"Grappling Hook" is a colorless artifact printed as a rare for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Zendikar." So far, the Grappling Hook seems to be a good card to have. However, it is a matter of opinion for the most part. There are those that think that the Grappling Hook is a good card while there are others that think that it is a "janktastic" rare card. Still, this is not a card one would want to be on the receiving end of for the most part.

The converted mana cost for the Grappling Hook is four. You are going to need four mana of any color to bring Grappling Hook from your hand onto the battlefield. For what the Grappling Hook can do, one can say that the mana cost seems to be reasonable enough. However, there is the matter of speed. Keep in mind that Grappling Hook is an artifact. It means that Grappling Hook is susceptible to spells and abilities that affect artifacts.

What does Grappling Hook do in the first place?

It costs four colorless mana to equip the Grappling Hook onto a creature. Make sure the creature has neither Shroud nor Protection from Artifacts. It does bestow some interesting abilities on a creature. The equipped creature gets Double Strike. Double Strike is a great ability to have. This is better than First Strike. If the creature is blocked or blocking, it will deal First Strike damage and regular damage. If you equipped Grappling Hook onto a 2/2 creature, it would deal four points of damage instead of two. This is good if you equip this onto a powerful creature.

The second ability is somewhat of a built-in Provoke. When the creature equipped with Grappling Hook attacks, you can have a target creature block it if able. This is a good means to take out creatures. You can equip it to a creature such as "Vampire Nighthawk" that has Deathtouch. In this respect, you can use that combination to take out some more powerful creatures. You could also equip this onto a creature such as "Rampaging Baloths" that has Trample. You can take out a creature and still be able to deal damage to an opponent.

Keep in mind that there is a hidden risk. Four mana seems to be reasonable enough to bring out the Grappling Hook. However, the four mana for the equipping cost seems to be pretty expensive. You are spending just as much mana to equip the Grappling Hook on to a creature. At the same time, that mana can be better spent on a lower costing artifact such as the "Trusty Machete" or another creature. Equipment artifacts are only good if you have creatures. The main drawback of the Grappling Hook is the four mana that costs to equip it onto a creature is pretty expensive.

Overall, the Grappling Hook seems interesting enough. However, it is risky to use all that mana up just to equip it onto a creature. It would seem better if the cost to equip the Grappling Hook was either two or three mana.

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