Blackmail MTG Card


Advances your strategy by providing intelligence on an opponent’s tactics and potentially impairing their resources. Instant speed allows tactical flexibility and can disrupt opponents at pivotal moments of the game. Despite its benefits, Blackmail’s requirement for black mana and the discard trade-off can be limiting.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Target player reveals three cards from his or her hand and you choose one of them. That player discards that card.

Even the most virtuous person is only one secret away from being owned by the Cabal.


Cards like Blackmail

Blackmail is an intriguing tactical option for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s hand in Magic: The Gathering. It bears comparison with cards like Thoughtseize, which also allows players to view an opponent’s hand and choose a nonland card to discard. However, Blackmail offers a narrower selection, enabling the player to look at only three cards from their opponent’s hand rather than the entire hand. Thoughtseize gives more control over the opponent’s game plan, but at the cost of 2 life.

Another card worth mentioning is Duress, which lets a player reveal an opponent’s hand and choose a noncreature, nonland card to discard, without the life penalty Thoughtseize involves. While Duress doesn’t offer the surprise element of Blackmail by potentially hitting any card type within the chosen three, it grants more control over the noncreature strategies of your opponent.

Comparing these options, Blackmail stands out for its low cost and the psychological edge it can give, forcing opponents to carefully choose which three cards to reveal. This can sometimes lead to strategic missteps that astute MTG players can capitalize on. Each of these hand disruption spells brings a different dynamic to the game, yet Blackmail’s blend of cost-efficiency and mind games make it a noteworthy choice within MTG’s array of disruptive spells.

Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blackmail by color, type and mana cost

Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Chorus of Woe - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Raven's Crime - MTG Card versions
Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Chorus of Woe - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Raven's Crime - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Blackmail. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
B/W MidB/W Mid Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Mono-Black ControlMono-Black Control LegacyRakdos ScamLegacy League Pavia 23/24 - Tappa 23
Pit RackPit Rack PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blackmail offers a unique interaction by pushing your opponent to reveal their hand, letting you choose a nonland card they must discard, unless they opt to lose life instead. This strategic choice can offer you significant insight into your opponent’s strategy and deplete their resources, effectively tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Blackmail doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense of producing mana or tokens, the forced discard can hinder your opponent’s resource progression. This setback can indirectly accelerate your position, as the opponent may need to spend additional turns recovering the lost card advantage or adjusting their game plan.

Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed confers a tactical edge, disrupting your opponent’s plans at critical moments. It can be cast during your opponent’s turn, which allows you to remain flexible with your mana and respond to threats as they arise, rather than preemptively during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize Blackmail’s potential, you must discard a card, which can deplete your hand and reduce your options later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Blackmail requires black mana to play, potentially limiting its inclusion in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Blackmail’s casting cost is not excessively high, there are other discard spells in the game that offer similar or better effects for a lower mana investment, leading to a more streamlined mana curve in your deck.


Reasons to Include Blackmail in Your Collection

Versatility: Blackmail offers a unique approach to disruption, as it’s not dependent on the opponent’s hand size. It’s a perfect fit for any black deck looking to apply early pressure or complement a broader discard strategy.

Combo Potential: It pairs well with cards that benefit from opponents having fewer choices, such as those with the Hellbent mechanic, or works in tandem with other discard effects to strip away your opponent’s answers and threats efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: With a format that’s creature-heavy or reliant on specific spells, Blackmail serves as a tactical tool to remove key pieces from your opponent’s hand, disrupting their plans before they can execute them.


How to beat

Overcoming Blackmail in MTG requires strategic hand management and an awareness of your opponent’s actions. This disruptive card allows your adversary to look at your hand and choose a nonland card that you then discard unless you reveal three cards from your hand. To mitigate Blackmail’s impact, keep a flexible hand with cards you’re willing to part with or reveal. It’s also effective to maintain a hand where all options are roughly equally valuable, reducing the sting of any single card loss.

Another tactic is to use instant-speed spell casting to reduce the number of cards in your hand before Blackmail can take effect, thus limiting your opponent’s choices. Cards with flashback or other graveyard utility can also render the discard less detrimental by giving you a second chance to utilize those resources. Moreover, keeping a close watch on your opponent’s mana pool and playing around the times they could cast Blackmail will always be beneficial. As such, understanding the flow of the game and maintaining control of your hand plays a crucial role in neutralizing the effect of disruption spells like Blackmail.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blackmail MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Ninth Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Blackmail and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blackmail Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Christopher Moeller.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 1271997NormalBlackChristopher Moeller
22005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 115★2003NormalBlackChristopher Moeller
32005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1152003NormalWhiteChristopher Moeller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blackmail has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blackmail card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 If the player has less than 3 cards, all of them are revealed.