Baron Von Count MTG Card
Text of card
Baron Von Count enters the battlefield with a doom counter on "5." Whenever you cast a spell with the indicated numeral in its mana cost, text box, power, or toughness, move the doom counter one numeral to the left. When the doom counter moves from "1," destroy target player and put that doom counter on "5."
Cards like Baron Von Count
Baron Von Count stands out as a unique entity in Magic: The Gathering, delivering a delightfully different gameplay mechanic through its “Doomsday Clock.” This ability distinguishes it from other similar cards in the world of counters and triggers. Savor the Moment, another intriguing card, offers additional turns without untapping permanents. While not a direct analogue to Baron Von Count, it similarly morphs the tempo and flow of the game yet lacks the terminal countdown to victory.
Triad of Fates is another card that touches on the theme of manipulating pieces to your advantage, allowing you to control the fate of creatures on the battlefield. However, it requires more set-up and doesn’t lead to an instant win like Baron Von Count’s ultimate count. Lastly, Aetherworks Marvel also offers the excitement of unpredictability, leveraging energy counters to potentially cast powerful spells for free. While both cards excel in building toward a significant payoff, Baron Von Count’s focused countdown provides a more direct and potentially game-ending approach.
After examining the mechanics and potential impact of Baron Von Count among its peers, it stands apart as a card that offers a uniquely thrilling challenge to players aiming for that critical final countdown.
Cards similar to Baron Von Count by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the key benefits of Baron Von Count in your deck is its ability to manipulate countdown counters, which can ultimately lead to a potent win condition without expending additional cards. This meshes well with strategies that appreciate incremental advantages over the course of a game.
Resource Acceleration: While Baron Von Count himself does not directly provide resource acceleration, his ability to potentially end the game as a direct result of count manipulation synergizes with cards that do, enhancing the deck’s overall momentum and enabling faster execution of your game plan.
Instant Speed: This card’s dynamic interaction with instants allows you to tweak the doom counter at a moment’s notice, offering an unexpected vector of attack. Swift plays can lead to a swift victory, surprising an unprepared opponent and shifting the pace of the match in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This villainous card demands that you discard other cards from your hand to unleash its full potential. Such an onerous prerequisite could leave your hand in a tight spot, particularly when your reservoir of options runs thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Baron Von Count’s activation is embedded in a tricky mana combination that is not always readily available in your mana pool, especially in multicolored decks aiming for flexibility over monocolor consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that leans towards the heavier side, it competes directly with other options in your deck that may offer quicker or more impactful effects at the same or lower cost, potentially hampering your game tempo.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Baron Von Count’s unique ability to manipulate countdown counters offers strategic depth, allowing it to be utilized in decks that exploit counter interactions or unconventional win conditions.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with spells and abilities that add or manipulate counters, providing savvy players with an opportunity to unleash its game-ending ultimate ability more quickly.
Meta-Relevance: Baron Von Count’s capacity to threaten an instant win condition makes it a must-consider in a meta with sufficient room for creativity and when slower deck archetypes are prevalent.
How to beat
Baron Von Count is a unique card in the world of MTG, centered around a doom counter mechanic. Unlike traditional threats, this creature requires a strategic approach to dismantle effectively. The key to overcoming Baron Von Count is disrupting the countdown. Removing or resetting the counters delays the ominous ‘ultimate’ ability, ensuring safety for your board.
Interaction spells that can target and nullify abilities like Counterspell or Krosan Grip become invaluable assets in this task. You could also employ bounce spells, which force the Baron back to the owner’s hand, resetting all progress made. Unsummon or Cyclonic Rift are excellent examples. Alternatively, consider the simplicity and effectiveness of broad removals like Wrath of God or Doom Blade, which can quickly rid you of the impending threat without allowing for a counter accumulation.
In essence, countering Baron Von Count hinges on staying a step ahead. Be prepared with instant-speed responses, maintain control over the board, and react swiftly before the doom counter reaches its final destination. By prioritizing disruption and removal, you ensure that the Baron remains little more than a formidable but manageable opponent in your match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Baron Von Count MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and The List (Unfinity Foil 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 Baron Von Count and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Baron Von Count Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 127 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2022-10-07 | The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) | ULST | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Jesper Ejsing |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Baron Von Count card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | A numeral is any digit, such as 2, 7, or 0. Written number words such as “five” don’t count. |
| 2018-01-19 | If a player is destroyed, that player loses the game. There aren’t any ways for a player to regenerate… yet. |
| 2018-01-19 | Some numbers are made up of multiple numerals. For example, if you cast a spell with the number 12 in its text box, the middle ability will trigger if the doom counter is on 1 or 2. |
| 2018-01-19 | To move the doom counter one numeral to the left, move it from 5 to 4, from 4 to 3, from 3 to 2, from 2 to 1, or from 1 to 5, as appropriate. |