That rare animal, the green creature with haste,
is usually a stronger play than an equivalent
black or red creature with haste, simply because
a green creature having haste is a special
occasion and WotC want to make it special. Does
Strangleroot Geist deserve the honor to which it
has been bestowed? Well, it has two power for
two mana. Most 2/x's with haste in black and red
cost three mana at least. Then again, Green gets
a 3/2 with trample for GG and nobody seems to
bat an eyelash. But of course, Strangleroot
Gesit can hit just as hard as that,once it's
already died once. Undying makes a great
addition to any combat-minded creature, whether
it wants to attack or block. Haste here seems
like WotC's subtle hint that they want people to
attack with undying creatures, not block with
them. But really, it's great at either job, and
will usually take out at least one creature in
combat before it's over and done with. It also
helps solve green's typical weakness to board
wipes, and here the haste really shines, as it
can swing for 3 before your opponent can replay
a suitable blocker.
I may have been a little hard on Doom Blade
type spells recently. It's not always as easy as
it looks trying to kill everything that hits the
table, especially now that Dark Ascension is
here. The phrase "a creature you want to die" is
thrown around fairly often, but I don't feel
that it's usually warranted - that's all
different now, of course. What's most notable
about Strangleroot Geist is that it would be a
good creature if it didn't have undying. Haste
alone is good protection against the inevitable
destruction spells you will face, and adding the
undying ability means that it will overload
certain opposing hands all by itself (as in,
before the big guns even hit the table) and
makes it a creature that no deck wants to see on
the other side of the battlefield.
Welcome back readers todays card of the day is
Bloodghast er Strangleroot Geist a powerful and
aggressive green two drop, which unlike
Bloodghast only comes back once. In standard
this card will see play in some capacity a 2/1
haste that comes back as a 3/2 is just so
aggressive and having a small amount of built in
protection from removal with undying is quite
powerful. The possibility for double Birthing
Pod activations exists as well; overall I
predict this card seeing a fair amount of
standard play. In extended and modern this could
see play in decks utilizing green and needing a
powerful early drop, I predict this being
playable but have no idea in what style decks it
will excel. In legacy and vintage this card is a
psyeudo bloodghast in green meaning it will fill
a niche for certain decks but overall I don’t
predict this having the same impact on the
format like Bloodghast did, and in vintage I
doubt anyone would sleeve this up for their
decks. In casual and multiplayer this is a
powerful early aggressive card that can also be
a pro chump blocker if there is need for it
making it valuable not to mention the combos
with undying. In limited its solid but requires
double green so it’s not likely to be splashed
but if your leaning towards heavy green this is
an obvious pick up. Overall a powerful
aggressive card that will see a small or medium
amount of play in casual and constructed.
Today's card of the day is Strangleroot Geist
which is a two mana Green
2/1 with Haste and Undying. Aside from the
double Green cost this is an excellent card that
is a serious early game threat as both a 2/1 and
3/2 with Haste. Removal is inefficient against
it as is blocking twice with creatures that it
can destroy, so the overall advantage is heavily
in the Geist's favor. Expect to see this card in
many Green decks for quite some time.
In Limited the double Green is a noticeable
drawback for getting this into play early, but
even later in the game a 2/1 that returns to
play as a 3/2 is useful. The Haste allows this
to work well in an offensive role should an
opportunity present itself, though it can block
twice in a stall as well which might be more
common. An easy pick in Booster after a Green
rare and should be played in any Sealed deck
with a strong Green mana supply.
Welcome to the second card in our two-for
Tuesday at Pojo.com’s card of the day section!
This time, we are looking at Strangleroot Geist
from Dark Ascension. Strangleroot Geist is an
uncommon green creature Spirit that costs two
green mana for a 2/1. Strangleroot Geist has
haste and undying.
I honestly was not a big fan of the Strangleroot
Geist while I was looking at the spoiler for
Dark Ascension. But since I have had an
opportunity to play with the card, and see how
easily it is to break the card, I must say it is
becoming one of my favorite green uncommons from
the set. Since it has haste, it is a nice
attacker on turn two, that even if it is blocked
by something, it comes right back, even stronger
for next turn. Or you could hold it back for a
decent block on your second turn, then at the
beginning of third turn, sacrifice it for some
ability that benefits you, and then it comes
back into play as a 3/2, that is still able to
then attack! Some popular combos involving the
Strangleroot Geist include sacrificing it to
Altar’s reap during your first Mainphase,
drawing two cards, then attacking with a 3/2.
Then there is sacrificing it to Artillerize,
dealing 5 damage direct, and then attacking. Or
even using it with Birthing Pod to get a
slightly bigger creature, such as Predator Ooze,
out, and then attacking, which you would then be
able to sacrifice the Strangleroot Geist again!
But the combo that I had a great deal of
enjoyment utilizing is with Deadly Allure.
Deadly Allure gives a creature Deathtouch and
forces it to be blocked. When used with an
Undying creature, it is a win win situation. You
kill a creature of theirs, and then get a bigger
creature in return!
