Balduvian Warlord MTG Card

Strategically valuable, it shifts combat dynamics by rerouting blockers and enabling surprise attacks. In resource management, it indirectly pressures opponents, influencing mana usage during battles. Presents a versatile role, useful in MTG collections for metagame relevancy and combat strategy disruption.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Barbarian
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	77
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Paolo Parente

Text of card

: Remove target blocking creature from combat. Creatures it blocked that no other creature blocked this combat become unblocked, then it blocks an attacking creature of your choice. Play this ability only during the declare blockers step.

Cards like Balduvian Warlord

The Balduvian Warlord is an intriguing creature card that finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering’s robust library of cards. In comparison to other cards with power-dictating abilities, the Warlord’s capabilities resemble those of cards like Avalanche Riders and Goblin Dark-Dwellers, which also manipulate the battlefield to gain advantage. Unlike the Warlord, Avalanche Riders doesn’t allow for targeting blocking creatures, but it does offer land destruction as an enter-the-battlefield effect.

Analogous to the Warlord’s tactical redirection of blockers is Brutal Hordechief. Where Brutal Hordechief directs all blocks and even saps life from opponents, the Warlord is strictly focused on combat manipulation without directly damaging the opponent’s life total. This clearly defines the Balduvian Warlord’s role in turning the tides during combat phases, without the broader control over the game that Hordechief can exert.

When examining the strategic utility and versatility these cards bring to the game, the Balduvian Warlord presents itself as a unique tool for tactical combat scenarios. Its specific focus on blockers makes it a niche card, valuable within its realm of battlefield control and creature manipulation in the game of Magic: The Gathering.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Offers strategic board control by potentially removing blockers or freeing up your path to attack, which can indirectly contribute to card advantage by preserving your creatures on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Balduvian Warlord itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can force opponents to tap mana in order to save key permanents, indirectly impacting resource allocation during combat phases.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing for surprise tactics during the combat phase, making it a tricky card to play against and providing nimble response options during crucial moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing the Balduvian Warlord demands that you forfeit another card from your hand, which could deplete your strategic options, especially in games where your hand size is already compromised.

Specific Mana Cost: The Warlord’s casting cost necessitates both red and generic mana, reducing its flexibility and potentially constraining it to mono-red or two-color decks that can reliably produce red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its four mana casting requirement, the Balduvian Warlord’s abilities may be seen as costly when pitted against other cards within the same mana range that could potentially provide immediate impact or more substantial board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Balduvian Warlord offers dynamic gameplay options. As a creature that can redirect blockers, it allows for unorthodox combat strategies, fitting well into decks that thrive on board manipulation and surprise attacks.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this warlord can be a linchpin in combos. By selectively clearing blockers, you can ensure key creatures connect with your opponent or disrupt their battle plans, making it a stealthy asset in your creature-based strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on creature blocking to stabilize, the Balduvian Warlord’s ability to alter the course of combat can significantly disrupt your opponents’ tactics, keeping you one step ahead in the current meta.

How to beat

The Balduvian Warlord can be a real threat in the right setup, dictating combat scenarios that may throw off your defensive strategies in a game of MTG. Its ability to redirect blockers makes it a nuanced challenge on the battlefield that requires a tactful approach. Being proactive is crucial as you can prevent your opponent from maximizing the effectiveness of the Warlord’s ability.

Employing removal spells before the attack phase prevents the Warlord from disrupting your blockers. Counterspells are also effective in nipping the problem in the bud before it even hits the field. Additionally, utilizing cards that limit an opponent’s ability to declare attackers or restrict actions to only when they could cast a sorcery prevents the Warlord’s ability from being activated at an inconvenient time. In decks without blue, consider utilizing instant-speed removal to eliminate the Warlord during the beginning of combat phase, before attackers are declared, which inaccurately renders his ability moot.

If the Balduvian Warlord has already established a presence, forcing your opponent to use his ability ineffectively through mind games and bluffs can be key. In all, understanding timing and maintaining board control are your best defenses against this particular MTG challenge.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Balduvian Warlord 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 Warlord and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Balduvian Warlord has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-07-15	Balduvian Warlord’s ability may be activated during any player’s turn.
2006-07-15	If an attacking creature becomes unblocked this way and remains unblocked, it will deal its combat damage to the defending player. Abilities that say “When this creature attacks and isn’t blocked” won’t trigger.
2006-07-15	If an attacking creature has a “When this creature becomes blocked by - creature]” ability, it triggers when a creature blocks it due to the Warlord’s ability.
2006-07-15	If an attacking creature has an ability that triggers “When this creature becomes blocked,” it triggers when a creature blocks it due to the Warlord’s ability only if it was unblocked at that point.
2006-07-15	If the targeted creature has a “When this creature blocks” ability, it will trigger when Balduvian Warlord’s ability resolves and the creature blocks again.
2006-07-15	The attacking creature will become unblocked only if the targeted creature was the only one that blocked it this combat, even if all the other creatures that were blocking it are no longer on the battlefield or are no longer blocking it (even those removed with other Balduvian Warlords’ abilities).
2006-07-15	The targeted creature that’s removed from combat may then block the attacking creature that it was originally blocking. If so, that creature will no longer be unblocked.