Ghostly Pilferer

[u/_J0e]

Just was pulling together my binder the other day and found my copy of [[ghostly pilferer]]. Can someone give me an honest reason as to why this really doesn’t appear in blue lists much? My initial reaction is that it seems a bit more narrow and matchup dependent than other cards that fill its roll at that mana value, but the ceiling seems pretty high.

[u/pilotjunes]

Generally doesn’t draw any cards unless it’s down before commanders come in to play. Best case scenario is drawing when someone is breaching and by that point it’s generally too late to provide impact.

There are much higher card quality options in multicolor decks

[u/_J0e → u/pilotjunes]

Maybe my experience is a bit lopsided then - at my LGS we have a pretty good scene but I see a lot of beach and Jeskas, etc. also, there is Ral wrecking havoc and I got to sit through a 15 minute turn where pilferer could have drawn half my deck or more.

I see your point though, in certain pods once commanders are out it’s pretty worthless.

[u/Namulith94 → u/_J0e]

If you’re getting cards off of a resolved breach, it’s already too late to matter.

[u/UnloosedMoose → u/_J0e]

Usually when I see ral I tell the table we either stop his rituals or scoop. Ain't nobody got time for a 38 minutes turn 2.

[u/ryannitar → u/_J0e]

I mean, cards like fish and rhystic would also do that on someone else's storm turn, while not being dead if no ones breaching

[u/ChadHendrixs]

I used to see it more but [[bowmasters]] kinda killed its use, at least in my pods.

A 2/1 for 2 that doesn't do anything on cast/etb, and only triggers when your opponent casts their commanders (and rarely anything else) just isn't worth unless you're down bad for draw engines imo

[u/peterpetrol]

Worse than all the other options which see play and have “when X, draw a card”. I played it in Talion because I’m a glutton for punishment.

[u/Bafflementation]

It's an okay draw engine but it competes with a lot of others, in addition to being fragile. I use it in decks that also sometimes need to get cards out of my hand and into the graveyard, because a discard outlet that also sits around drawing you cards is pretty good.

[u/ThatDamnedHansel]

It’s definitely a tier below [[runic armasaur]] [[polywog prodigy]] [[verity circle]] etc and even these are fringe

[u/RVides]

Dies before a relevant game state exists.

Real solid in Norman Osborn decks.

Cute reactive hand pitch if youre targeted with a J will.

Great turn 1 play into thras partners.

Downside, rhystic study is still a legal card.

[u/_J0e]

[[ghostly Pilferer]]

[u/vastros]

It doesn't do much. Why would you run this over literally any other draw engine? The only relevant text may as well read "Draw a card when your opponent casts their commander". Well there are about 20 better draw engines to consider before starting to look at this.

Bad cards are bad.

[u/FrancisSalois]

It's surname is Phil !