It was interesting for me to note the arguably
surprising synergy between the emerge ability
and much older cards like Jund's sacrifice
themes. Even without taking that into account,
something like Distended Mindbender is worth
looking at twice, as there have been few recent
cards that permit some sort of mass discard
attack (and more than one if you can return it
to your hand or cast it from your graveyard).
The fact that it eliminates two cards and its
synergy with popular multiplayer and EDH themes
is also relatively unique, as many of the most
powerful discard abilities are dramatically less
effective in such settings.
Another emerge creature, and this one is
certainly one of the more potent ones. It's not
quite as game-ending as Elder Deep-Fiend or
Decimator of the Provinces was, but this is
still a very powerful card.
The most powerful this card can be is curving
from a three-drop into this by paying Emerge. It
comes down and can get your opponent while
they're setting up, ripping away a small body
(or removal spell) and their big threat. Hitting
your choice of potentially two cards means this
is taking a massive chunk out of your opponent
in the early game, and this is still a 5/5 after
it does its early damage. And it's a cast
trigger, like all Eldrazi are, so stopping this
isn't going to be easy for them.
This isn't a good card if you fall behind; it's
too expensive to not use the emerge cost on, and
it's just a large body with no protection. But
it can take your opponent out of the game early
if it drops around turn 4 or 5, and that's an
excellent place for this card.
