Balmor, Battlemage Captain MTG Card


Enhances gameplay by providing card advantage and flexible mana acceleration early in matches. Encourages instant-speed play, increasing strategic opportunities and impact on the game. Requires a strategic mana base and has a higher cost relative to similar commanders.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Bird Wizard
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain trample until end of turn.

"Even the most hardened armies are ill-equipped to defend against an onslaught from the sky."


Cards like Balmor, Battlemage Captain

Balmor, Battlemage Captain adds interesting dynamics to Red and White decks in Magic: The Gathering. This commander card shares similarities with other Red-White (Boros) leaders, such as Tajic, Legion’s Edge. Both cards provide valuable buffs to other creatures on the board — Balmor offering haste or hexproof, while Tajic grants a preventative measure against noncombat damage for your other creatures. However, Balmor also gives you the option for card advantage, a powerful asset not found in Tajic’s arsenal.

Compared to another renowned commander, Iroas, God of Victory, Balmor stands out with its lower casting cost and immediate impact on the board’s pace. Iroas is more of a long-term power player, providing indestructibility and making your creatures difficult to block. Yet, Balmor offers more versatility with the instant speed buffs, potentially shifting the tide of battle more swiftly than Iroas’s constant, but predictable effects.

Overall, Balmor, Battlemage Captain offers a unique blend of strategic advantages. It harmonizes well with aggressive Boros strategies, nudging it into a competitive option for players who seek a combination of speed, protection, and card utility in MTG.

Tajic, Legion's Edge - MTG Card versions
Iroas, God of Victory - MTG Card versions
Tajic, Legion's Edge - MTG Card versions
Iroas, God of Victory - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet AggroIzzet Aggro StandardIzzet AggroStandard Preliminary 2024-05-03
Izzet ProwessIzzet Prowess PioneerIzzet ProwessPioneer League 2024-02-19
Grixis TempoGrixis Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 08 2024
Izzet BreachIzzet Breach ModernIzzet Prowess3 Torneio - 10 Liga Arena Guardians
Jeskai TempoJeskai Tempo StandardJeskai TempoStandard Challenge 64 2023-12-31
Izzet PyromancerIzzet Pyromancer PioneerIzzet PyromancerPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
Jeskai ProwessJeskai Prowess PioneerJeskai PyromancerF2F Tour Championship - Toronto Round 4 (Regional Championship)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Balmor, Battlemage Captain can be an engine for card advantage thanks to its ability to let you draw a card when it enters the battlefield. This not only equips you with more options but can also quickly deplete your opponent’s resources as you build up your hand.

Resource Acceleration: The Captain’s ability to tap for mana of any color translates into significant resource acceleration. This flexibility can be critical for casting multicolored spells earlier in the game, setting you up for powerful plays that can outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Balmor, Battlemage Captain shines with its synergy at instant speed. While not an instant itself, it can facilitate a strategy that includes instant-speed interactions, allowing you to keep mana open for responses and to act on the best possible timing, which can often turn the tide of a match in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Balmor, Battlemage Captain, whose power hinges on synergies with instant and sorcery spells, asks players to discard as a part of the casting cost. This can strain hand resources, especially in prolonged games where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana requirement that includes both red and green, this card necessitates a firmly committed two-color mana base. Decks that run three or more colors might find it challenging to consistently meet Balmor’s colored mana demands without compromising their manabase’s flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Balmor, Battlemage Captain to the battlefield comes at a steeper cost than some peers in the same mana bracket. As a four-cost commander, it contends with a roster of other commanders that can potentially offer quicker board presence or more immediate value.


Reasons to Include Balmor, Battlemage Captain in Your Collection

Versatility: As a powerful addition to your arsenal, Balmor, Battlemage Captain can seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck builds. Its ability to provide both offensive and defensive advantages makes it a flexible choice for any player.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy-focused decks, enabling intricate combos with its unique abilities. Whether you’re aiming to buff creatures or engage in spell-slinging, Balmor stands ready to amplify your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its solid performance in the current game landscape, including Balmor, Battlemage Captain in your deck could give you the upper hand. It’s particularly adept at countering prevalent strategies, ensuring that your collection remains competitive no matter the shifts in gameplay.


How to beat Balmor, Battlemage Captain

Balmor, Battlemage Captain offers a unique blend of strategic advantages in MTG by providing both a buff to your team and dealing damage upon casting a spell. To tackle this formidable card, it is essential to focus on removing it quickly from the battlefield. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can target creatures, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, allows for efficient management of Balmor before its abilities can significantly impact the game.

Furthermore, countering key spells that trigger Balmor’s abilities is another effective strategy. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be instrumental in preventing the accumulation of advantages that Balmor’s controller might be seeking. Additionally, keeping pressure on the opponent by maintaining a well-paced board presence can limit the effectiveness of Balmor’s buffs. Finally, using board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the playing field, ensuring that Balmor’s influence is thoroughly mitigated. Strategic timing and choice of removal are key components in gaining the upper hand against a Balmor-led deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Balmor, Battlemage Captain // Balmor, Battlemage Captain MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United Art Series and Dominaria United, 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 Balmor, Battlemage Captain // Balmor, Battlemage Captain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Balmor, Battlemage Captain // Balmor, Battlemage Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria United Art SeriesADMU 442015Art seriesBorderless
22022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 1962015NormalBlackBram Sels
32022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3362015NormalBlackNino Vecia
42022-09-09Dominaria United Art SeriesADMU 692015Art seriesBorderless
52022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2952015NormalBlackNino Vecia

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Balmor, Battlemage Captain has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 Balmor’s last ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves, including Balmor itself. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn or noncreature permanents that become creatures later won’t get the bonus.
2022-09-09 Balmor’s last ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.