Blight Keeper MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 92
2022-12-02 - Number 378
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bat Imp |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying , , Sacrifice Blight Keeper: Target opponent loses 4 life and you gain 4 life.
It withers fruit and flesh alike.
Exploring the Depths of Blight Keeper
In the vast universe of MTG, Blight Keeper stands out as an intriguing flying creature, offering more than just its ability to attack from the skies. This ominous bat imparts a chilling touch to any deck with its final ability to drain life from your opponent. A notable peer in terms of capability and theme is the Thieving Sprite. Although the Sprite lacks Blight Keeper’s ability to directly impact life totals, it compensates by disrupting the opponent’s hand, which can be equally lethal in many game scenarios.
Cards like Blight Keeper
Blight Keeper shares some common ground with creatures like Skymarch Bloodletter in the realm of black flying creatures that affect life totals. Skymarch Bloodletter offers a direct life swing when it enters the battlefield, providing an immediate impact compared to Blight Keeper’s delayed, but potentially game-ending ability. Another kindred spirit is the Falkenrath Noble, which, while it requires more mana, it encourages and benefits from a strategy of creature sacrifice, resulting in frequent life loss for the opponents and a resilient threat on the board.
For those valuing precision and inevitability in their gameplay, Blight Keeper can be a hidden gem, particularly as a finisher in limited formats or a quirky addition to a flying-themed deck. While not as outright powerful or versatile as some of its counterparts, the capacity to control the endgame can make Blight Keeper a strategic option for players who like to keep their opponents on their toes.
Cards similar to Blight Keeper by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Blight Keeper, you get an early flying threat that later translates into card advantage by using its ability to drain life from your opponent, effectively acting as both a creature and a direct damage spell.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly accelerating your resources, the flying capability of this one-drop card can be leveraged in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for gaining additional effects, indirectly contributing to your resource growth.
Instant Speed: The activation of Blight Keeper’s ability can be done at instant speed, allowing strategic players to wait for the opportune moment during a match to catch an opponent off-guard, potentially when they’re tapped out or unable to respond effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Blight Keeper, the activation of its ability demands the discarding of the creature itself, which inevitably leads to a loss in board presence. This characteristic can set a player back, especially if they are trying to maintain control of the battlefield with creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: Blight Keeper’s casting cost is locked to a single black mana. This narrow mana requirement, while easy to fulfill in a mono-black deck, might not align as effortlessly with multicolored or colorless decks, limiting its versatility across different deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Activating Blight Keeper’s ability costs seven mana, which is substantial for the advantage gained. Considering the range of options available in MTG, there are alternative cards that may provide more impactful effects or efficient resource usage for the same, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Blight Keeper offers flexibility to multiple deck archetypes. Its flying ability allows it to be a consistent source of damage in aggressive strategies while still providing utility as an evasive blocker.
Combo Potential: As a creature with the capacity to deal direct damage with its activated ability, Blight Keeper can be a crucial piece in a combo-centric build, meshing well with mechanics that untap creatures or use life loss as a win condition.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where players often vie for an early board presence, Blight Keeper can be a cost-effective solution for assertiveness on the board while remaining relevant in the later stages of the game through its life-draining ability.
How to Beat Blight Keeper
Blight Keeper presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to both fly and serve as a late-game mana sink to drain life from an opponent. As a small creature, it’s relatively easy to manage via conventional removal spells. Cards with a low mana cost like Fatal Push or Shock can easily deal with Blight Keeper before it becomes a threat.
Additionally, since Blight Keeper relies on having sufficient mana to activate its ability, keeping pressure on your opponent’s mana base can stifle its effectiveness. Tackling their land cards through land destruction or counterspells against their mana-generating spells will limit their capacity to use Blight Keeper’s life-draining ability. It’s also worth noting that flying creatures are best contested with creatures that have reach or other flying creatures to block its attacks.
Ultimately, including versatile removal or control elements in your deck will increase your chances of effectively dealing with cards like Blight Keeper. Preventing it from settling into the game will ensure that its potential impact is kept to a minimum and that you maintain control over the pace and outcome of the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blight Keeper MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Blight Keeper 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 Blight Keeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Ben Wootten.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 92 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Wootten | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 378 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Wootten |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blight Keeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |