Baleful Stare MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 42
2001-04-11 - Number 62
2001-04-11 - Number 62★
2005-07-29 - Number 64
2005-07-29 - Number 64★
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at your opponent's hand. For each mountain and red card there, you draw a card. (You draw from your deck.)
Cards like Baleful Stare
Baleful Stare joins the family of hand disruption spells in Magic: The Gathering, sitting alongside peers like Duress and Thoughtseize. Like its cousins, the power of Baleful Stare lies in its ability to peek into opponents’ secrets, but it stands out by targeting players who command a creature with the highest power. While Duress offers the advantage of costing less and focusing on noncreature, nonland cards, it doesn’t provide the draw that Baleful Stare does.
Comparably, Thoughtseize allows the player to choose any nonland card from the opponent’s hand and exiles it, but at the cost of 2 life. On one hand, Baleful Stare might not offer as much control over the opponent’s hand as Thoughtseize does, but it carries the benefit of drawing a card, potentially without the life penalty. In practice, Baleful Stare’s effectiveness greatly depends on the creatures present, making it situationally advantageous, especially in a creature-heavy meta.
When evaluating the versatility and application, Baleful Stare is a strategic addition for players looking to disrupt and simultaneously gain card advantage. While it may not provide the pinpoint accuracy of Thoughtseize or the low cost of Duress, its unique balance of information and drawing gives it a niche in certain MTG decks.
Cards similar to Baleful Stare by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Baleful Stare excels in enabling players to peek into an opponent’s hand and draw a number of cards equal to their hand size. This not only provides valuable information but can significantly increase your hand and give you an upper hand in maintaining control over the game’s flow.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, learning your opponent’s plans can save you from playing into their strategies. Being informed allows smarter plays and conservation of resources, indirectly accelerating your own resource management and deployment.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Baleful Stare at instant speed is invaluable. This flexibility means you can adapt to the evolving game state, using your mana efficiently. By casting it at the end of your opponent’s turn, you ensure that you get the most up-to-date information on their tactics and maximize your card draw potential without compromising your own plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Baleful Stare necessitates that the caster discard a card to initiate its effect. This can set players back, especially when hand size is critical for maintaining gameplay options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of one blue and two other mana, which could complicate its integration in multi-colored decks not heavily focused on blue mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of three mana for its ability, Baleful Stare may not be as cost-effective compared to other cards available that offer similar or better utility at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Baleful Stare offers flexibility to control-focused decks that thrive on information and disruption. It can be a powerful play in the early game to understand your opponent’s hand and sculpt your strategy accordingly.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with hand disruption tactics and can enable combos that capitalize on knowing the opponent’s gameplay, allowing for precise counters and strategic discards.
Meta-Relevance: With a dynamic competitive environment that often includes surprise strategies, having a card like Baleful Stare can be pivotal in gaining the upper hand by anticipating and neutralizing your opponent’s key plays.
How to beat
Baleful Stare is a unique card that gives Magic: The Gathering players the ability to target an opponent and reveal their hand, drawing a card for each creature in it. This advantage makes it an asset in revealing your opponent’s strategy while bolstering your hand size. But how can you navigate around Baleful Stare’s probing gaze? One strategy is to minimize the number of creatures in your hand when you suspect your opponent may cast Baleful Stare. Utilizing instant speed spells to play creatures on your opponent’s turn could circumvent the potential card advantage they might gain.
Another effective measure is hand disruption. Cards that force your opponent to discard can preemptively reduce the utility of Baleful Stare, as an empty hand renders it powerless. Additionally, while Baleful Stare can offer a significant card advantage, it requires a substantial mana investment. Capitalize on this by developing a more aggressive board presence, pressuring your opponent and forcing them to address your threats rather than setting up their own card draw tactic.
Diminishing the effectiveness of Baleful Stare is all about adaptability and preemptive action. By considering the composition of your hand and staying one step ahead, you can shield your game strategy from your opponent’s piercing stare and keep the momentum of the match in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Baleful Stare MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Seventh 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 Baleful Stare 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Baleful Stare Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 42 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Coulthart | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 62 | 1997 | Normal | White | Eric Peterson | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 62★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Eric Peterson | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 64 | 2003 | Normal | White | Randy Gallegos | |
| 5 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 64★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Baleful Stare has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |