This is clearly one of the most powerful cards
out of Innistrad, and one of the most chilling
if you've read the Metamorphosis. I can't even
look at the art of Insectile Abberation without
Gregor Samsa flashbacks. Which is unfortunate,
as Delver and its tragic tale are one of only
two cards that can attack for three on turn two.
The other, Reckless Waif, doesn't have flying
and is much more dependent on what your opponent
does on his or her first turn to transform so
early, while you have a modicum of control. The
fact that both Delver of Secrets and Insectile
Abberation are Human, besides serving as a
heartbreaking reminder of the rational creature
that still lives in that mantis's body, means
that the spillover interaction with Moonmist can
create some interesting game states. Some
enterprising souls are running Delver alongside
Mayor of Avabruck, who confers his bonus to the
Delver both before and after its Kafka-inspired
nightmare. Further, an unflipped Delver of yours
can discourage opponents from casting Moonmist...
but an Insectile Abberation can be restored to
the man of science it once was by it! Perhaps
there's hope yet... except that you're bound to
flip an instant or sorcery sooner or later and
thus the Delver is doomed to repeat his mistakes
all over again. What hath science wrought?
How does a common from Innistrad become a major
player in Legacy within a few weeks of its
release? Here's the secret: be blue, and
thus arguably the most popular color in eternal
formats; interact with instants and sorceries,
arguably the most popular card types in eternal
formats; cost one, so that your opponent is
forced to play spells and you can sit back.
Pretty simple when you think about it - wait,
simple? Are you sure this is a blue card?
Today's number four card of 2011 is Delver of
Secrets which is a one mana 1/1 that transforms
into a 3/2 Flying when you reveal an instant or
sorcery from the top of your library at the
beginning of your upkeep.
The potential for a 3/2 with evasion attacking
on the second turn makes this one of the most
aggressive first turn plays available and it
will see competitive play as a result. It
may not always trigger, but Blue's penchant for
running instants makes it likely enough and
library manipulation can increase the chances on
later turns.
For Limited if your pool includes playable
instant and sorcery spells this is a fantastic
common that should be played in Sealed whenever
Blue mana is used. A one mana 1/1 is
useful enough, so the chance of turning it into
a serious threat for no real cost can't be
ignored. Booster drafts can make getting
spells to trigger the effect a bit more reliable
and Delver can be drafted fairly aggressively in
the expectation of picking support later.
Welcome to the
card of the day section, where we are continuing
our countdown of the top cards of 2011. Today’s
card is Delver of Secrets from Innistrad. Delver
of Secrets is a 1/1 common creature human wizard
that costs only one blue mana. Delver of Secrets
says that at the beginning of your upkeep, look
at the top card of your library. You may reveal
it. If it is an instant or sorcery card you
reveal, you transform Delver of Secrets. Delver
of Secrets becomes Insectile Aberration, which
is a 3/2 creature insect human that has flying.
Easily the best one mana drop creature in a very long
time, especially since blue deals so heavily
with instants and sorceries. The fact that there
well could be one on the next turn means the
potential for a turn two 3/2 flyer that will
become very problematic very fast for an
unprepared opponent. However, with only two
toughness, it is also very easily handled.
While I agree that Delver of Secrets is a very
good card, and in fact can be a great card in
the proper situation, I have not settled on it
being an impact card. And I certainly did not
expect it top be number four on our top 10 list.
But, it is deserving of its position.
