Sméagol, Helpful Guide (Foil) (LTR)

Sméagol, Helpful Guide
Casting Cost: {1}{B}{G}
Card Type: Legendary Creature - Halfling Horror
Power/Toughness: 4/2
Card Text:
At the beginning of your end step, if a creature died under your control this turn, the Ring tempts you.
Whenever the Ring tempts you, target opponent reveals cards from the top of their library until they reveal a land card. Put that card onto the battlefield tapped under your control and the rest into their graveyard.
Artist: Campbell White

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:

  • Potentially fast mana ramp via acquiring opponent's lands.
  • Can synergize with decks that focus on sacrificing creatures or destroying them.
  • Milling opponents can potentially deprive them of key cards.

• Weaknesses:

  • Relatively low toughness, susceptible to most removal spells.
  • The effect is dependent on having a creature die under your control.

Deck Utility:

• Sacrifice Decks: Fits seamlessly into decks that frequently have creatures dying as part of their strategy, triggering its Ring temptation ability.

• Ramp Decks: In Golgari colors, it offers an unconventional form of ramp by stealing opponent's lands.

• Mill Decks: Can be used to fuel graveyard-based strategies or to potentially rob opponents of key resources.

Interactions and Combos:

• Grave Pact: Ensures that creatures are likely to die during each turn, triggering Sméagol's ability.

• Ramunap Excavator or Crucible of Worlds: These cards allow you to play lands from your graveyard, adding value in case Sméagol gets your lands milled.

• Deathrite Shaman: Can capitalize on the milling effect by exiling key cards from opponent's graveyard for added benefits.

• Avenger of Zendikar or Field of the Dead: Both of these cards could benefit immensely from the extra lands Sméagol puts onto your battlefield.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide is a unique and flavor-packed card that offers some interesting synergies, particularly for decks that focus on sacrificing creatures or ramping quickly. It could serve as a potent engine in the right deck, providing not just ramp but also a milling effect that could tilt the game in your favor.