Bloodthirsty Blade MTG Card


Boosts fight control by goading opponents’ creatures, turning their assets into liabilities. Flexibly equips at instant speed, blurring the lines of combat to your advantage. Demands specific mana and a higher cost, necessitating shrewd deck construction.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Goad

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and is goaded. (It attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.) : Attach Bloodthirsty Blade to target creature an opponent controls. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.

The weapon wields the hand that holds it.


Cards like Bloodthirsty Blade

Bloodthirsty Blade is an intriguing equipment artifact in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes elements of cards like Assault Suit, which also offers a way to control how opponents’ creatures attack. Where Bloodthirsty Blade excels is in its low equip cost and the ability to politicize the battlefield, goading one creature at a time into attacking someone other than you.

Comparably, we look at Grafted Wargear, a similar equipment that boosts a creature’s combat abilities. While not manipulating combat direction like Bloodthirsty Blade, it compensates with its aggressive power and toughness increase. Conversely, the Blade’s power lies in its strategic value over raw strength, offering a unique angle of control during matches.

Another parallel can be drawn with Basilisk Collar, granting lethal deathtouch and life-gain on hit. Again, the comparison is one of subtlety versus force; Bloodthirsty Blade’s indirect manipulation against Basilisk Collar’s potential to efficiently eliminate creatures and preserve player life points.

A deep dive into these artifacts reveals that Bloodthirsty Blade holds its ground as a niche tactical tool in MTG, adept at redirecting threat and maintaining advantageous board states.

Assault Suit - MTG Card versions
Grafted Wargear - MTG Card versions
Basilisk Collar - MTG Card versions
Assault Suit - MTG Card versions
Grafted Wargear - MTG Card versions
Basilisk Collar - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bloodthirsty Blade by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
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Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Elsewhere Flask - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Elsewhere Flask - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grants control over an opponent’s creature, effectively reducing their board presence while bolstering yours, which can swing the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Empowers your combat strategy by allowing you to deal with potential blockers or threats efficiently without spending additional spells or effects, thus conserving resources for other tactics.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the equip feature can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility in combat situations and enabling you to respond to changing battle conditions dynamically.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must navigate around the fact that Bloodthirsty Blade doesn’t require discarding as part of its casting or activation, which some strategies rely on for synergistic effects or to fuel graveyard mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Bloodthirsty Blade demands a specific casting cost that includes colorless mana, which isn’t necessarily a con but does require some deck building considerations to ensure that the mana base can support it consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial cost plus the activation fee to attach it to an opponent’s creature, the total investment can be seen as steep compared to other equipment that provide immediate and potentially more impactful benefits.


Reasons to Include Bloodthirsty Blade in Your Collection

Versatility: This card is a flexible equipment artifact that can seamlessly find a place in varied deck builds. With its ability to be attached to creatures your opponents control, it can be a strategic defense tool in multiplayer situations.

Combo Potential: Bloodthirsty Blade works well in decks that thrive on manipulating opponents’ creatures. Pair it with cards that punish or utilize tapped creatures, or use it to force unfavorable attacks, creating advantageous board states for yourself.

Meta-Relevance: Given its usefulness in altering combat dynamics, Bloodthirsty Blade maintains its relevance. In metas where voltron strategies or creature-heavy decks are prevalent, having control over enemy threats is critical, making the Blade a worthy addition to your arsenal.


How to beat

Bloodthirsty Blade, an artifact card within the Magic: The Gathering arena, presents an interesting challenge with its ability to goad opponent creatures. This card essentially forces creatures to attack if able, but only those not under your control. Despite seeming like a setback, it’s possible to construct a strategy around this unique dynamic. Addressing the threat can be done in multiple ways. Prioritizing the removal of enchantments and artifacts, through spells like Disenchant or Naturalize, could dismantle the Blade’s influence. Utilizing creatures that benefit from being forced to attack each turn is yet another avenue.

Deck builds with ample creature control or spells that render your opponent’s creatures unable to engage are also effective. Consider cards like Pacifism or those that render creatures tapped and unable to attack. It’s essential to include several of these countermeasures in your deck to anticipate the deployment of Bloodthirsty Blade or similar effects. Optimizing your strategy to incorporate these elements without disrupting your deck’s core purpose is a nuanced affair, but one that can elevate your game, turning a potential setback into a winning edge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Bloodthirsty Blade can sharpen your MTG playstyle to a fine edge. Whether you’re aiming to control the tide of battle or searching for the perfect artifact to complement your deck, this card offers a slice of strategy that can’t be overlooked. Awareness of its meta relevance and potential to turn enemy creatures into unwilling pawns can give you a significant edge. Curious about integrating Bloodthirsty Blade effectively or overcoming its challenging dynamic? Let us guide you through advanced tactics and deck-building wisdom to ensure that Bloodthirsty Blade isn’t just another card in your collection, but a key to victory. Dive into our insights and let’s master the game together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodthirsty Blade MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2019 and Commander 2021, 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 Bloodthirsty Blade and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodthirsty Blade Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-08-23 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Jason Kang.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-08-23Commander 2019C19 532015NormalBlackJason Kang
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2352015NormalBlackJason Kang
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3622015NormalBlackJason Kang
42022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8542015NormalBlackJason Kang
52022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 1142015NormalBlackJason Kang
62024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2252015NormalBlackJason Kang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodthirsty Blade has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-08-23 Attacking with a goaded creature doesn't cause it to stop being goaded. It remains goaded as long as it's equipped with Bloodthirsty Blade.
2019-08-23 Bloodthirsty Blade has no equip ability. There's normally no way to have it attached to your own creature, although certain combinations of other cards make this possible.
2019-08-23 If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents who hasn't goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, you choose which opponent it attacks.
2019-08-23 If the creature doesn't meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than Bloodthirsty Blade's controller if able. It the creature can't attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack an opposing planeswalker (controlled by any opponent) or the player who controls Bloodthirsty Blade.
2019-08-23 If the equipped creature can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped or having come under that player's control that turn), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
2019-08-23 You still control Bloodthirsty Blade while it's equipped to an opponent's creature. You can move it any time you could cast a sorcery; the equipped creature's controller can't.