[SCD] Lava Blister

[ScatmanX]

Card Name:Lava Blister
Mana Cost: :1::r:

Types:Sorcery
Card Text:Destroy target nonbasic land unless its controller has Lava Blister deal 6 damage to him or her.

So, I know we all hate cards thta give your oponent choices (Browbeat and the like), but I really like Lava Blister. What it do is way better than any other card with options in it, specially with so many nonbasics nowadays, and 6 dmg is a hell lot of dmg for 2 mana.

I guess this could fit in some sort of agroo strategy, focusing in killing fast an denying mana, something like Sligh. It is good agains´t several decks, even combo, wich like they´re lands, and care for they´re life totals when going for Ad Nauseam.

What do you guys think? Is it Viable?

[Aggro_zombies]

It's worse against nonbasics than either Wasteland or Price of Progress.

Also, it gives your opponent a choice. There's a reason people don't like those kinds of cards, you know.

[AngryTroll]

I kind of like it. It'll probably end up being cards 61-64 in a deck you try to build around it, though.

The problem is that if an opponent already has something like a Goyf in play, they can accept having the land blown up and race you. If you can do it before they drop a threat, it's either 6 damage or a huge tempo boost-possibly enough of one to win the game before they can recover.

So, in situations where you get to cast it before they have dropped a threat (say, on turn two with you on the play), it'll be amazing, acting as either a Time Walk or a six point burn spell. But most of the time, it'll blow up a land while they try to race you. Burn is a seven card combo. Once in a while, this card will be two parts of the combo, but it'll usually not count towards the seven.

It's one of the better choice cards, though. Browbeat is better than people give it credit for being, but usually not good enough for a slot anyways. But as cards 61-63, they're better than people think.

[Tacosnape]

I have two thoughts on this.

No need to micro-mod.

-PR

2. Lava Blister, in my best Cleveland voice, is what the Spanish call "El Terrible." They'll lose the land if they have more in hand, or they'll lose the six life if they're about to do something insane with the tempo, like finish Countertop-locking you, you silly red deck you.

[pw709]

I think that in a burn deck, the loss of tempo and card advantage you get from casting Lava Blister is much worse than the potential loss of tempo they get from choosing to lose a land.

Let's face it, if you're a burn deck, they're never going to take six.

[Anusien]

I would hate to draw this near the end of the game. Burn decks are already prone to fizzling out or not drawing the right mix of spells to win. Why would you make it worse?

If you really want this effect, try Cryoclasm or Molten Rain.

[SilverGreen]

***

It was already said and you already know it, but it doesn't hurt stress it a little more: always avoid cards that take away a choice from your hand and put it onto your opponent's. This card's choice would be a painful one, for sure, but your opponent will always choose the most benefitial one for him and the less for you. In the early game, he will always know when he can afford the six damage and keep a land more often than you need manascrew him or slow him down a turn. In the late game... Well, probably there will be no late game in this case anyway.

[Finn]

The value of Lava Blister can be easily figured just by comparing it to what else sees play in the format. It's power vs. cost puts it at cheaper than Stone Rain with a rather large drawback. Compare it to:

Sinkhole - sees play at the same cost. Sucks hard core late in the game.

Stifle - I love this one especially since it does lots more and the opponent does not get to use the land before you kill it.

Wasteland - I think we can skip the details here.

Stone Rain - So gawdawfully bland and unimportant at that cost.

Vindicate - The brass ring in this category if you ask me. For one more mana, you get a card that is about 100000 times as effective as Lava Blister.

-----------------------

There is one caveat here. If you can manage to make the opponent make the wrong choice or get into a lose/lose, you have a card that can potentially pay dividends. The trick is to make the downside turn into a plus. Of course that is a big "if" since you are now using a pretty bad card without it. Plus, I have no idea how it can be done. But it has been done in the past to varying degrees of success.

Kavu Predator + Invigorate
Oath of Druids + Forbidden Orchard
City of Traitors + Blood Moon

[Kove]

I too like Lava Blister and as my favourite deck at the moment happens to be Red Death I have been playing with the idea of including it.

I've had it in my decks a few times - but each and every time have I chickened out just before a tournament and replaced them with tested-and-trusted cards.

Sinkholes and Wastelands simply win games. I'm a bit daunted by the thought of them saying "Ok, I take 6 - my turn? I tap my two lands and play Tarmogoyf". Also the fact that they cannot be cast off a Dark Ritual is annoying me.

On the other hand, as already said. 6 damage for 2 mana is a lot. A destroyed land for two mana is also a good deal. I'm already running 8 dedicated LD effects and another 8 potential ones (Hypnotic Specter and Hymn to Tourach)... I think I'm going to squeeze two of 'em into my deck for tonight's tournament - to finally give them a chance.

[Gui]

If you fit it onto a deck where both options are hard, than it may end up being good...
Some sort of BR Land Destruction with Poxes and Burns rushing their life and slowing them comes to mind...

[CleverPetriDish]

If you fit it onto a deck where both options are hard, than it may end up being good...
Some sort of BR Land Destruction with Poxes and Burns rushing their life and slowing them comes to mind...Isn't Sinkhole just wayyy better here? And isn't the the point of why this card is not any good?

[Gui]

Isn't Sinkhole just wayyy better here? And isn't the the point of why this card is not any good?

Sinkhole 5-8 ? !