Callous Bloodmage MTG Card


Card advantage is key, as Callous Bloodmage provides extra cards for more strategic depth. Generates a Pest token for life gain or increases options with graveyard interaction. Mana costs and specific deck interactions can influence the card’s playability.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Warlock
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Callous Bloodmage enters the battlefield, choose one — • Create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life." • You draw a card and you lose 1 life. • Exile target player's graveyard.


Cards like Callous Bloodmage

Callous Bloodmage is a versatile card within MTG, with an ability that nods to other utility creatures in the game. For instance, Vampire Nighthawk shares a similar mana value and offers both lifelink and deathtouch, making it a formidable defender and attacker. However, Callous Bloodmage’s strength lies in its flexibility, offering a choice upon entering the battlefield: creating a Pest token, exiling a player’s graveyard, or drawing a card and losing one life, options that cater to different game situations.

Examining another akin creature, Plaguecrafter brings to the table a forced sacrifice on all sides upon arrival. While it affects the board significantly, unlike Callous Bloodmage, it doesn’t provide the selection flexibility or the instant graveyard disruption. On the costlier end, Ravenous Chupacabra stands out with its straightforward removal ability, directly destroying a target creature. Yet, the Bloodmage’s lower mana cost and modal abilities provide a tactical advantage, with the added benefit of not being solely reliant on the presence of a creature on the board for maximum effect.

Conclusively, Callous Bloodmage carves its niche in MTG by offering a multipurpose solution that can adapt to the changing tides of a match. Its ability to address various in-game scenarios makes it a valuable asset in many deck strategies.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Plaguecrafter - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Plaguecrafter - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024
Rakdos VampiresRakdos Vampires PioneerRakdos VampiresPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-11
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
DecklistDecklist Free formMO89#CS
5c Enigmatic Fires5c Enigmatic Fires Pioneer5c Enigmatic FiresPioneer League 2023-12-05
Enigmatic FiresEnigmatic Fires Pioneer5c Enigmatic FiresNRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Callous Bloodmage enhances your hand by letting you draw a card upon entering the battlefield, providing you with more options and strategies to outsmart your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: If card draw doesn’t suit the situation, Callous Bloodmage offers an alternative by creating a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token which, when it dies, gives you one life, indirectly supporting your resources.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Callous Bloodmage can interact favorably with instant-speed graveyard disruption, removing a target card from a graveyard to preemptively foil your opponents’ flashback or reanimator strategies at a crucial moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect that could be a drawback for Callous Bloodmage is its lack of an immediate impact without a card to fuel its ability. Players need to consider the card’s discard-related downside, as it doesn’t offer any discard ability while still being susceptible to an opponent’s discard effects, which might leave it stranded without value in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Callous Bloodmage requires a precise mana configuration to cast — one black and two other mana. This requirement makes it a somewhat color-intensive play for non-mono-black decks, possibly restricting its integration into multicolor decklists and impacting its versatility on the battlefield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Callous Bloodmage offers versatility with its modal abilities, it comes with a three-mana price tag. When deckbuilding, players often assess mana efficiency, and there are other creatures or spells that could potentially provide greater value or a more immediate board presence at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include Callous Bloodmage in Your Collection

Versatility: Callous Bloodmage offers multiple modes to choose from upon entering the battlefield. This flexibility makes it a welcome addition to a variety of black decks, providing either card draw, a token to block or pressure opponents, or graveyard disruption.

Combo Potential: The ability to exile an opponent’s graveyard with Callous Bloodmage can be particularly powerful in combination with strategies that exploit opponents’ resources or benefit from denying graveyard-based tactics.

Meta-Relevance: With graveyard strategies often rising in popularity, the inclusion of Callous Bloodmage in your collection ensures that you have a relevant answer. Additionally, its potential card draw aligns well with the black color’s need for consistent access to resources.


How to beat Callous Bloodmage

Callous Bloodmage is a versatile card from Magic: The Gathering that challenges opponents with its array of abilities. Players can choose to create a Pest token, draw a card while losing one life, or remove their opponent’s graveyard. While this adaptability makes it tricky to counter, understanding its strengths can guide you in dismantling its impact on the game.

To effectively neutralize the Callous Bloodmage, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can take it out before its abilities trigger. One approach is to exile it from the game, which prevents any death-related abilities from activating. Incorporating graveyard hate cards in your deck can also minimize the Bloodmage’s influence by keeping your graveyard clean. Cards like Scavenging Ooze can be particularly impactful, they not only manage the graveyard but also grow stronger in the process. Furthermore, if the battlefield is your primary concern, deploying creatures that outclass the Bloodmage’s power and toughness ensures it won’t be as potent during combat.

Adapting strategies to match the flexibility of Callous Bloodmage is key. Having answers ready for its various modes means you’ll be prepared no matter what option your opponent selects, keeping the upper hand despite their efforts.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the captivating universe of MTG with cards like Callous Bloodmage. Understanding the pros and cons, its adaptability on the battlefield, and how it compares to similar cards can fine-tune your strategy. If you’re looking to disrupt graveyard tactics or enhance your card advantage, this versatile card is a noteworthy candidate for your collection. Adept at fitting into various deck types, it’s critical to keep its unique abilities in mind when building your deck or facing it in play. Uncover the full potential of Callous Bloodmage and other strategic MTG plays with us. Learn more to strengthen your game plan and thrive in your next duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Callous Bloodmage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Callous Bloodmage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Callous Bloodmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Jokubas Uogintas.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 900602015NormalBlackJokubas Uogintas
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3022015NormalBlackJokubas Uogintas
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 662015NormalBlackJokubas Uogintas
42021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 66p2015NormalBlackJokubas Uogintas
52021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 66s2015NormalBlackJokubas Uogintas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Callous Bloodmage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal