Bhaal, Lord of Murder MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 268s
2022-06-10 - Number 416
2022-06-10 - Number 527
2022-06-10 - Number 268
2022-06-10 - Number 63
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — God |
| Abilities | Goad |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Creates card advantage by disrupting opponents and maintaining board presence.
- Instant speed actions with Bhaal can pivot the game in crucial moments.
- Specific mana cost and high-cost abilities limit its deck versatility.
Text of card
As long as your life total is less than or equal to half your starting life total, Bhaal, Lord of Murder has indestructible. Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature and goad it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bhaal, Lord of Murder, shines in creating card advantage by potentially removing opposing creatures from the board. As a result, this disrupts your opponent’s strategy while maintaining your own board presence.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable card allows for resource acceleration by granting you the ability to utilize your opponent’s fallen creatures. Through strategic play, Bhaal amplifies the concept of ‘death as a resource,’ giving you an edge in resource management.
Instant Speed: Its ability to impact the board at instant speed can be a key advantage. The capability to respond to your opponent’s moves immediately, particularly during combat or at the end of their turn, can significantly shift the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bhaal, Lord of Murder requires you to discard another card to utilize some of its key abilities. This cost can be burdensome when you’re holding vital cards in your hand that you’d rather preserve for future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Bhaal demands a specific arrangement of mana colors, catering primarily to black-aligned decks. This mana requirement might restrict its integration into more diverse or multicolored deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bhaal’s abilities, while powerful, come at a steeper mana cost when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. This can make deploying him a significant investment, particularly in the early to mid-game where tempo is crucial.
Reasons to Include Bhaal, Lord of Murder in Your Collection
Versatility: Bhaal, Lord of Murder, can be integrated into a diverse array of deck styles. It thrives in environments that capitalize on direct damage or sacrifice mechanics. Its ability to disrupt the opponent’s board while developing your game plan is an asset in any collection.
Combo Potential: This formidable card opens up opportunities for combos, particularly in decks designed to exploit death-triggered effects or strategies where controlling the number of creatures on the battlefield is key. Bhaal’s unique skill set can turn the tide of the game when paired with the right synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Given that the current competitive scene honors swift and decisive plays, Bhaal, Lord of Murder, aligns well with strategies aimed at seizing control and closing games quickly. This card’s capability to eliminate key creatures can significantly hamper opponents’ tactics, making it a valuable inclusion in your arsenal.
How to beat Bhaal, Lord of Murder
Bhaal, Lord of Murder, emerges in Magic the Gathering as a formidable force known for its ruthless ability to decimate opponents’ creatures. Confronting this daunting adversary requires a carefully crafted strategy. To neutralize Bhaal’s onslaught, consider the value of instant-speed removal spells that can handle this threat before it has an opportunity to exert its influence on the battlefield. Cards like Swords to Plowshares offer an efficient solution, swiftly exiling Bhaal and ceasing any further sacrifices.
Another effective tactic lies in the utilization of countermagic. Denying Bhaal entry onto the playing field through spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can preserve your creature base and maintain board control. If Bhaal does manage to land, having creatures with hexproof or indestructible can serve as a bulwark against its deadly ability, ensuring your side remains populated despite attempts at forced sacrifice. Furthermore, redirecting Bhaal’s trigger with cards like Redirect or using flicker effects to remove targeted creatures from play temporarily can sabotage its destructive plans.
Adeptly navigating the intricacies of Magic the Gathering calls for knowing your opponent’s key pieces and having a countermeasure ready. With the right removal, countermagic, and protection, Bhaal’s reign of terror can be thoroughly dismantled, leaving your opponent’s strategy in ruins and securing your path to victory.
Cards like Bhaal, Lord of Murder
Diving into the dark realms of powerful deities in the MTG universe, Bhaal, Lord of Murder, stands out as a formidable force. This entity echoes the dread-inducing nature of cards like Erebos, God of the Dead. Both embody indestructibility and demand sacrifice, yet Bhaal, Lord of Murder, carves a unique niche with its ruthless ability to turn fatalities into power for the player.
Analogous in the pantheon theme, Thassa, God of the Sea offers players an indestructible god as well. However, Thassa’s focus shifts towards manipulating the battlefield with controlled scrying and unblockable creatures, a different strategic avenue compared to Bhaal’s trail of carnage and player empowerment through death triggers. Athreos, God of Passage also encourages interplay with the graveyard, though with a more subtle touch, allowing creatures to return to hand rather than converting demise directly into an advantage like Bhaal does.
When evaluating the influence of divine forces in the deck, the sinister might of Bhaal, Lord of Murder is a unique offering, providing a relentless and aggressive strategy to leverage the demise of creatures, setting him apart from his divine MTG counterparts.
Cards similar to Bhaal, Lord of Murder by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bhaal, Lord of Murder MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Bhaal, Lord of Murder and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Bhaal, Lord of Murder Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos | PCLB | 268s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Polach | |
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 416 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Jones | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 527 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Polach | |
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 268 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Polach | |
| 5 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series | ACLB | 63 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bhaal, Lord of Murder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bhaal, Lord of Murder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-06-10 | If Bhaal, Lord of Murder is dealt lethal damage at the same time that its controller's life total is reduced to less than or equal to half their starting life total, Bhaal will have indestructible at the time state-based actions are performed and survive. |