Bat MTG Card
2013-06-07 - Number 5
2014-12-05 - Number 11
2017-08-25 - Number 2
2018-07-13 - Number 7
2019-02-15 - Number 3
2021-03-19 - Number 4
2021-09-24 - Number 4
2021-11-19 - Number 4
2023-11-17 - Number 6
2024-02-09 - Number 4
2024-04-19 - Number 1
| Card sets | Released in 11 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Creature — Bat |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying
Cards like Bat
Bat cards in Magic: The Gathering often represent an intersection of flavor and utility, providing players with an array of options that can unsettle opponents while staying thematically cohesive. Take Skittering Skirge, for instance, a creature that brings an evasive presence to the battlefield with flying. Its drawback, sacrificing it when you cast another creature spell, can be a strategic consideration mirrored in the playstyle of most bat cards.
Dusk Imp is another creature with the flying ability but distinguishes itself with a more forgiving mana cost and without Skirge’s downside. Its sheer simplicity offers a solid choice for decks looking to include affordable flying creatures. Then there is Vampire Bats, with the unique capacity to boost its power albeit at the expense of mana resources. This adaptability allows players to switch between offense and defense, unlike the Skittering Skirge’s more rigid application.
When evaluating these airborne nocturnals, each bat card in MTG has its perks and intricacies. Players who select their winged creatures wisely can take advantage of evasion abilities typical of bat cards to strategically enhance their deck’s performance.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bat-themed cards often include abilities such as drawing a card when they deal combat damage to a player, which can help fill your hand with more resources and options as you progress through the match.
Resource Acceleration: Some bat cards can tap for mana or allow you to sacrifice them to add mana to your pool, giving you a burst of speed in summoning bigger threats or casting multiple spells in a single turn.
Instant Speed: The nature of these elusive creatures is usually reflected in abilities that can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility and surprise elements in your strategy, such as buffing their power or giving them evasion abilities at key moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Many bat cards require the player to discard another card to activate key abilities, potentially depleting your hand and diminishing strategic options later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Bat cards typically require black mana, which may not be readily available in multicolored or non-black focused decks. This necessity can limit deck-building versatility and the ability to consistently cast them on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite their thematic appeal, some bat cards have a mana cost that is high relative to their impact on the game. Players might find alternative cards with a lower mana cost that provide a similar or better effect, thus optimizing their deck’s efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Bat MTG cards are known for their flexible roles in various decks, often providing flying, which helps evade certain ground defenses, and in some cases, life gain abilities which make them a suitable pick for many defensive and evasive strategies.
Combo Potential: Many bat cards have synergies with nocturnal or graveyard-based themes. They can be coupled with cards that benefit from creatures with flying or death triggers, enhancing decks focused on such synergies.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta ebbs and flows, bats maintain relevance, particularly in formats where their evasive abilities can outmaneuver common ground-based threats or where their lifelink abilities can help stabilize against aggressive strategies.
How to beat
Encountering a Bat MTG card on the battlefield can be a tricky challenge, especially if it’s decked with abilities that give it an edge, like flying or lifelink. To counter these winged threats effectively, you want to focus on cards that neutralize flying creatures. Options such as reach-enabled creatures, which can block flying opponents, or spells that negate flying abilities, can level the playing field. Additionally, the use of removal spells that specifically target creatures irrespective of flying, like “Murder,” can swiftly take the Bat MTG card out of play.
Another approach is utilizing board wipes such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” which clear the board of all creatures, ensuring that these nimble bats don’t dodge terrestrial threats. Moreover, enchantments that prevent damage from certain types of creatures could be an invaluable shield against bats’ onslaught. Moreover, always watch out for the subtle plays, like instant-speed removals that can surprise an opponent right when they believe their flying creatures are about to secure victory.
Ultimately, beating a Bat MTG card comes down to a strategic mix of anticipating aerial attacks, controlling the board, and having the right answers at the right time to maintain dominance over your nocturnal adversaries.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bat MTG card by a specific set like Modern Masters and Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana, 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 Bat 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 Bat Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2013-06-07 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 6 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 5 | 2003 | Token | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 11 | 2015 | Token | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 2 | 2015 | Token | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 4 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 7 | 2015 | Token | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 5 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 3 | 2015 | Token | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 6 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 4 | 2015 | Token | Borderless | Jodie Muir | |
| 8 | 2021-11-19 | Crimson Vow Commander | VOC | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Jodie Muir | |
| 9 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan | LCI | 6 | 2015 | Token | Black | Steven Russell Black | |
| 10 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 4 | 2015 | Token | Black | Tony Foti | |
| 11 | 2024-04-19 | The Big Score | BIG | 1 | 2015 | Token | Black | Inkognit |