Bladehold Cleaver MTG Card

Bladehold Cleaver provides card advantage, increasing strategic play options without additional mana costs. Its instant speed equipping can unexpectedly shift combat outcomes, offering tactical leverage during battles. The card demands careful mana management and introduces a discard mechanism, presenting balance in gameplay.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip,For Mirrodin!
Released	2023-02-28
Set symbol
Set name	Alchemy: Phyrexia
Set code	YONE
Number	18
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Volkan Baǵa

Text of card

For Mirrodin! Equipped creature gets +2/+2. Whenever equipped creature dies, draft a card from Bladehold Cleaver's spellbook. Equip

Cards like Bladehold Cleaver

The Bladehold Cleaver card serves as a unique piece within the equipment archetype in Magic: The Gathering. When considering counterparts, one might align it with the likes of Trusty Machete or Bonesplitter, as each of these equipment cards is designed to boost a creature’s attack power. Bladehold Cleaver differs in its potential to significantly enhance not just the power but also the toughness of a creature with impressive efficiency, provided certain conditions are met.

Another relative in this category is the Short Sword, offering a straightforward and immediate power boost without the conditional prowess of the Bladehold Cleaver. It’s a reliable comparison but lacks the dynamic potential of Bladehold Cleaver, which thrives on a deck geared toward its activation. On the other hand, Colossus Hammer is a heavyweight alternative that remarkably raises a creature’s power and toughness, although it comes with a drawback of removing the creature’s ability to fly, which Bladehold Cleaver avoids.

Evaluating these alternatives, Bladehold Cleaver stands out for its potential in tactical gameplay, especially in soldier or warrior decks that can fulfill its conditions effortlessly. It’s a testament to balancing cost against benefits, offering players a significant edge when played smartly.

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Bladehold Cleaver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Boros Aggro	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024
	Jeskai Aggro	Gladiator		Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bladehold Cleaver shines in terms of card advantage, making it a valuable inclusion in many decks. Its ability to potentially equip a creature without paying the mana cost each turn keeps your hand full of other strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a resource accelerator in equipment-focused strategies. By potentially bypassing the equip cost, you effectively gain ‘free’ equip activations that would otherwise consume your mana reserves, allowing you to deploy other threats or hold up mana for responses much more efficiently.

Instant Speed: One of Bladehold Cleaver’s strengths is its synergy with instant-speed spells and abilities. Equipping at instant speed can catch an opponent off-guard during combat, turning the tides in your favor and creating opportunities for advantageous trades or unexpected wins on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bladehold Cleaver might demand the player to discard another card, which could deplete hand resources, leaving the player at a disadvantageous position during crucial turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of mana to cast, which might not always align with the player’s available mana pool, especially in multicolored decks where mana fixing could be an issue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering Bladehold Cleaver’s overall impact on the game, its mana cost might be steep in relation to its abilities. This may cause players to seek out alternative equipment or creatures that offer lower casting costs and provide similar or greater value.

Reasons to Include Bladehold Cleaver in Your Collection

Versatility: Bladehold Cleaver is a mighty option for deck builders looking to add an equipment card that can adapt to various strategies. Its potential to increase a creature’s power makes it a valuable addition to both aggressive and control decks alike.

Combo Potential: Equipping Bladehold Cleaver to creatures with abilities that trigger upon dealing combat damage can lead to powerful combinations. It works exceptionally well in decks that aim to exploit such synergies for maximum effect.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of the meta, a card like Bladehold Cleaver remains relevant due to its ability to quickly enhance creatures. This provides players with a quick and efficient way to adjust to the meta and remain competitive, especially in environments where creature-based strategies are prominent.

How to beat

Bladehold Cleaver is a notable card that players often integrate into their MTG decks for its ability to enhance creature capabilities. As an Equipment artifact, once attached, it gives a potent buff to the equipped creature in the form of additional power and the chance to create a token when it deals combat damage. To counter this effect, early removal of creatures that could be potential targets for Bladehold Cleaver is effective. By managing the battlefield with removal spells or effects that can disrupt the opponent’s board early on, you can prevent the value Bladehold Cleaver might generate over the course of the game.

Another tactic is to utilize artifact destruction spells or abilities to directly dispose of Bladehold Cleaver itself. This works particularly well since it helps conserving your own resources by not aiming at the creature that might be buffed repeatedly. Handling the source of the problem—the Bladehold Cleaver—undermines the opponent’s potential to create tokens or grant advantageous power boosts, maintaining your position of control in the game.

p>In essence, effectively contending with Bladehold Cleaver involves preemptive creature control or direct artifact removal. Addressing it swiftly ensures that it doesn’t become a persistent threat on the battlefield, preserving your advantage and thwarting the opposing strategy rooted in the power of this equipment card.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bladehold Cleaver MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Phyrexia, 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 Bladehold Cleaver and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bladehold Cleaver has restrictions

Format	Legality
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Historic	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Timeless	Legal