Blink Dog MTG Card

Blink Dog - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
2021-07-23 - Number 300

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
2021-07-23 - Number 3

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dog
Abilities	Double strike
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Blink Dog’s flicker effect provides significant card and battlefield advantage during play.
Flexibility with instant speed maneuvers allows for better strategic planning and surprise actions.
Deck synergy is enhanced as Blink Dog triggers other cards’ enter-the-battlefield effects.

Text of card

Double strike Teleport — : Blink Dog phases out. (Treat it and anything attached to it as though they don't exist until your next turn.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the strategy-filled world of MTG, Blink Dog offers a considerable edge in terms of card advantage. When it teleports onto the battlefield, it brings with it a unique effect that can potentially sway the game in your favor. This effect can translate into more efficient turns and effective use of the cards in your hand, sometimes even disrupting your opponent’s plans.

Resource Acceleration: One might not associate Blink Dog with traditional forms of resource acceleration, but its ability to quickly enter and leave the battlefield can be leveraged in numerous ways. With the right deck synergy, Blink Dog can trigger enter-the-battlefield effects of other permanents, creating opportunities for ramping up resources indirectly, a vital component in gaining momentum against your adversary.

Instant Speed: The agility of Blink Dog is unmatched as it operates at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt to an evolving game state. This trait allows you to make pivotal decisions at the most opportune moments, whether it’s dodging a removal spell or creating surprise blockers, thus keeping your opponents on their heels and paving the way for strategic dominance on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Blink Dog from your hand comes with the condition that you must have another card at hand to discard. This can snag players who are close to empty-handed or want to maintain a full grip of options.

Specific Mana Cost: Blink Dog’s casting cost includes specific mana symbols that could potentially restrict its inclusion in multicolored decks. Without access to the right colors of mana, summoning this creature could become challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Blink Dog’s abilities, while useful, come with a mana cost that is on the higher end for its creature type and effects. In some cases, players might find alternative creatures or spells that provide similar benefits for a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Blink Dog in Your Collection

Versatility: Blink Dog is a card that easily fits into various deck archetypes, with its ability to flicker in and out of battle. This makes it a solid addition to aggro, midrange, or control decks looking for a reliable creature that can evade removal or reset its state.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its blink ability, Blink Dog effortlessly synergizes with cards that capitalize on enter the battlefield effects. This opens up possibilities for powerful combos and unexpected plays that can turn the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where versatility and evasion are key, Blink Dog stands out as a valuable asset. While its presence may shift with the ebbs and flows of the competitive scene, its unique skill set can give players an edge in the evolving landscape of MTG.

How to beat

Blink Dog is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can challenge players with its ability to phase in and out of the battlefield. This makes it a slippery target to deal with, as it can dodge sorcery speed removal and thereby avoid most board wipes. But there are strategies you can employ to triumph over this evasive creature.

One effective way is to use instant-speed removal when Blink Dog phases in or before it attacks. Cards with the “flash” keyword, or those that can be played at any time, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can efficiently handle this elusive canine. Another method is to employ effects that limit the opponent’s ability to play spells or activate abilities during their turn, such as Teferi, Time Raveler or Grand Abolisher.

Also, because Blink Dog relies on its ability to phase out for protection, continuous effects that prevent activated abilities from being used, like Pithing Needle or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can nullify its strength. But remember, plan your move smartly when Blink Dog is on the stack to ensure that it never gets the chance to slip through your fingers.

Cards like Blink Dog

The allure of the Blink Dog card in Magic: The Gathering lies in its specialized synergy with teleportation-themed decks. Resembling cards such as Mistmeadow Witch, the Blink Dog offers, not a spell-like function but, a creature that embodies the quintessence of flicker strategies. Like its counterpart, Mistmeadow Witch, the Blink Dog can remove creatures from the fray and bring them back with potentially game-altering effects.

Nevertheless, differences are notable; for instance, Restoration Angel, which also gleans advantage from flicker tactics, has the added ability to impact the board upon its angelic arrival. This provides immediate value not only in teleporting your own entities but also in possibly saving them from imminent threats. Conversely, the Blink Dog boasts a lower mana cost and a companion ability that adds value when interacting with other creatures of its ilk.

Each card certainly has its place within the interplay of teleportation strategy in Magic: The Gathering. While the Blink Dog doesn’t create the same immediate board presence as some alternatives, it integrates seamlessly into decks focusing on creature-based flicker effects and synergistic playstyles.

Cards similar to Blink Dog by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blink Dog MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Blink Dog and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blink Dog Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2021-07-23	Adventures in the Forgotten Realms	AFR		300	2015	Normal	Black	Pedro Potier
2	2021-07-23	Adventures in the Forgotten Realms	AFR		3	2015	Normal	Black	Oriana Menendez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blink Dog has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2021-07-23	An attacking or blocking creature that phases out is removed from combat.
2021-07-23	Any continuous effects with a “for as long as” duration, such as that of Mind Flayer, ignore phased-out objects. If ignoring those objects causes the effect's conditions to no longer be met, the duration will expire.
2021-07-23	As Blink Dog phases out, Auras and Equipment attached to it also phase out at the same time. Those Auras and Equipment will phase in at the same time Blink Dog does, and they'll phase in still attached to Blink Dog.
2021-07-23	Choices made for permanents as they entered the battlefield are remembered when they phase in.
2021-07-23	If an opponent gains control of your Blink Dog, activates its Teleport ability, and the duration of the control-change effect expires before it phases in, Blink Dog phases in under your control as that opponent's next untap step begins. If they leave the game before their next untap step, Blink Dog phases in as the next untap step begins after their turn would have begun.
2021-07-23	Permanents phase back in during their controller's untap step, immediately before that player untaps their permanents. Creatures that phase in this way are able to attack and pay a cost of during that turn. If a permanent had counters on it when it phased out, it will have those counters when it phases back in.
2021-07-23	Phased out permanents are treated as though they don't exist. They can't be the target of spells or abilities, their static abilities have no effect on the game, their triggered abilities can't trigger, they can't attack or block, and so on.
2021-07-23	Phasing out doesn't cause any “leaves the battlefield” abilities to trigger. Similarly, phasing in won't cause any “enters the battlefield” abilities to trigger.