Gollum, Obsessed Stalker (LTC)

Gollum, Obsessed Stalker
Casting Cost: {1}{B}
Card Type: Legendary Creature - Halfling Horror
Power/Toughness: 1/1
Card Text:
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent dealt combat damage this game by a creature named Gollum, Obsessed Stalker loses life equal to the amount of life you gained this turn.
Flavour Text:
"He hated the Ring and loved it, as he hated and loved himself."
Artist: John Di Giovanni

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:
  • Skulk ability makes it difficult for larger creatures to block it, enhancing its ability to deal combat damage.
  • The end step ability can lead to significant life loss for opponents, especially in decks focused on life gain.
  • Low casting cost allows for early game play and potential early damage.
• Weaknesses:
  • Low power and toughness make it vulnerable to removal and unable to block effectively.
  • The life loss ability is contingent on having dealt combat damage and gaining life, which may not always align.

Deck Utility:

• Life Gain Decks: Particularly effective in decks that focus on life gain strategies, maximizing the potential of its end step ability.

• Aggressive Strategies: Can be used in aggressive decks that aim to deal early damage and benefit from unblockable creatures.

• Legendary Creature Synergies: As a legendary creature, it can be built around in decks that capitalize on legendary synergies.

Interactions and Combos:

• Life Gain Synergies: Works well with cards that provide life gain, allowing for potential significant life loss for opponents.

• Unblockable and Evasive Creature Strategies: Fits well in decks that prioritize dealing combat damage through evasive means.

Flavor and Lore:
The flavor text captures the essence of Gollum's conflicted nature in Tolkien's works, torn between his love and hatred for the Ring and himself. This duality is well represented in the card's abilities, which embody both stealth and a creeping, relentless danger.

Overall Impression:
Gollum, Obsessed Stalker, is a unique and flavorful card that offers strategic depth in the right deck. Its skulk ability allows it to sneak past many defenders, aligning well with its life loss ability triggered by life gain. While it requires specific deck-building considerations to maximize its potential, in a deck focused on life gain or with other evasive creatures, it can be a persistent and dangerous threat to opponents.