Esper Stormblade MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Vedalken Wizard
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	132
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Stewart

Key Takeaways

Esper Stormblade thrives in multicolor decks, elevating combat power with flying and first strike.
Adept management of mana and instant speed spells can maximize Stormblade’s efficiency.
Understanding card drawbacks helps mitigate situational weaknesses and mana constraints.

Text of card

As long as you control another multicolored permanent, Esper Stormblade gets +1/+1 and has flying.

Stormcallers came to appreciate the novelty of Jund's volcanic updrafts.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Esper Stormblade enhances your battlefield presence by becoming a flying and first strike threat when paired with another multicolor card. This synergy can lead to significant card advantage by forcing unfavorable trades for your opponent or by deterring attacks, thereby protecting your life total and card resources on the board.

Resource Acceleration: As a two-mana cost creature, Esper Stormblade allows for efficient use of resources by setting up an accelerated board state. Deploying it early in the game can be part of a strategy that aims to outpace your adversary through swift pressure, optimizing your mana utilization in the crucial opening turns.

Instant Speed: While Esper Stormblade itself is a creature card and does not have instant speed, it benefits from being in colors that have access to numerous instant speed spells. This adaptability allows you to maintain open mana for reactive plays while leveraging the threat of activating Esper Stormblade’s full potential during the combat phase, thereby optimizing strategy and resource allocation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Esper Stormblade’s synergistic value depends largely on having another multicolored creature on the battlefield, which means its strength can be situational and dependent on your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is split between white, blue, and black. This can make it tricky to cast early in the game if you don’t have the right mana fixing in your deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitant, Esper Stormblade’s cumulative mana investment can be a hurdle in quickly-paced games, where efficiency often trumps raw power. Cards with lower mana costs may offer similar benefits without constraining your mana pool.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Esper Stormblade can adapt to various playstyles, easily slotting into multicolored decks that leverage the synergies of its artifact and creature types.

Combo Potential: Its capacity to gain flying and buff its power makes it a natural fit for decks that aim to create quick, potentially game-ending combinations.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting game environment, the blend of speed and evasive capabilities of Esper Stormblade keeps it relevant, especially in matchups where tempo plays a crucial role.

How to beat

Esper Stormblade is one of those multicolored creatures in MTG that can become a formidable presence on the battlefield when paired with other artifact cards. This card gains a significant power boost when it’s not alone, turning it into a flying creature with a substantial attack increase. To effectively neutralize this threat, disrupting the synergy it relies on is key. Plan your moves to strip the board of artifacts; this makes the card more vulnerable and easier to tackle.

Focus on removal spells that can target multiple types of permanents, not just creatures. This flexibility allows you to respond to whatever your opponent plays, whether it’s an artifact that buffs their creatures or the Stormblade itself. Moreover, keep an eye out for counter spells that can prevent it from hitting the board in the first place. Fast reaction times and preemptive plays are your best defense against this potent card.

Staying ahead of the game means understanding the decks where Esper Stormblade thrives and preparing your strategy accordingly. With the right balance of removal, countermeasures, and board control, you can ensure that this card doesn’t take over the game.

Cards like Esper Stormblade

Esper Stormblade asserts its uniqueness in the Magic: The Gathering multicolor creature category. It shares similarities with creatures like Silverblade Paladin, which also offers a significant boost to combat potential. Both creatures offer additional benefits when paired with other cards – Esper Stormblade gains flying and deathtouch when another multicolor card is in play, while Silverblade Paladin grants double strike to another creature through soulbond.

Another card worth considering is Mindblade Render, which, like Esper Stormblade, benefits from other cards’ mechanics – rewarding card draw when warriors deal combat damage. Yet, it does not directly impact combat like Esper Stormblade’s potential evasion and deathtouch. Then we have Baleful Strix, a creature that inherently possesses both flying and deathtouch, similar to an empowered Esper Stormblade but without the reliance on other multicolor cards for this effect.

Assessing these options, Esper Stormblade shows competitive edge in MTG’s diverse battalion of creatures. Its conditional capabilities offer strategic flexibility, especially in a deck rich with multicolor cards, making it a valuable piece in the intricate chess game of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Esper Stormblade by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Esper Stormblade MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Esper Stormblade and other MTG cards: