So it's Dune Scorp without the need for a second card (a buff), but it's dead if the opponent doesn't have creatures. I guess it fits well with Nightmare, though after establishing in the meta game it'd be a dead card again in PvP.
You can CC your own creature, but you're losing two cards for one. Hm, it's probably too good in most cases and too weak in some.
Yes, this is why I think it is sufficiently distinct from dune scorp, or more accurately, the neurotoxin effect. It is easier to pull off in many senses, so that might need some limitation I guess...
In most respects it is all around stronger I think.
Why would it become a dead card in pvp?
Assuming this will be combo'd with quintescence it can yield up to 6 poison per turn vs non-time players and would be very difficult to prevent without resorting to immaterial creatures or creatureless decks.
Would cost bump help balance it?
I should've clarified; dead against stalls once players are aware of its existence. Good for a few surprise games though. As for the Quint synergy: while it's only two cards, much like Dune+buff, this combo leaves your opponent's offence up and is unlikely to be very useful. If Dims work for preventing opponent damage, a standard MA wins without this card anyway.
A cost raise would be in line with how Aether has historically been "balanced". Question is, has that been effective? It's not much of a question; the answer is no.
Thematically I do love this card, and it'd be hella fun to win even more ;>
Perhaps it could have a max counter limit, such as 4, to bring it in line with a card like Deadly Poison (with a bonus to compensate for a lack of Arsenic) and remain a powerful way of bypassing shields without countering large amounts of healing. The problem is that we'd still be giving Aether even more ways of unstoppable offence, which really is its biggest strength. Even more than its defence.
