A-Blood Artist MTG Card

Provides value through life gain and opponents’ life loss on creature death, enhancing atrittion strategies. Triggers ability at instant speed for consistent in-game advantages, making it a versatile threat. It’s mana cost and activation requirement may limit its use to specific deck builds centered around sacrifice.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Vampire
Released	2020-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Jumpstart
Set code	JMP
Power	0
Toughness	1
Number	A-206
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johannes Voss

Text of card

Whenever Blood Artist or another creature dies, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Cards like A-Blood Artist

Blood Artist has been a staple in decks that capitalize on creature death ever since its release. Its unique ability to drain opponents for life upon the demise of any creature sets it apart within Magic the Gathering. But how does it stack up against its contemporaries in the ‘life gain and loss’ category?

Cards like Zulaport Cutthroat and Cruel Celebrant offer similar functionalities, providing life point exchanges upon creature deaths. Zulaport Cutthroat has a narrower effect, targeting only your creatures, while Cruel Celebrant extends the impact to all creatures you control and includes life loss to the opponent as well. However, Blood Artist holds the edge with its wider reach, affecting all creatures that perish, giving it a more extensive command over the battlefield dynamics.

Then we have Falkenrath Noble, which like Blood Artist, triggers on any creature’s death but offers the added advantage of having flying, furnishing a better defensive and offensive position. Despite these comparisons, Blood Artist’s low casting cost and its broad ability to affect the state of play make it a formidable tool in player arsenals.

Cards similar to A-Blood Artist by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blood Artist shines in its ability to offer continuous and passive card advantage without needing to draw. It provides value from each creature’s death, including your opponents’, making it a potent tool in attrition strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana acceleration, the life gain and loss dynamic Blood Artist introduces can position you ahead in resource health. It synergistically accelerates your game plan, especially in decks that prioritize life total as a resource.

Instant Speed: Although Blood Artist itself isn’t an instant, it has an ability that triggers at instant speed. Any time a creature dies, whether on your turn or your opponent’s, Blood Artist ensures you are gaining value immediately, making it a persistent threat and a versatile piece in any strategy where creatures are bound to perish.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blood Artist requires that another creature dies to trigger its effect, which necessitates a continuous stream of creatures you’re willing or able to sacrifice, potentially straining your board presence if not managed carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: Blood Artist’s mana cost, which includes one black mana, might restrict its integration outside of black-inclusive decks, limiting its overall versatility in a multicolored format where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Blood Artist’s ability can generate incremental advantages over time, its mana cost can be considered high for a creature that offers no immediate board impact and requires a specific setup to extract value, as there are lower-cost creatures that can influence the board upon entry.

Reasons to Include A Blood Artist in Your Collection

Versatility: A Blood Artist is a card that seamlessly fits into various deck strategies, particularly those that involve creature death and sacrifice mechanics. Its ability to drain opponents whenever creatures die makes it a valuable asset in both aggressive and control archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in powerful combos. Its synergy with board wipe effects or recurring creature strategies can lead to significant life swings and can turn the tide of a game quickly.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based decks often appearing in competitive play, A Blood Artist has consistent relevance. It acts as a deterrent against opponents’ sweepers while rewarding you for any creatures lost in the fray, keeping it an evergreen choice in changing metas.

How to beat

Blood Artist is a card that demands immediate attention on the battleground. Its ability to drain life from opponents whenever creatures die makes it a lynchpin of many strategies. It is pivotal in decks that focus on sacrificing creatures for value. The key to undermining Blood Artist lies in limiting creature deaths and utilizing removal spells that can bypass its ability.

Removal spells like Scavenging Ooze can be highly effective against Blood Artist. Scavenging Ooze not only removes creatures from the game, preventing Blood Artist from triggering, but it also allows you to gain life in the process. Additionally, graveyard hate cards can also cripple strategies hinging on creature deaths by disrupting the synergy upon which Blood Artist thrives.

Strategically, refraining from wiping the board when Blood Artist is in play might just save you from an untimely defeat. Instead, direct creature removals, exile effects, or even enchantment-based removal can keep the Artist in check without triggering its draining ability. By carefully selecting your spells and the timing of your actions, you can nullify the impact of Blood Artist and maintain control over the game’s pace and your life total.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Blood Artist MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart, 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 A-Blood Artist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Blood Artist has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal