Ancestral Blade MTG Card
2019-07-12 - Number 3
2020-08-07 - Number 3
2020-11-20 - Number 5
2022-10-14 - Number 6
2023-08-04 - Number 12
2023-08-04 - Number 1
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
Text of card
When Ancestral Blade enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token, then attach Ancestral Blade to it. Equipped creature gets +1/+1. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Cards like Ancestral Blade
Ancestral Blade is a unique piece in the pantheon of equipment in Magic the Gathering. It stands alongside cards such as Short Sword, which also provides a small but immediate boost to the power and toughness of creatures. Short Sword, with its lower cost, is a direct and simple way to enhance a creature, lacking Ancestral Blade’s creature token creation ability.
Another notable comparison is with Bonesplitter, an equipment card revered for its cost-efficiency, giving a higher power bonus at the same equip cost. However, Bonesplitter doesn’t deliver the same one-two punch of equipping and creature creation that Ancestral Blade offers. Then we have Trusty Machete, which provides a balanced boost to both power and toughness but comes with a higher equip cost, making Ancestral Blade preferable for a quicker increase in board presence.
Ultimately, Ancestral Blade’s dual utility in offering an immediate creature token and an equipment bonus distinguishes it in the MTG realm, blending synergy and power in an economically castable package. It’s this blend that well positions Ancestral Blade within the array of equipment cards available to MTG enthusiasts.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ancestral Blade. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WB | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 64 2024-03-31 | |
| Orzhov Midrange | Pauper | Ogonyok | |
| Mono-White Aggro | Pauper | MKM Pauper UOL 2024 | |
 | Boros Synthesizer | Pauper | Boros Synthesizer | Pauper League 2023-11-15 |
| Boros Synthesizer (Ancestral Ivan) | Pauper | Boros Synthesizer | Tappa LP Comense Pauperissima "Road to Milano" @Magic Akiba |
| WBRG | Pauper | Pauper League 2023-11-22 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ancestral Blade equips automatically upon entering the battlefield, providing an immediate boost without requiring additional mana investment. This essentially gives you two assets, a creature token and an equipment, for the cost of one card, thus edging you ahead in terms of card economy.
Resource Acceleration: The blade’s low casting cost of just two mana aligns with efficient resource acceleration, allowing you to deploy threats and equip other creatures early in the game. It’s a subtle but effective way to get ahead on the board without a significant investment.
Instant Speed: While Ancestral Blade itself isn’t an instant, its auto-equip feature works at a similar pace. This means you can play the card and immediately have a more formidable creature ready for battle, mirroring the flexibility and surprise factor often advantageous at instant speed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that come into play without any additional hurdles, Ancestral Blade requires you to discard another nonland card with a mana value 3 or greater from your hand when you cast it. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already bereft of options, and sacrificing a potentially valuable spell or creature might not always be worth the trade-off for the equipment benefits it provides.
Specific Mana Cost: Ancestral Blade has a casting cost that specifically demands white mana. This can sometimes restrict its compatibility, primarily in multicolored decks that might struggle with the right mana availability at crucial moments. While a single white mana isn’t overly demanding, it does make the card a less flexible choice when deck building, compared to those with generic mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Ancestral Blade’s initial casting cost appears low, the requirement to pay an additional white mana to equip can be steep in the early stages of the game. When considering the breadth of equipment options available in the game, Ancestral Blade may not always equate to optimal mana efficiency, especially when other cards might provide more impactful benefits or versatility for a similar or reduced investment.
Reasons to Include Ancestral Blade in Your Collection
Versatility: Ancestral Blade is a solid pick for a variety of deck builds. As a two-mana artifact that immediately creates a 1/1 token and equips onto it, this card can be easily slotted into aggro strategies as well as more control-focused decks seeking utility.
Combo Potential: The card’s ability to equip to any creature without paying its equip cost when it enters the battlefield gives it synergy with strategies revolving around equipment or token generation, enhancing its potential for combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given that it’s a low-cost artifact with immediate board impact, Ancestral Blade holds its own well in a diverse meta. In games where tempo plays a key role, being able to deploy a threat and bolster your board presence quickly is often crucial.
How to beat
Ancestral Blade is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to summon a token upon entry and empower creatures with its equipment feature. Handling an opponent’s Ancestral Blade requires a strategy that involves efficient use of removal spells or abilities that can disrupt equipment attachments. Cards like Disenchant or Abrade are excellent choices for directly removing the Blade from the battlefield, rendering the token less of a threat.
Another tactic is to counteract the stat boost given by the Blade. This can be done through instant spells that shrink an opponent’s creatures or exile them entirely. Clear the board with sweepers like Shatter the Sky or target the equipped creature with targeted removal like Path to Exile. It’s all about timing and choosing the right moment to break the synergy between Ancestral Blade and its wielder, reducing its impact on the game.
In short, dealing with Ancestral Blade is about preparedness and control. Ensure your deck has answers to artifacts and keep an eye out for the opportune moment to interrupt your opponent’s equipment plans. This approach will help maintain the balance and give you the upper hand in the duel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ancestral Blade MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Double Masters, 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 Ancestral Blade and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Ancestral Blade Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Scott Murphy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 2 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 4 | 2022-10-14 | Game Night: Free-for-All | GN3 | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 5 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 6 | Commander Masters Art Series | ACMM | 1 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Scott Murphy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ancestral Blade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ancestral Blade card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | If the triggered ability causes two Soldiers to be created (due to an effect such as that of Doubling Season), Ancestral Blade becomes attached to one of them. |
| 2020-11-10 | No player may take any actions between the time you create the Soldier token and the time Ancestral Blade becomes attached to it. |
| 2020-11-10 | The Soldier token that you create enters the battlefield as a 1/1 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield will see the token enter as a 1/1 creature. Static abilities that affect the Soldier's power and toughness may change this, but Ancestral Blade will be attached to the Soldier before the game checks to see if it has toughness 0 or less. For example, if Illness in the Ranks ("Creature tokens get -1/-1") is on the battlefield, the Soldier will enter as a 0/0 creature, but then Ancestral Blade will make it a 1/1 and the token will survive. |