This is probably one of the weaker effects among
Battle for Zendikar's cards that ask you to
return an opponent's card from exile. The effect
only lasts for one turn, and so for maximum
benefit you'll probably need to wait until your
opponent has a number of exiled cards, by which
time they may have something stronger than the
Cruiser itself. However, one factor to keep in
mind is that there are very few ways for an
opponent to return their own cards from exile,
Wishes being the most prominent. If you can hold
on until your opponent has a reasonable number
of exiled cards and suitable targets in play,
this card can sometimes give you a little extra
combat advantage.
Today's card of the day is Cryptic Cruiser
which is a three and one Blue
3/3 with Devoid that for three and return from
exile to opponent's grave taps a target
creature. The extra requirement on top of
the three mana cost makes this a bit cumbersome
even if the effect can be repeated as mana
allows. There is too much setup required
to make this work well when options like
Disciple of the Ring or Dauntless River Marshal
and Kytheon's Irregulars with White can do it
more efficiently. This is unlikely to see
much play outside of a dedicated eldrazi Devoid
and Ingest build.
In Limited this can have some potential in
locking down an opponent's top threats and for
that it is worth considering, if multiple exile
effects can be drafted. A possible second
or third pick in Booster with an eye on future
picks being required and an easy inclusion for
Sealed when running Blue and even a little
support.
