Blightsoil Druid MTG Card
2008-02-01 - Number 59
2016-06-10 - Number 80
2019-11-07 - Number 579
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-80
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Druid |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
, Pay 1 life: Add to your mana pool.
"See the beauty in death: the clean white bones lying in the fertile soil and the brightly colored moonglove sprouting from the fell earth."
Cards like Blightsoil Druid
Blightsoil Druid is an interesting component in the realm of mana-producing creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to creatures like Elves of Deep Shadow which also provides black mana, but at the expense of one life point. Blightsoil Druiddifferentiates itself with the ability to tap for black mana with no life loss but requires you to control a Swamp for activation.
Also sharing similarity is Deathrite Shaman, another potent card capable of generating mana. While Blightsoil Druid’s mana production is straightforward, Deathrite Shaman offers versatility in using graveyard resources for various effects—a significant advantage in utility over Blightsoil Druid’s more limited scope. Deathrite Shaman’s conditional use of its abilities, though, can sometimes be restrictive based on the presence of land cards in graveyards.
To sum up, Blightsoil Druid finds its place among mana dorks in the game, offering stable black mana production in a deck rich with Swamps. However, when compared to options like Elves of Deep Shadow and Deathrite Shaman, it can be noted that each mana-producer has its own distinct benefits and potential drawbacks depending on the strategy employed.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blightsoil Druid’s ability to draw you a card upon entering the battlefield, immediately replenishes your hand, offering an essential advantage in maintaining card flow and options during play.
Resource Acceleration: As part of this valuable druid’s capacity, it taps for mana, thereby boosting your resource pool. This acceleration is a strategic asset as it enables more aggressive plays or the casting of higher-cost spells earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Blightsoil Druid synergizes well with spells you may cast at instant speed. Its mana ability does not require tapping, allowing it to be a dependable source of mana to respond to your opponent’s moves on their turn. Pairing this creature with instant-speed spells in your deck can be a formula for raising your game’s versatility and unpredictability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Blightsoil Druid is its discard requirement. Activating its ability necessitates discarding a card which can put you at a disadvantage, particularly when you’re running short on hand resources. This cost can be particularly high when you need to maintain card advantage to outpace your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Blightsoil Druid demands a specific mana combination to cast— one black and one generic mana. This specificity requires a player to have both types of mana available, which can sometimes be a limitation, especially in multicolor decks that may not always have ready access to black mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Blightsoil Druid’s mana cost is not exorbitant, at two mana for a 1/1 creature, its cost-effectiveness is questionable when compared to other cards in the same mana range. This might put players at a disadvantage when they could choose alternative cards that offer more significant board presence or utility for the same, or even less, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Blightsoil Druid can be a flexible addition to decks that thrive on mana fixing or life management. Its ability to tap for black mana while sacrificing just a bit of life makes it suitable for a variety of black-centric or multicolored decks.
Combo Potential: The Druid works well with strategies that capitalize on life payment for gain. This could prove essential in decks that manipulate life totals for benefits, or in synergy with cards that require a lifeforce exchange as part of their cost.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where the meta frequently changes, having a low-cost creature that provides color fixing and potentially harmful combos can be vital. If the meta favors aggressive strategies, having a quick source of any color mana can be critical for keeping pace.
How to beat
Blightsoil Druid is a versatile card often found in decks that rely on life payment for strategic advantages in Magic: The Gathering. The Druid offers a unique utility by allowing players to tap, pay one life, and add a black mana to their mana pool. This ability is particularly useful in setups that benefit from life loss, such as triggering morbid abilities or powering up cards like Death’s Shadow.
However, to outmaneuver an opponent leveraging Blightsoil Druid, focus on disrupting their strategy. One way to do this is by using removal spells efficiently to get rid of the Druid before your opponent can gain too much value from it. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push can do the job nicely and at a low mana cost. Alternatively, utilizing life gain strategies can help negate the life loss your opponent is trying to exploit. Cards such as Essence Warden or lifelink creatures can offset the advantages Blightsoil Druid provides.
It’s also beneficial to monitor your opponent’s life total closely. Since Blightsoil Druid requires life payment, pushing your opponent’s life total lower can limit the Druid’s usability. Combining these tactics can effectively counter Blightsoil Druid and disrupt your opponent’s game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blightsoil Druid MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Eternal Masters, 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 Blightsoil Druid 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
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Printings
The Blightsoil Druid Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-02-01 | Morningtide | MOR | 59 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 2 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 579 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | EMA-80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blightsoil Druid has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |