Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz MTG Card


Essential for card advantage, Arguel’s Blood Fast provides instant speed draw options at life point costs. Transforms into Temple of Aclazotz, turning creatures into life points for a unique form of resource acceleration. Strategically demanding, its benefits come with substantial risks, including life payment and high activation costs.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment
Abilities Transform

Text of card

, Pay 2 life: Draw a card. At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 5 or less life, you may transform Arguel's Blood Fast.

Arguel's vision led him into the jungles of Ixalan . . .


Cards like Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz

Arguel’s Blood Fast offers a unique spin on card advantage in MTG. It’s a card similar to Greed, providing a consistent draw engine that allows you to pay life for extra cards. Yet, Arguel’s Blood Fast is distinct with its ability to transform into Temple of Aclazotz, offering a haven for your creatures as well as life gain—a feature Greed doesn’t share.

Another card that echoes the pay-life-to-draw-cards mechanic is Erebos, God of the Dead. While Erebos is indestructible and denies opponents the ability to gain life, it’s not as mana-efficient for drawing cards compared to Arguel’s Blood Fast. Then there’s Necropotence, which stands out for enabling massive card gain at the cost of skipping the draw step. While Necropotence can fill your hand quickly, it lacks the immediate impact and the flexibility of Arguel’s Blood Fast transformation ability.

Looking closely at their functions and potentials, Arguel’s Blood Fast holds a key place within MTG for players who value strategic life payment for card advantage along with the bonus of a potentially game-altering land.

Greed - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Spirit Shackle - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Dark Privilege - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Spinal Graft - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Edict - MTG Card versions
Dying Wail - MTG Card versions
Insubordination - MTG Card versions
Mourning - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Spirit Shackle - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Dark Privilege - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Spinal Graft - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Edict - MTG Card versions
Dying Wail - MTG Card versions
Insubordination - MTG Card versions
Mourning - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arguel’s Blood Fast offers an on-demand card draw mechanic, essential for players looking to increase their hand size and options. By paying life, players can activate it to draw a card, thereby giving them a consistent edge in card advantage over opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it can be transformed into Temple of Aclazotz, which then allows for a conversion of surplus creatures into life and effectively acts as a resource management tool. This transformation provides an innovative form of acceleration, converting board presence into valuable life points.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Arguel’s Blood Fast at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s end of turn or react to unexpected plays, making it a valuable asset in any duel. This timing means that it can be utilized without sacrificing the opportunity to cast other important spells during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the darker side of mana, Arguel’s Blood Fast comes with a particular cost that isn’t typical currency. This enchantment demands you pay life rather than mana or cards, which can be a risky endeavor if your lifepoint pool is dwindling. Trading life for cards is a potent ability, but it can leave you vulnerable to a counterattack, especially in a game where every point counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for those who walk the path of swamp and stone, this card requires a specific commitment to black mana. It’s a staple for mono-black decks but can pose a challenge for multi-color decks where mana resources must be carefully balanced. Also, it can be less accessible early on if your mana base isn’t fully established or if you’re running a deck with a greedy mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its activation cost, Arguel’s Blood Fast could be considered a hefty investment considering its effects. There are other cards in the arena of MTG that potentially offer more immediate or cost-effective benefits. When weighing the option of including this card in your deck, it’s essential to consider the alternatives that might fulfill your strategic needs for either less mana or with less risk attached.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arguel’s Blood Fast offers a reliable source of card draw that can be integrated into a variety of decks, particularly those that need consistent access to new options and can manage their life total strategically.

Combo Potential: Once transformed into Temple of Aclazotz, it can become a vital piece in combos or strategies revolving around life gain and sacrifice, offering both utility and a tactical edge.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where longer, grindier games prevail, the ability to draw extra cards and later convert that into a land that provides life and utility is particularly beneficial, helping you stay ahead in resource competition.


How to beat

Arguel’s Blood Fast is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to provide card advantage at the expense of life points. To effectively confront this card, players should consider strategies that mitigate life loss or capitalize on the opponent’s reduced life total. Aggressive decks can pressure opponents, forcing them to either stop using the card’s ability or to risk falling within range of a finishing blow. Control-oriented players might opt for enchantment removal like Naturalize or Disenchant to directly remove the threat from the battlefield. Alternatively, cards that punish players for drawing extra cards, such as Narset, Parter of Veils or Smothering Tithe, can turn the tables on the Arguel’s Blood Fast user. Playing around this card successfully involves maintaining a balance between pressure and disruption, ensuring the opponent cannot advantageously leverage their additional card draw without considerable risk.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the balance between life and power is the essence of MTG strategy, and cards like Arguel’s Blood Fast exemplify this delicate dance. Whether you’re looking to outpace your opponent with a superior draw engine or transform your gameplay with Temple of Aclazotz, this card ensures your deck stays as sharp as a tactician’s mind. Factor in the pros and cons, the meta-relevant combos, and its utility against various decks when deciding to weave this distinctive spell into your arsenal. Seeking deeper insights and clever tricks to optimize your deck? Continue your MTG journey with us and discover the full potential of your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Ixalan Promos, 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 Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2017-11-24. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 902015TransformBlackDaarken
22017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 90s2015TransformBlackDaarken
32017-11-24From the Vault: TransformV17 22015TransformBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2017-09-29 For the last ability of Temple of Aclazotz, use the creature’s toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life you gain.
2017-09-29 If your life total is 6 or greater as the second ability of Arguel’s Blood Fast tries to resolve, it won’t do anything.
2017-09-29 If your life total is 6 or greater as your upkeep begins, the second ability of Arguel’s Blood Fast won’t trigger. You can’t take any actions during your turn before your upkeep begins.
2017-09-29 Once you’ve announced the last ability of Temple of Aclazotz, it’s too late for anyone to interrupt you by trying to remove the creature you sacrifice.
2018-01-19 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Ixalan mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/ixalan-mechanics).