It's a 2-cost instant that can give all stuff -1/-1 (unlikely here), destroy an enchantment (possible), or save your team (probable)
1 2 3 "Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules" (PDF)
On the other hand, when going second, the deck can blitz an opponent with high early damage incomparable to most others, facilitating a major offensive before an opponent can prepare
Zachary Barash is a New York City-based game designer and the commissioner of Team Draft League
1 ready-to-play deck of 100 Magic cards (1 Borderless Foil Face Card, 1 Borderless Imagine: Courageous Critters Foil Card, 98 nonfoil cards) 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack 15 new-to- Magic cards 10 double-sided tokens 1 deck box (can hold 100 sleeved cards) 1 Life Wheel 1 strategy insert 1 reference card
The reason this kind of card isn't used so much these days is that even if you get the god opener with a turn two Reanimate, Exhume etc you will still often lose the race if you do nothing else, particularly if you pay 8 life