This is one of the best cards with which to
teach players about the advantages of paying
life for things. Even in a "normal" scenario
where you start with 20 life, you will often
find you have enough of a margin to kill midgame
creatures - and this originally appeared in a
set intended for a 40-life format. Conversely, a
1- or 2-life payment often seems negligible when
faced with token swarms, especially when the
mana part of the cost is notably cheaper than
other Damnation variants and allows you
potentially more plays on that turn. Combined,
these make Toxic Deluge not only one of the best
board sweepers for casual format, but one of the
best of all time.
Until next week, learn the lessons of history,
and be a sorcerer.
Today's card of the day is Toxic Deluge which is a
three mana Black sorcery that for X life gives
all creatures -X/-X until end of turn.
This is a very low mana board sweeper that is a
bargain if factoring the opposing creatures as
potentially dealing damage higher than the life
payment. The adjustable aspect can make it
one sided and in a format like Commander the
higher life point total further reduces the
impact of paying a few life points.
Overall a very powerful card in Commander and
quite strong in Multiplayer or other formats
where it is available.
A 3 drop boardwipe that skirts indestructible
and regen effects? hell yes. This is great
flavor for black, and it's a pretty great pick,
provided you play a lot of lifegain/link stuff.
In EDH, who cares about the life cost. Play it
if you're playing black.
