Balloon Peddler MTG Card


Balloon Peddler provides card advantage and strategic instant-speed gameplay, allowing for dynamic play. The card requires careful balancing of resources due to its discard condition and specific mana needs. Its versatility and combo potential make it a noteworthy inclusion in various MTG deck builds.
Balloon Peddler - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Spellshaper
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number59
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byPaolo Parente

Text of card

o U, oc T, Discard a card from your hand: Target creature gains flying until end of turn.

The market festival turned out to be the high point of Jaffy's visit.


Cards like Balloon Peddler

Balloon Peddler is a multifaceted card that enriches the pool of blue spells available to Magic: The Gathering players. This card has a synergy with decks that focus on the party mechanic, reminiscent of Squad Commander. Though Squad Commander doesn’t facilitate card draw, it capitalizes on a full party to create creature tokens, providing a different form of board advantage.

Comparatively, Balloon Peddler offers an innovative twist by allowing players to turn this creature into a land, reminiscent of the flexibility seen in modal double-faced cards. Its parallels to Vastwood Fortification are evident in this changeability, albeit Vastwood Fortification transforms into a land that bolsters another creature. Balloon Peddler, on its own, offers versatility in becoming a mana source without external support.

Finally, within the realm of transforming cards, the likeness and contrast with Delver of Secrets are notable. Delver of Secrets, transforms into a powerful creature, while Balloon Peddler morphs into a land. Both cards demonstrate the dynamic nature of transformation abilities in Magic: The Gathering, with Balloon Peddler providing a strategic option for land-heavy gameplay.

Squad Commander - MTG Card versions
Squad Commander - MTG Card versions

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Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
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Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
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Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Balloon Peddler allows for subtle card advantage by potentially negating an opposing threat without losing a card yourself, a tactic that can tip the scales in a tight match.

Resource Acceleration: This card can provide an unexpected burst of resources. If played wisely, it may rapidly accelerate your board presence or enable a critical spell to be cast ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed gives Balloon Peddler a strategic advantage, allowing you to adapt to the changing battlefield on the fly and capitalize on the most opportune moments during gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Balloon Peddler’s ability necessitates discarding a card, which could deplete your hand and make it challenging to maintain card advantage, particularly if you’re facing a deck that pressures your resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a mana cost that requires blue mana. This can be problematic if your deck isn’t optimized for blue or if you’re struggling to find the right mana sources during play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Balloon Peddler’s effect might seem steep, especially when you consider other options available. Players must evaluate whether the benefit of this card’s ability aligns with the overall strategy of their deck, given its cost.


Reasons to Include Balloon Peddler in Your Collection

Versatility: Balloon Peddler offers a unique flexibility to many deck builds, finding a spot in multiple formats where surprise mana boosts can tilt the scales in your favor. Its ability to turn Clue tokens into a source of mana fits seamlessly into strategies that capitalize on token generation.

Combo Potential: This card telegraphs remarkable synergy with decks that manipulate the number of counters on permanents, potentially unleashing explosive turns or enabling intricate combos with cards that respond to counter adjustments.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of competitive play, Balloon Peddler holds its ground as a solid choice against various deck archetypes that struggle to keep up with the unexpected acceleration and utilitarian use of tokens it provides.


How to beat

The Balloon Peddler card in Magic: The Gathering is not just another creature card—it introduces a nuanced challenge with its mana discount ability for spells with a single target. When facing this nimble gnome, understanding its mechanics is key to undermining its advantages. To effectively beat the Balloon Peddler, it’s essential to manage your removal spells wisely. Since the Peddler reduces the cost of single-target spells, you’ll need to be strategic in how you use them to avoid giving your opponent a significant mana advantage. A clever approach is to prioritize spells that affect the entire board or those that don’t target, such as mass removal spells or board wipes. Another strategy is to use abilities that require the Balloon Peddler to be tapped, thereby negating its discount effect. Utilizing creatures with enter-the-battlefield abilities can also sidestep Peddler’s influence on spell costs. Further, in multiplayer formats, diplomacy can be key; convincing others to focus on the threat can diffuse the Peddler’s impact. By being mindful of the specific dynamics introduced by the Balloon Peddler, players can navigate around its potential to unbalance the mana economy and maintain control over the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Balloon Peddler MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Balloon Peddler and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Balloon Peddler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal