Balduvian Fallen MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep |
| Released | 2006-07-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Coldsnap |
| Set code | CSP |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 51 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Kendall |
Text of card
Cumulative upkeep (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) Whenever Balduvian Fallen's cumulative upkeep is paid, it gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each or spent this way.
Cards like Balduvian Fallen
Diving into the wintry realm of Magic: The Gathering, Balduvian Fallen stands out as a unique entry in the cohort of cumulative upkeep cards. If we look at cards like Soul Burn, we notice they both engage with the role of mana spending and require a strategic approach to resource allocation. While Soul Burn offers a direct damage and life gain aspect, Balduvian Fallen features a cumulative upkeep cost that could potentially grow out of control if not checked.
Staying within the same vein, Leshrac’s Rite also grants a creature the ability to regenerate, much like Balduvian Fallen does with its triggered ability during the upkeep phase. However, Leshrac’s Rite is an enchantment that comes without the burden of a growing upkeep cost. Yet, it doesn’t provide the deck with a creature presence, which makes Balduvian Fallen a more multifaceted option in decks that favor a creature-based strategy.
Lastly, considering Nantuko Cultivator contributes to the conversation as well. It shares the discard concept with Balduvian Fallen, but employs it as a one-time effect to draw cards and ramp up land presence. The trade-offs between these cards give Balduvian Fallen an intriguing position in the MTG landscape, for players fond of complex and potentially high-reward setups.
Cards similar to Balduvian Fallen by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When delving into the abilities of Balduvian Fallen, card advantage isn’t direct, but its cumulative upkeep allows you to potentially discard snow lands or other cards that trigger value from your graveyard, escalating your long-term game presence.
Resource Acceleration: Although this creature doesn’t offer traditional mana acceleration, it promotes resource acceleration by possibly reanimating or benefiting from cards placed in the graveyard. It’s a clever way to utilize your assets efficiently, particularly in synergy with graveyard-focused strategies.
Instant Speed: While the Balduvian Fallen itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it fits well into decks that operate heavily during this phase. Its role complements strategies that revolve around casting instant spells, by serving as a formidable blocker or threat during untapped mana phases, hence maintaining a stable board state while keeping your options open.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Balduvian Fallen obligates you to discard a snow-covered land card to trigger its abilities. This cost can put you at a card disadvantage, especially critical during the late game when each card in hand is valuable.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement of two colorless and two black mana, this creature demands a dedicated mana base. Decks running multiple colors might struggle to fulfill this requirement consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to summon, Balduvian Fallen might not be the optimal choice for its power level. Other creatures or spells could offer greater impact or efficiency for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Balduvian Fallen offers unique adaptability for decks focusing on cumulative upkeep or cold-themed strategies. Its ability to generate a burst of mana with each untap phase allows for diverse tactical moves within the game.
Combo Potential: This card has the potential to mesh well with mechanics that exploit untapped mana or other upkeep triggers. Creative players might find ingenious ways to harness this power within various combo setups.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players are constantly adapting to new challenges, Balduvian Fallen can be surprisingly relevant. It supports strategies that aim to disrupt the opponent’s tempo and capitalize on alternate win conditions, particularly in a meta studded with control decks.
How to beat
Balduvian Fallen is an older creature card with an ability echoing cumulative upkeep—where its cost increases as turns go by. This card can be a challenge to overcome but not impossible. The key is to manage the pace of the game and keep control of the board. Since cumulative upkeep requires a significant resource investment over time, forcing your opponent to pay that cost can quickly deplete their resources, making Balduvian Fallen a liability for your opponent rather than an asset.
One effective strategy is to utilize removal spells that can deal with the Fallen before it accumulates too much power and becomes overwhelming. Spell cards such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can efficiently remove Balduvian Fallen from play without allowing for any of its cumulative upkeep effects to build up. Additionally, creatures with protection from red or those that can block and survive an attack from it also serve as a counterbalance, effectively negating the Fallen’s presence on the board.
Strategically, it’s also worth noting that Balduvian Fallen’s necessity to pay cumulative upkeep makes it a less attractive target for clone or control effects, something to consider when planning your plays against decks that might utilize this creature. In summary, while Balduvian Fallen has the potential to be powerful, an aware player who knows how to disrupt their opponent’s resources can keep this creature in check.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Balduvian Fallen MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Balduvian Fallen 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Balduvian Fallen has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Balduvian Fallen card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent. |