredictable.
Constructed - 4
Casual -3
Limited - 2-
Aethereal
Meddling Mage
Pikula's always been a popular tournament card,
and for good reason. The ability to temporarily
stop a threat and get a 2/2 body, all for 2 mana,
is very strong. Helps you establish control
until (or if) they off him. You do have to know
what to name, but that is not difficult these
days.
In casual, if someone in your group plays an
annoying combo deck, use this guy to stop them.
In limited, I'd probably play it if I got it but
I wouldn't pick it that high. I'd be more
interested in the fact that he's a 2/2 for 2
than his ability.
