Beastbreaker of Bala Ged MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 178
2015-08-28 - Number 10
2019-11-07 - Number 1132
2020-09-26 - Number DDP-10
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Level Up,Trample |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Level up (: Put a level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.) LEVEL 1-3 4/4 LEVEL 4+ 6/6 Trample
Cards like Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
Beastbreaker of Bala Ged establishes itself as a potent force among creature cards with level up abilities in Magic: The Gathering. Its kinship to creatures like Lighthouse Chronologist becomes evident through their shared level up mechanic. The Chronologist, for instance, takes a different route by offering extra turns instead of the power boosts seen in Beastbreaker of Bala Ged. The focus on increasing potency as they advance sets Beastbreaker apart, especially considering it can become an imposing 6/6 creature with trample.
Likewise, Enclave Cryptologist, a card that offers utility over combat prowess, shares the level up trait. Yet, while Beastbreaker is geared towards aggressive play, the Cryptologist excels in providing card advantage by transforming into a looter at higher levels. Then there’s Student of Warfare, resembling Beastbreaker with their capability to quickly escalate in combat efficiency. Though the Student has the potential for reaching first strike and then double strike status faster, it does not acquire the substantial size or trample ability that defines Beastbreaker of Bala Ged’s presence on the battlefield.
In the realm of level up creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Beastbreaker of Bala Ged shines by giving players a blend of swift growth and substantial impact, making it a formidable card when building strategy around level up mechanics.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Beastbreaker of Bala Ged may not directly offer card draw, but by providing a robust growth mechanic, this creature enables a persistent threat on the board. Every time you level it up, it becomes more challenging for the opponent to deal with, effectively providing you with a card that gains in value over time without needing to draw additional components.
Resource Acceleration: While this card alone doesn’t produce additional mana, its level-up ability is a form of resource acceleration. By investing mana into Beastbreaker of Bala Ged when it’s convenient, you’re saving future turns for other impactful plays. This allows smarter use of mana each turn, accumulating in a significant power boost that can close games.
Instant Speed: Level up can only be activated as a sorcery, but the flexibility in using Beastbreaker of Bala Ged lies in the player’s ability to choose when to invest in the creature’s growth. While this doesn’t offer the typical instant speed reactions in combat or on an opponent’s turn, it does provide strategic depth in managing your resources around your opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Though not applicable to Beastbreaker of Bala Ged itself, players must be mindful that keeping a card like this in hand for its leveling up can clash with potential discard strategies within their deck.
Specific Mana Cost: Leveraging Beastbreaker of Bala Ged requires a commitment to green mana, making it less versatile in multicolored decks that might need mana for other spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing in Beastbreaker of Bala Ged means sinking mana into its level-up ability. This stands in contrast to other creatures within the same mana range that come with immediate impact abilities or higher base stats.
Reasons to Include Beastbreaker of Bala Ged in Your Collection
Versatility: Beastbreaker of Bala Ged is an adaptable powerhouse that can be a key player in various green decks. Its potential to grow into a massive threat makes it suitable for any deck that aims to dominate the battlefield with formidable creatures.
Combo Potential: With its level up ability, this card pairs nicely with mechanics that untap creatures or add extra counters, like proliferate. It’s an ideal companion for strategies aiming to accelerate growth and amplify creature abilities.
Meta-Relevance: As the game ebbs and flows through different phases, a creature like Beastbreaker of Bala Ged can stay relevant, particularly in metas that lean towards creature-based strategies and where the board presence of formidable threats can be game-defining.
How to beat
Beastbreaker of Bala Ged represents a unique challenge among creatures in MTG. With its ability to progressively grow stronger through its level-up mechanic, it can become a formidable threat if left unchecked. To counter this beast of the battlefield, timely removal is essential. Cards such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the threat before it escalates beyond control.
Moreover, strategies that deny the opponent the chance to level up their creatures can be effective. Employing counter spells against level-up activations or utilizing tap-down effects to keep Beastbreaker of Bala Ged from attacking can be key. It’s also beneficial to have creatures on the board that can favorably block it even after a few level-ups, maintaining a defensive stance to pressure your opponent into unfavorable trades.
In essence, while Beastbreaker of Bala Ged can be a powerful asset for players in MTG, its strength is mitigated by proactive control and removal strategies. Keeping it in check early on is crucial: do so, and the beast of Bala Ged becomes much less of a breaker and more of a manageable component in the game’s intricate tapestry.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Beastbreaker of Bala Ged MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Beastbreaker of Bala Ged and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Beastbreaker of Bala Ged Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 178 | 2003 | Leveler | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2015-08-28 | Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi | DDP | 10 | 2015 | Leveler | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1132 | 2015 | Leveler | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDP-10 | 2015 | Leveler | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Beastbreaker of Bala Ged has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Beastbreaker of Bala Ged card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | A creature’s level is based on how many level counters it has on it, not how many times its level up ability has been activated or has resolved. If a leveler gets level counters due to some other effect (such as Clockspinning) or loses level counters for some reason (such as Vampire Hexmage), its level is changed accordingly. |
| 2010-06-15 | Effects that modify a leveler’s power or toughness, such as the effects of Giant Growth or Glorious Anthem, will apply to it no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for counters that change the creature’s power or toughness (such as +1/+1 counters) and effects that switch its power and toughness. |
| 2010-06-15 | Effects that set a leveler’s power or toughness to a specific value, including the effects from a level symbol’s ability, apply in timestamp order. The timestamp of each level symbol’s ability is the same as the timestamp of the leveler itself, regardless of when the most recent level counter was put on it. |
| 2010-06-15 | If another creature becomes a copy of a leveler, all of the leveler’s printed abilities — including those represented by level symbols — are copied. The current characteristics of the leveler, and the number of level counters on it, are not. The abilities, power, and toughness of the copy will be determined based on how many level counters are on the copy. |
| 2010-06-15 | The abilities a leveler grants to itself don’t overwrite any other abilities it may have. In particular, they don’t overwrite the creature’s level up ability; it always has that. |