Barbed Servitor MTG Card
2024-02-09 - Number 77
2024-02-09 - Number 398
2024-02-10 - Number 77s
2024-02-10 - Number 77p
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
| Abilities | Indestructible,Suspect |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Indestructible When Barbed Servitor enters the battlefield, suspect it. (It has menace and can't block.) Whenever Barbed Servitor deals combat damage to a player, you draw a card and you lose 1 life. Whenever Barbed Servitor is dealt damage, target opponent loses that much life.
Cards like Barbed Servitor
Barbed Servitor shines in the realm of artifact creatures with a fascinating twist in Magic: The Gathering. It finds company with cards like Golden Egg, which also provides a small benefit to its controller when it leaves the battlefield. Unlike Golden Egg’s option for card draw, Barbed Servitor’s unique selling point is that it damages each opponent when it untaps, adding a subtle layer of pressure to the game.
There’s also Ichor Wellspring, that, like Barbed Servitor, has value when it enters and exits the battlefield. However, Ichor Wellspring focuses solely on the card draw aspect without influencing the life totals. Implement effects are another group to consider, as Implement of Combustion deals damage to an opponent as well, but only when it’s sacrificed, offering a more controlled trigger compared to the untap timing of Barbed Servitor.
Assessing Barbed Servitor against other artifacts shows its niche appeal. It combines passive damage with strategic blocking opportunities, setting it slightly apart from the usual utility artifacts. For players looking to chip away at their opponents’ life while shaping the battlefield, Barbed Servitor holds a special place amongst MTG’s diverse artifact suit.
Cards similar to Barbed Servitor by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Barbed Servitor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dimir Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Dimir Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-02 |
 | Orzhov Flash | Standard | Orzhov Flash | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 1, 2024 |
| Decklist | Free form | Holiday Night Magic | |
 | Mardu Midrange | Standard | Mardu Midrange | Jaffer's Mini Mosh - Standard |
| Rakdos Midrange | Standard | Rakdos Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024 |
| Grixis Combo | Standard | Grixis Control | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
 | Sealed Deck | Limited | Murders At Karlov Mansion Pre-release |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Barbed Servitor provides an opportunity for both players to draw a card upon dealing combat damage. This can be strategically advantageous if you’re able to make more use of the extra card than your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While the Barbed Servitor does not directly produce mana or treasure tokens, this colorless creature can help streamline your deck’s performance by potentially offering you the right cards at the right time through its card draw ability.
Instant Speed: Although the draw ability from Barbed Servitor is not at instant speed, having this artifact creature on the battlefield can keep your opponents on their toes, guessing when you might capitalize on its card draw trigger, especially if you have instant-speed tricks or removal in hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of deploying Barbed Servitor is its discard stipulation. This condition necessitates a plush hand or else it risks diminishing your valuable card options.
Specific Mana Cost: With a need for color-specific mana, Barbed Servitor necessitates careful deck construction to ensure a steady flow of the requisite mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks where such resources are abundant.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the landscape of MTG, a creature like Barbed Servitor carries a mana cost that’s steep when juxtaposed against its direct battlefield impact, prompting players to weigh its strategic value against other available cards with similar or lower resource demands.
Reasons to Include Barbed Servitor in Your Collection
Versatility: Barbed Servitor is a card that can find a place in a variety of deck builds. Its ability to deal damage to each player gives it a role in strategies looking to spread damage evenly or capitalize on life total changes.
Combo Potential: This artifact creature might become a key piece in combos focusing on life loss and gain. Its incidental damage is also useful for decks that may want to trigger certain abilities when life totals change.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games can often swing on small margins, Barbed Servitor’s impact, though modest, can shift board states just enough to be considered viable. Its role in decks that thrive off each player drawing cards or losing life can be subtly powerful.
How to beat
Barbed Servitor presents an intriguing dynamic in the world of utility creatures in MTG. Similar to cards that provide universal advantages such as Howling Mine, Barbed Servitor distributes card draw to all players during each player’s upkeep. However, what makes the Servitor distinct is its ability to also deal 1 damage to each opponent. This can be both beneficial and detrimental, as it influences the flow of card advantage irresistibly—but not exclusively—in your favor.
Considering cards like Kumano’s Blessing, which provides a way to prevent damage, can be a viable tactic to mitigate the Servitor’s damage while reaping the card draw benefits. Alternatively, utilizing lifelink creatures or effects such as those from Vampire Nighthawk can help offset the life loss while capitalizing on new cards. Moreover, employing removal spells before your draw step ensures that Barbed Servitor’s drawback affects only your opponents, thereby swinging the card draw and life balance in your favor.
In essence, mastering the timing and understanding when to neutralize Barbed Servitor’s symmetry is key. It involves balancing the thin line between benefitting from its card draw and negating its damage, ensuring you remain ahead in both card advantage and life total.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Barbed Servitor MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Barbed Servitor 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 Barbed Servitor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 77 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 398 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 3 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 77s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 4 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 77p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Barbed Servitor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |