Now, this is what I like to see - a creature
with an old-fashioned drawback! Granted, there
are so many ways to turn it to your advantage
that it sometimes almost feels like doesn't
count. Underworld Dreams, Sudden Impact, and
Ignite Memories are always in contention for
decks anyway, and the Master's huge combat stats
add even more speed to what can sometimes be
rather slow interactions. The fact that he's an
enchantment may occasionally come in handy, too,
if only because you can use Idyllic Tutor to
look for either or both halves of the combo with
Underworld Dreams.
It feels appropriate that “Black Friday” stars a
symbol of unbounded avarice. Master of the
Feast, back in Theros-block Standard, was
popular for its efficiency. Who cares that much
about your opponents getting more cards if
you're smashing their faces in with a 5/5 flier?
3 mana is excellent for the stats, even with the
drawback, and you can make the drawback work for
you if you have punisher effects that make them
drawing cards or having lots of cards in-hand
less good than it might sound.
The issue, of course, is that you are giving
them extra resources, and it's not too hard for
them to kill Master of the Feast on your turn,
after the upkeep trigger goes off. Enchantment
creature is also pretty…dicey, as the only color
that doesn't deal with this easily is red (and
red loves the extra cards). Green and white deal
with enchantments, black deals with creatures,
and blue can bounce it.
This card is excellent to close out a game where
you're ahead, but it's not so good if you're
trying to come back. You could just as easily
give your opponent the tool they need to wreck
you.
(The Constructed score reflects its role in
Theros-era Standard. I don't think this is
playable in Modern; Tombstalker outclasses this
in almost any conceivable way, and that card
hardly sees play at all.)
