I think this is powerful, expensive and safe
Sets with lots of different alternate styles like March of the Machine seem to demonstrate that it's some combination of the two as more popular art styles are worth more than the regular art, while other variants cost far less
In a way, this feels like a modal spell, and while most of the time this is killing off a two or three-drop, it has other implications as well
Between games, the mana base is separated, and the spells are randomly selected from a greater number than required for a deck
Mechanics similar to deathtouch have been in the game since Alpha , when a similar ability appeared on [c]Thicket Basilisk[/c]
There simply arent enough elements to need permanent direction on where to place cards, and the rigidity of the board layout made it difficult to play anywhere but on a large table