Blight Sickle MTG Card

Blight Sickle equips creatures with deathtouch, elevating them to formidable threats and promoting card advantage. Black mana requirement for equip cost may restrict its use to certain deck strategies in MTG. Versatile in decks centered on -1/-1 counters, it adds depth to combat and board control tactics.

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 247

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number SHM-247

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+0 and has wither. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.) Equip

Its scars cut deeper than its blade.

Cards like Blight Sickle

Blight Sickle is a unique artifact within MTG that offers an intriguing means of weakening opponents’ creatures. Much like the card Gorgon Flail, which also gives a creature deathtouch, Blight Sickle has the distinct ability to turn any creature it equips into a significant threat. Nevertheless, Gorgon Flail doesn’t reduce the power of opponent’s creatures like Blight Sickle does, which can swing the dynamics of the battlefield in your favor.

When considering Sword of Vengeance, Blight Sickle stands out for its more affordable mana cost and focused ability. Though Sword of Vengeance grants a suite of abilities including first strike and trample, it doesn’t offer the same control over enemy forces. Another significant comparison is with Basilisk Collar, which endows equipped creature with both deathtouch and lifelink. Blight Sickle does not provide lifelink but holds the advantage in its potential to consistently diminish opposing creature’s power over time.

Assessing Blight Sickle amidst these similar cards, it’s evident that it holds a specialized role. It won’t bestow numerous abilities or life gains, but in the strategy of attrition and control, it excels, making it an appreciable choice in decks designed around debilitating and overpowering opposing creatures.

Cards similar to Blight Sickle by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blight Sickle grants equipped creatures with deathtouch, potentially turning every creature into a significant threat. This ability can lead to advantageous trades on the battlefield, allowing a player to maintain card advantage by dealing with multiple threats using just one creature.

Resource Acceleration: Although Blight Sickle doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it supports board control. With a better board state, players can efficiently allocate resources elsewhere, focusing on advancing their game plan while opponents are forced to deal with deathtouch-empowered creatures.

Instant Speed: While Blight Sickle itself is an artifact equipment and not an instant, it can still be impactful during combat. Equip at just the right time—possibly when opponents least expect it—can tilt combat outcomes in your favor, making it a tactical play akin to using an instant.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Blight Sickle offers the potential to give creatures a power boost and wither, it doesn’t have a discard requirement per se. However, the card’s downside is more nuanced. Using the Blight Sickle means dedicating a spot in your hand and deck to an equipment that may not always align with the broader strategy of your deck composition.

Specific Mana Cost: Blight Sickle has a colorless mana cost, which is generally flexible, but the specific nature of its equip cost requires black mana. This can be restrictive as it necessitates a commitment to black mana sources in your mana base, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes that don’t heavily rely on black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In terms of equip costs, Blight Sickle’s requirement of two mana to attach it to a creature might be viewed as steep compared to other equipment options. When you factor in both the casting and equip costs for full utilization, the total mana investment can become significant for the incremental advantage provided. The result is that the card may see less play in formats where mana efficiency and speed are critical.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blight Sickle offers a multifaceted approach to deck building. As an equipment, it easily slots into artifact-centric builds or decks that focus on creature buffs. Its ability to give a creature wither, reducing the health of opposing creatures through damage in the form of -1/-1 counters, allows for strategic combat advantages in numerous situations.

Combo Potential: The sickle synergizes well with cards that thrive on -1/-1 counters. Combining it with creatures that have persist, for instance, can set up a recurrence loop. Blight Sickle also works with strategies aiming to weaken or control opponent creatures over time, playing the long game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based decks are prominent, Blight Sickle’s wither effect can be a game-changer. With the trend towards creatures with powerful enter-the-battlefield effects, being able to diminish an opponent’s board presence without needing to outright destroy creatures can be key to maintaining control of the match.

How to beat

Blight Sickle presents a unique challenge in MTG due to its ability to grant a creature wither, causing damage to be dealt in the form of -1/-1 counters instead of regular damage. This effect can be devastating to your creature base, as it can lead to a permanent reduction in their power and toughness, potentially spiraling out of control if not addressed promptly.

To overcome Blight Sickle, consider using artifact destruction cards like Naturalize or Shatter, which can remove it from the board before its effect becomes a concern. Prioritize these spells when you anticipate artifacts will play a pivotal role in your opponent’s strategy. Additionally, cards with hexproof can be a bulwark against the Sickle’s wither effect, as they are immune to being targeted by its equipped creature. Evolving your playstyle to include instant-speed removal can also tilt the scales in your favor, allowing you to respond effectively and protect your creatures from wither’s corrosive influence.

Deck builders who anticipate going against Blight Sickle might also incorporate creatures that benefit from having counters placed on them. In conclusion, sound strategic planning and a well-tailored deck can neutralize the threat of Blight Sickle, affirming that understanding the strengths and vulnerabilities of specific cards is integral to achieving victory in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blight Sickle MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and The List, 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 Sickle and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blight Sickle Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2008-05-02. Illustrated by John Avon.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2008-05-02	Shadowmoor	SHM		247	2003	Normal	Black	John Avon
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		SHM-247	2003	Normal	Black	John Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blight Sickle has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal