Epicure of Blood MTG Card


Epicure of Blood leverages life gain for damage, extending value from other life-centric cards. Strategically, it transforms your life total into a resource, applying pressure on opponents. Despite not being instant speed, its ability can activate during any life gain event.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Whenever you gain life, each opponent loses 1 life.

"Fleshy, with just a hint of leather. A fine vintage."


Cards like Epicure of Blood

Epicure of Blood is a card that carries weight in the life gain and life loss dynamics within Magic: The Gathering. A creature card that bears a resemblance to it is Bloodthirsty Aerialist, which also thrives on the life gain strategy. While Epicure of Blood causes opponents to lose life whenever you gain life, Bloodthirsty Aerialist gains a +1/+1 counter making it a potential growing threat on the board. Nonetheless, Epicure of Blood affects all opponents, not just one, making it a versatile card in multiplayer formats.

Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted is another card that plays into the theme of life loss but with a focus on causing direct damage through forced card draw. While it doesn’t synergize with life gain, it is akin to Epicure of Blood in its ability to pressure opponents’ life totals. Lastly, we have Ajani’s Pridemate, which, much like Epicure of Blood, benefits from each instance of life gain. However, instead of draining opponents, it bolsters itself, further enhancing its battlefield presence.

Choosing between these cards hinges on the desired deck strategy, but Epicure of Blood stands out for its immediate effect on opponents’ health, enhancing its role in decks centered around life manipulation.

Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Epicure of Blood by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
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Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet EnsoulIzzet Ensoul PioneerGrixis Ensoul ArtifactHBMO24 - GenX Comics and Games Pioneer 5k
BRGBRG PauperBLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Epicure of Blood can be a pivotal card in decks that focus on life gain strategies, turning each instance of life gain into a source of damage against your opponent. This synergistic effect effectively acts as a form of card advantage by extending the value of other life gain cards in your deck.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it creates an environment where your life total becomes a resource. As your life increases, Epicure of Blood translates that into pressure and potential board control, indirectly increasing the value of your plays.

Instant Speed: Although Epicure of Blood does not operate at instant speed, its ability triggers whenever you gain life. This means that any instant-speed life gain effects leveraged during your opponent’s turn will also deal damage at that time, allowing you to take advantage of this static ability even when it’s not your action phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Epicure of Blood doesn’t itself necessitate a discard, its optimal utilization typically involves synergies with cards that require discarding. This can be detrimental if you’re unable to maintain a viable hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: As a card rooted in the black mana tradition, you’ll find your deck construction choices constrained. Its black mana cost implies you have to be dedicated to that color or managing a mana base that can consistently produce black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana to summon the Epicure of Blood places it on the higher end of the curve, especially considering its 4/4 stats. There are other creatures or combos available that can initiate life loss for your opponents at a lower investment, making this card potentially less efficient in faster-paced games.


Reasons to Include Epicure of Blood in Your Collection

Versatility: Epicure of Blood proves to be a flexible card that can be slotted into various deck themes, particularly those that focus on life total manipulation like lifegain or drain strategies.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergistic environments, where it can amplify the effects of other cards that cause you to gain life or your opponent to lose life, leading to a domino effect of damage.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right build, this creature adapts well to formats where incrementally chipping away at an opponent’s life total is just as viable as big, flashy plays, fitting seamlessly into the prevailing trends of slower, more interactive games.


How to beat

The Epicure of Blood presents itself as a persistent obstacle in many MTG matchups, especially when combined with other life gain cards. This vampire’s strength lies in its ability to capitalize on your life total increment, inflicting damage upon your opponent each time you gain life. To dismantle this strategy, it’s essential to sever the synergy that makes the Epicure a force on the battlefield. Removing cards that provide constant life gain from play will minimize the damage dealt to you.

Direct removal spells are your ally here. They come as a swift solution against the Epicure of Blood. Spells like Doom Blade, Murder, or Path to Exile can exile or destroy the creature outright, ensuring it doesn’t remain a thorn in your side. Counteracting the Epicure also involves applying pressure with an aggressive deck. If you can keep the player on defense, they’ll have less opportunity to set up their life gain combinations that empower the Epicure. A carefully timed assault can make all the difference in turning the tide of battle to your favor.

Overall, keeping the board clear of life gain enablers and aiming for a quick victory will tip the scales in your favor against the relentless Epicure of Blood.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve into the strategic depths of MTG with Epicure of Blood as a lynchpin in your life gain deck. Constructing around this card can turn the simple act of gaining life into a source of relentless damage to your opponents, proving that every point of life can be a weapon in your arsenal. Whether you’re storming through a multiplayer session or dueling one-on-one, understanding the nuances of this card can make the difference. Looking to refine your deck-building skills or curious about a synergistic approach to life gain mechanics? Visit BurnMana for insights and strategies that can give you the competitive edge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Epicure of Blood MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2020, 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 Epicure of Blood and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Epicure of Blood Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Anna Steinbauer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 952015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
22019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 992015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6462015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
42020-09-26The ListPLST M19-952015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
52021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1432015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4112015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Epicure of Blood has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, Epicure of Blood’s ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once.
2019-07-12 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Epicure of Blood’s ability causes the opposing team to lose 1 life twice.
2019-07-12 In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won’t cause the ability to trigger, even though it caused your team’s life total to increase.
2019-07-12 The ability of Epicure of Blood triggers just once for each life-gaining event, whether it’s 1 life from Impassioned Orator or 4 life from Dawning Angel. If you gain an amount of life “for each” of something or “equal to the number” of something, that life is gained as one event and the ability of Epicure of Blood triggers only once.