Bleed Dry MTG Card


Bleed Dry allows strategic instant-speed responses, maintaining player control during opponent turns. Its specialized mana cost can challenge multicolor deck consistency in MTG matches. Inclusion in decks provides a reliable way to neutralize resilient threats and enhance combos.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Target creature gets -13/-13 until end of turn. If that creature would die this turn, exile it instead.

"Wipe your chin, child. We can't have Olivia thinking we're uncivilized." —Anje Falkenrath


Cards like Bleed Dry

Bleed Dry is an intriguing removal option for Magic: The Gathering players who seek efficient ways to deal with creatures. Its closest relatives are cards like Doom Blade and Go for the Throat, both of which serve the same primary function of creature elimination. However, Bleed Dry edges ahead with its ability to impose two -1/-1 counters, ensuring that the troublesome regenerated creatures stay off the board.

Comparing it to Death Wind, another spell that scales with mana investment to weaken creatures, Bleed Dry offers a more cost-effective solution, locking down regeneration without additional costs. Furthermore, while Death Wind could potentially be a larger blow to a single target, Bleed Dry’s fixed effect at four mana is generally more predictable and reliable in games.

Assessing removal spells across the board, Bleed Dry stands out in the realm of nonconditional creature destruction, providing Magic: The Gathering players with a reliable tool against resilient threats, making it a staple for those who prioritize long-term creature control in their decks.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Death Wind - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Death Wind - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bleed Dry by color, type and mana cost

Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Launch Party - MTG Card versions
Grisly Spectacle - MTG Card versions
Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions
Empty the Pits - MTG Card versions
Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Launch Party - MTG Card versions
Grisly Spectacle - MTG Card versions
Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions
Empty the Pits - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bleed Dry excels at effectively handling threats, giving you the upper hand by removing a creature from the board without loss of card quantity. Its removal capacity can often result in a one-for-one trade, keeping you on par or ahead in resources compared to your adversary.

Resource Acceleration: Although this spell doesn’t directly produce additional resources, by efficiently dealing with a key opponent’s threat, Bleed Dry can indirectly accelerate your board presence. This allows you to allocate resources elsewhere, further developing your own strategy unimpeded.

Instant Speed: The flexibility offered by Bleed Dry being an instant cannot be understated. It allows you to adapt swiftly to your opponent’s moves, respond to threats in real-time, and keep mana available for other instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn, maximizing your control over the flow of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bleed Dry deals definitively with creatures by giving them -13/-13 until end of turn, it does not necessitate a discard from the player. Its strength in removing creatures comes without an added discard cost.

Specific Mana Cost: Bleed Dry comes with a specific mana cost, demanding two black mana. This requirement can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that may not consistently generate the necessary black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of four mana, this spell falls on the higher end compared to other creature removal options in the game. In fast-paced games, the mana efficiency of Bleed Dry might not be as attractive when faster options are available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bleed Dry is a robust removal spell that can be seamlessly integrated into various black decks. Its ability to add two -1/-1 counters on a target creature not only takes down that creature but also diminishes the capabilities of creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on weakening opponents’ creatures. Pairing Bleed Dry with cards that benefit from creature deaths or counters can escalate its impact, opening up combo opportunities within the game.

Meta-Relevance: Given its affordability in terms of mana cost and its removal efficiency, Bleed Dry is pertinent in a meta heavy with creature-based strategies. It can consistently disrupt your opponents’ board presence, making it a tactically sound choice in competitive play.


How to beat

Bleed Dry is a potent removal card in Magic: The Gathering, providing players with a way to permanently eliminate problematic creatures. To effectively counteract this black spell, it’s essential to adopt strategies that minimize its impact. A key tactic involves diversifying your threats so that the loss of any single creature doesn’t cripple your gameplay strategy. Additionally, employing creatures with hexproof or indestructible attributes can render Bleed Dry ineffective, as these traits protect them from being targeted or destroyed by such spells.

Adept deck builders often include redundant utility creatures or ones that generate value upon entering or leaving the battlefield. This reduces the potential tempo loss when faced with removal spells. Furthermore, using instant-speed spells or abilities to boost a creature’s toughness beyond Bleed Dry’s -13/-13 threshold ensures survival, affording strategic advantage and resource preservation. Being prepared for removal heavy environments by choosing resilient threats and versatile responses can secure your position on the battlefield against Bleed Dry and similar powerful spells.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bleed Dry MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Bleed Dry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bleed Dry Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Jodie Muir.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 942015NormalBlackJodie Muir
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3612015NormalBlackJodie Muir

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bleed Dry has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-11-19 If Bleed Dry resolves, its effect causes the creature to be exiled any time it would die that turn, not just if it would die as a result of having toughness 0 or less.