How good is Flash?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 3, 2015, 5:19 p.m. by Indigoindigo
I rarely see Flash in decklists, but every time I look at the card I'm thinking it can and should be abused with big ETB-effects. Flash in an Terastodon for a backbreaking effect for 2 mana. Draw with Mulldrifter or Prime Speaker Zegana or instant-speed bordclear with Kederekt Leviathan. Is it too big of a card disadvantage, or can Flash be good?
When youn Flash a card in, it enters the battlefield then dies, triggering etb effects.
September 3, 2015 5:50 p.m.
Indigoindigo says... #4
You pay 2 mana for an ETB-effect. Flash + Terastodon = 2 mana: Destroy 3 noncreature permanents. It doesn't leave a body, but can potentially give you big effects.
September 3, 2015 5:51 p.m.
someguy5587 says... #5
the benefit i think comes with a powerful etb where you wouldn't mind immediately saccing the creature. pay U/1 to flash in a Terastodon and rip up their lands seems good even if it immediately goes to the gy. then just Reanimate it for another trigger...
September 3, 2015 5:51 p.m.
@goodair Like other said, the OP wants to abuse expensive ETB effects bye cheating in something using Flash. You don't have to pay the creatures cost to get the ETB effect.
But, I also wasn't sure if you meant that you didn't understand the card. Your not paying 2 mana to save 2 mana. Flash is an instant, which allows you to cast on your opponents turn. It's essentially the ability "flash" printed as a spell, allowing you to flash in a creature that wouldn't normally have flash. However, because of the way it's worded you can abuse ETB effects like in the OP's example of Flash+Terastodon. You cast Flash and put Terastodon into play. Terastodon's ability triggers and goes on the stack after Flash resolves. If you don't pay the mana for Terastodon then you will have to sacrifice it, but by that time it's ability has already triggered and you'll still get to blow up 3 non-creature permanents for just the cost of Flash.
September 3, 2015 6:15 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #7
Flash is honestly just inefficient. You have to use two cards to get one ETB effect, and you have to have both of those cards in hand simultaneously. It's generally better to have one efficient, yet more limited card than waste two for a slightly larger effect, especially when you consider how many cards in each case are effectively dead in hand until a relevant board state arises.
September 3, 2015 6:22 p.m.
RoarMaster says... #8
I personally wouldnt flash out a terrastodon unless I had a superior board pressence or in dire circumstances. Sure you flash out the Don early and blow up 3 lands, but then they swing for 9 each turn until you can answer the 3 3/3s you just gave them.
September 3, 2015 6:28 p.m.
The other issue you run into is that without Flash in-hand, you're stuck with a bunch of grandiose effects on creatures that are presumably high mana cost. And the once you've cast it, you're back to square one. Flash + Protean Hulk is a thing (aptly named flash hulk) however for good reason Protean Hulk is banned in commander as there are too many ways to basue the card, Flash being the most obvious.
September 3, 2015 7:55 p.m. Edited.
scopesightzx says... #10
The only way I could see Flash being really abusable in commander is with Isochron Scepter, but artifact removal is going to be a thing.
Flash works way better in 1v1 commander, since there's only one player who sees you as a threat, where in a multiplayer game, the other players have a good reason to go after you.
goodair says... #2
I don't see it, you pay 2 mana to save 2 mana on a creature. Can you explain the interaction?
September 3, 2015 5:44 p.m.