Balduvian Horde MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 65
1999-04-21 - Number 167
1999-08-04 - Number 1
2000-10-01 - Number 34
2001-12-01 - Number 10
2007-09-10 - Number 86
2018-03-16 - Number 120
2019-11-07 - Number 847
2002-06-24 - Number 35992
2020-09-26 - Number A25-120
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Barbarian |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Balduvian Horde comes into play, discard a card at random from your hand or bury Balduvian Horde.
"Peace will come only when we have taken Varchild's head." —Lovisa Coldeyes, Balduvian Chieftain
Cards like Balduvian Horde
The Balduvian Horde is a staple creature in MTG that has been compared to other aggressive creatures due to its sizeable power and toughness. Another card that strikes a similarity is Arrogant Wurm, which can also be a swift game-changer with its sizable presence. However, while Balduvian Horde enters the battlefield by potentially discarding a random card, Arrogant Wurm takes advantage of discarding as an asset through madness, allowing it to be cast for less mana.
Goblin Heelcutter shares a similar aggressive approach, providing an immediate impact on the game by preventing a creature from blocking for the turn. Although it doesn’t boast the same stats as the Horde, its dash ability offers increased flexibility. Then there’s Keldon Marauders, exhibiting a different strategy by dealing damage both when it enters and leaves the battlefield. While it’s a less permanent board presence compared to Balduvian Horde, it guarantees impact damage.
When assessing these creatures, Balduvian Horde stands out for its brute force, yet it’s important to consider the nuances each card brings to the archetype, maintaining Balduvian Horde’s respect in creature comparisons due to its raw power and historical significance in MTG.
Cards similar to Balduvian Horde by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Balduvian Horde can be a pivotal play that swings the battlefield in your favor. Though it doesn’t directly draw cards, its sheer size makes it a must-answer threat that can lead to indirect card advantage as opponents are often forced to expend multiple resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: While the card itself does not accelerate your mana resources, deploying a 5/5 creature as early as turn four can apply significant pressure, potentially accelerating the game towards a swift conclusion in your favor, effectively outpacing your opponent’s resource development.
Instant Speed: Balduvian Horde may not possess an instant-speed play, but its aggressive nature forces your opponent to play as though you could drop a game-changing creature at any moment. This psychological edge often keeps them on their toes, playing around threats you could potentially cast at any time, which in turn can lead to advantageous situations for you.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A significant drawback of the Balduvian Horde is its discard requirement as part of the casting cost. When you play this creature, you have to toss another card from your hand, potentially disrupting your game plan or depleting valuable resources you might need later on.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires two red mana, which can be restrictive. This makes the card less flexible, fitting primarily in red-based or two-color decks that can reliably provide the necessary mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including two red, the Balduvian Horde can be challenging to deploy early in the game. As the game progresses, the card’s impact can be overshadowed by more powerful creatures or spells that provide greater advantages for the same or slightly higher investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Balduvian Horde provides a powerful presence on the battlefield for aggressive decks. Its ability to drop as a significant threat early in the game allows it to fit in a variety of red-based strategies, enhancing your board state substantially.
Combo Potential: For enthusiasts of combos, this creature could play a role in sacrificing strategies or decks that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, giving it a place in innovative deck-building.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors quick and hefty creatures, Balduvian Horde’s substantial power level makes it a worthwhile contender, capable of taking on commonly played defensive lines and putting your opponent on a swift clock.
How to Beat Balduvian Horde
The Balduvian Horde represents a throwback to earlier Magic: The Gathering strategies, offering a substantial 5/5 body which can be a formidable challenge on the battleground. Confronting this creature directly can be daunting, but there are several tactics that players can employ to gain the upper hand. Removal spells are your best friends here, particularly those that can handle creatures with higher toughness. Consider spells like Swords to Plowshares for one-shot exiling or Doom Blade for targeted destruction, ensuring you negate the Horde’s presence immediately.
Moreover, the Horde’s arrival comes at a cost—discarding a random card. Capitalize on this by forcing its summoning at a moment when your opponent has a full hand, thus potentially discarding a key piece of their strategy. In the realm of permanents, cards like Propaganda or Ghostly Prison can diminish the Horde’s impact by taxing your opponent for every attack. For those who prefer indirect confrontation, enchantments such as Pacifism or Lignify can neutralize Balduvian Horde without requiring a combat exchange.
By blending proactive defense with clever resource management, players can turn the tide against Balduvian Horde, ensuring this relic of might becomes a non-issue as you press forward to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Balduvian Horde MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Horde 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 Balduvian Horde Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 65 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 167 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Promos | PWOR | 1 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 4 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 34 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 5 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 10 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 6 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35992 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | ||
| 7 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 86 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 8 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 847 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 10 | The List | PLST | A25-120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Balduvian Horde has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Balduvian Horde card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You choose whether to discard or not on resolution. If not, then you sacrifice this card. You can choose to not discard even if you no longer control this card on resolution. |