Grave Betrayal is the other card that immediately springs
I did compare Archer to Cutthroat, and by extension, Blood ArtistBlood Artist, but it's important to note that you don't gain life when other creatures die
In a format full of cantrips, wheels, and value engines, that makes it one of the most disruptive MTG black cards printed in years
Seven mana is very steep for an artifact that needs other creatures to be successful, though
Fun facts: If, in resonse to your activating Birthing Pod's ability, the cunning opponent casts Aven Mindcensor and it succesfully enters the battlefield, you will only search the top four cards of your library
Theyre a perfect intersection of two hobbies from two different times in my life