[5D] Plunge into Darkness

[goober]

Theres a thread listing a lot of good one in the community forum, but one card I think is deserving of note is

Plunge into Darkness - 1B
Instant
Choose one - Sacrifice any number of creatures, then you gain 3 life for each sacrificed creature; or pay X life, then look at the top X cards of your library, put one of those cards into your hand, and remove the rest from the game.
Entwine
Illus. Justin Sweet
57/165
Rare

I think any deck that would want Spoils can use this.  It will probably help Belcher because you can get to it, without worrying about killing yourself.  Even if you aren't useing it as a balls to the wall tutor of the top 19, you can pay 5 or so to get yourself further into your deck and snag a nice card.  I think this could have some uses in Suicide if it ever comes back.

[The Grim Reaper]

I would deffinitely consider this in combo. Two mana nets you almost any card in your deck (if you run 4 of each). The other ability doesn't have much use except possibly in suicide as you suggested. Suicide doesn't really need more tutors though. It is consistant as is.

Someone needs to break this card

[paradigm]

The basic problem with Plunge into DArkness is that it becomes difficult to use more than one time - especially if you are planning to get the card - the same reason why it is often difficult to use Spoils of the Vault in combo - with Draw 7s available (and the cheaper Consultation), you should be able to see through a large portion of the deck to begin with.

And in combo, the difference between one and two mana also plays in a role. The cc of two is dangerously close to meaning that it will cost a turn's worth of mana investment, which becomes dangerous when trying to avoid Duress or Mana Drain magic up.

I think any deck that would want Spoils can use this.

Problem is, few decks currently want spoils. Spoils Mask was the main one, but has obviously fallen below the ranks of viability should one want to take a tournament. The investment of life for a one card net is not optimal - particularly when trying to buy time versus Tog and the like.

you can pay 5 or so to get yourself further into your deck and snag a nice card.

Of course, this is just a slightly better impulse. Most combo decks are quite tight in their builds, and it becomes difficult to fit Plunge in simply because it is not as consistent as Consultation or even spoils. If one is to chose a larger number (say 10), it makes it difficult to use twice, and there's no gurantee of getting it.

This card will be difficult to break simply because it serves the role as utility, and is not more effecient that current versions of the Consultation or using Draw 7s to begin with.

edit: Wrong information about the card led to an inaccurate assessment that does not change the overall assessment of the card itself. My mistake.

[PucktheCat]

put one of those cards into your hand, and remove the rest from the game.

Unless I am missing something, it does remove them from the game.

As has been stated this card does not compare favorably to Spoils or Impulse, neither of which sees any play.  I don't expect this will see any either.

I have been wrong before though.

Leo

[defector]

I've thought about running this in rector as rector killer 5 and 6, gives three life(with bargain that means draw 3 more cards), my rector deck though isn't very good or typical so I can't speak for the impact on the greater format.
defector

I'll edit this in to avoid hijackery: If you really want more ways to kill Rector, just look up [card]Diabolic Intent[/card] and [card]Culling the Weak[/card]. Lifegain sucks. Mana is awesome. -Dr. S.

[BreathWeapon]

B/g Dragon wont use this either, because 2cc Trashes its Mana Curve. This card isn't going anywhere IMO.

[paradigm]

The reason why this fails in Rector Trix is twofold.

Firstoff if you're using it to sacrifice the Rector - it can be countered and thus, is not superior over adding an extra Cabal Therapy (current builds tend to run two only) which is optimal for sacrificing the Rector on your own.

Secondly, if you're using it as the psuedo-Impulse, the life you pay means that your Bargain becomes less impressive - which can make a difference - particularly if you intend to call a number over five - and doing less so would negate the purpose and make it nearly useless in terms of hitting the card you need.

As an aside, entwining it does not do much more. You get the sacrifice effect - which is weaker has noted than Therapy's, and as for the impulse ability, with the Rector you're going to draw the cards anyway - so the tutor effect does nothing except reduce the power level that the Bargain can produce.

[JuJu]

Use it in Affinity. Duh