Bloodchief Ascension MTG Card


It offers card advantage by leveraging opponents’ life loss to gain resources or impede their strategies. Enables resource acceleration as opponents’ graveyard interactions indirectly empower your position in the game. Operates at instant speed, enabling strategic traps that can escalate your victory with each turn.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of each end step, if an opponent lost 2 or more life this turn, you may put a quest counter on Bloodchief Ascension. (Damage causes loss of life.) Whenever a card is put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, if Bloodchief Ascension has three or more quest counters on it, you may have that player lose 2 life. If you do, you gain 2 life.


Cards like Bloodchief Ascension

Bloodchief Ascension is a unique enchantment in the world of MTG that has intrigued players with its potential for incremental damage and life gain. Drawing parallels with a card like Mindcrank, which dishes out mill mechanics, Bloodchief Ascension goes a step further by punishing the opponent for the cards sent to their graveyard, thus enabling a potent synergy between the two. Given its ability to create a lock with Mindcrank that can potentially end games, the Ascension is often deemed as having a more aggressive edge.

Apart from Mindcrank, another related enchantment is Sanguine Bond. While Sanguine Bond does not directly impact the opponent’s deck, its ability to cause loss of life proportional to the life you gain can work in tandem with Bloodchief Ascension’s life-gain feature. Nonetheless, Bloodchief Ascension stands out for its lower mana cost and its quest-like mechanic, which can turn it from a passive presence to an active threat relatively quickly.

In essence, although each enchantment offers distinctive benefits, Bloodchief Ascension’s early game potential combined with its punishing effect on the opponent’s graveyard makes it a formidable card when evaluating its place among similar MTG cards. Its strategic use in decks can turn the tides of the game in the favor of the player who wields it wisely.

Mindcrank - MTG Card versions
Sanguine Bond - MTG Card versions
Mindcrank - MTG Card versions
Sanguine Bond - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bloodchief Ascension by color, type and mana cost

Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
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Imprison - MTG Card versions
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Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Link - MTG Card versions
Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Link - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As one of the more prominent attributes of Bloodchief Ascension, this card directly feeds into gaining card advantage as it paves the way for incremental yet substantial gains. By capitalizing on the loss of life, you’re often able to trigger its ability, leading to drawing extra cards or causing your opponent to lose them, outpacing their strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: The ascent of this card within your strategy can lead to potential resource acceleration. Each time an opponent’s card hits their graveyard, you inch towards empowering the ascension’s quest counters. Achieving its full state swiftly shifts the game’s pace in your favor, effectively rendering each point of loss of life a means to siphon resources from others to fuel your plays.

Instant Speed: This enchantment works tirelessly at instant speed, performing at the end of each turn, thereby optimizing your resources by setting a trap for your opponent’s steps. As turns end and the quest counters grow, your opponents find themselves in a pinch, with the consequences of their own actions accelerating your victory with each life point they lose.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A key element that can make Bloodchief Ascension less favorable is its dependency on your opponent’s actions. For the card to reach its full potential, it requires an opponent to discard cards or lose life, conditions that may not always align with your strategy or your opponent’s deck build, leading to unpredictable performance.

Specific Mana Cost: The enchantment’s activation is bound to a specific mana combination – one black mana and one generic. Though seemingly minor, this can still restrict it in deck-building, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle for mana efficiency or those that operate under a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bloodchief Ascension sits at a two-mana cost point, which is generally viewed as moderate. However, when evaluating its immediate impact against other cards in the two-mana slot, it can sometimes feel lacking. The enchantment requires time and specific conditions to activate, unlike other cards that may provide instant value or effects that can shape the board upon entry.


Reasons to Include Bloodchief Ascension in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodchief Ascension adapts seamlessly to various deck builds, thriving particularly well in those that capitalize on life point manipulation and passive damage strategies.

Combo Potential: This card holds immense synergy with effects that force opponents to discard or mill cards, setting the stage for devastating combinations that can drain an opponent’s life rapidly.

Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s ability to counter life-gain decks and its capacity to turn the tide against graveyard-based strategies, Bloodchief Ascension maintains its status as a relevant card in ever-shifting meta landscapes.


How to Beat Bloodchief Ascension

Bloodchief Ascension is a potent enchantment in MTG known for its capacity to drain life from opponents while boosting your own life total. Understanding its mechanics is essential to combating it effectively. The card becomes active once it has three quest counters, which are acquired at the end of a turn where an opponent has lost 2 or more life. Consequently, minimizing life loss is key to hindering its activation.

One strategic approach is to employ instant-speed removal spells that can target enchantments, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, once Bloodchief Ascension hits the battlefield but before it accumulates quest counters. Alternatively, cards like Leyline of Sanctity offer personal immunity by preventing the damage that enables Bloodchief Ascension’s counters. Additionally, graveyard interaction should be limited, as the card profits from graveyard-based strategies, making cards like Relic of Progenitus effective at disrupting its potential. Last but not least, accelerating your own gameplay can help you outpace the Ascension’s effects, as creating a significant on-board presence can apply pressure and divert the game away from a long, drawn-out battle where the Ascension thrives.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you are captivated by the strategic depth that Bloodchief Ascension can offer within your MTG deck, then refining your gameplay and understanding this card’s intricacies are crucial. Enhance your collection by including this game-changing enchantment, and master the art of utilizing its abilities to siphon strength from your opponents. With its dynamic combo potential and meta relevance, Bloodchief Ascension is a card worth exploring further, especially if life point manipulation and graveyard strategies are your battleground. Ready to delve into a world of calculated advantage and dominate your next duel? Visit us to uncover comprehensive strategies and optimize your deck with the formidable Bloodchief Ascension.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodchief Ascension MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and The List, 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 Bloodchief Ascension and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodchief Ascension Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 822003NormalBlackAdi Granov
22020-09-26The ListPLST ZEN-822003NormalBlackAdi Granov
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1392015NormalBlackAdi Granov
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6362015NormalBorderlessWarren Mahy
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5042015NormalBlackAdi Granov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodchief Ascension has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 Bloodchief Ascension’s first ability checks how much life was lost by each opponent over the course of the entire turn, even if Bloodchief Ascension wasn’t on the battlefield the whole time.
2009-10-01 Bloodchief Ascension’s first ability checks only whether life was lost. It doesn’t care whether life was also gained. For example, if an opponent lost 4 life and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with — but Bloodchief Ascension’s first ability will still trigger.
2009-10-01 Bloodchief Ascension’s first ability has an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” It won’t trigger at all unless an opponent has already lost 2 or more life by the time the end step begins.
2009-10-01 Bloodchief Ascension’s second ability doesn’t behave like a leaves-the-battlefield triggered ability, since the card put into an opponent’s graveyard may come from anywhere. If a Bloodchief Ascension with three quest counters on it and a permanent an opponent owns are destroyed at the same time, for example, the game will not “look back in time” at the game state, and Bloodchief Ascension’s second ability won’t trigger.
2009-10-01 For the first ability to trigger, a single opponent must have lost 2 life. Two opponents each losing 1 life won’t cause it to trigger. It will trigger a maximum of once per turn, no matter how many opponents have lost 2 or more life.