Blood Curdle MTG Card


Blood Curdle offers card advantage by removing a threat and enhancing another creature. Flexibility is key, with instant speed allowing for strategic plays and surprises. Being mindful of the mana cost and board impact optimizes Blood Curdle’s usage.
Blood Curdle - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Number75
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAntonio José Manzanedo

Text of card

Destroy target creature. Put a menace counter on a creature you control. (It can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)

Fear pierces the strongest armor.


Cards like Blood Curdle

Blood Curdle is a distinct spell in the arsenal of any black Magic: The Gathering deck with its combination of creature removal and a token generation twist. It finds its peers in cards like Murder, a classic removal that straightforwardly destroys a target creature for three mana. While Murder excels in simplicity and mana efficiency, it doesn’t offer the bonus Blood Curdle does—an additional Menace counter that can turn the tide by making a creature more difficult to block.

Exploring this further, we encounter Drag to the Underworld from Theros Beyond Death, another murderess acquaintance. It shares the same mana cost as Blood Curdle under ideal devotion conditions but lacks the strategic counter placement that can enhance another creature you control. Then comes Bake into a Pie from Throne of Eldraine, which also destroys a creature for four mana and supplies a Food token, offering life gain rather than a combat advantage.

Ultimately, in the milieu of black creature removal, Blood Curdle offers a dual-purpose solution that provides not only immediate board impact but also sets the stage for aggressive plays, positioning it favorably among its counterparts.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Drag to the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Bake into a Pie - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Drag to the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Bake into a Pie - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blood Curdle not only neutralizes a key creature your opponent controls but also bequeaths a +1/+1 counter to one of your creatures. This dual capability adds significant value, placing you ahead in terms of board presence and strategic positioning, vital for establishing or extending dominance throughout the match.

Resource Acceleration: While Blood Curdle itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its removal capacity can indirectly accelerate your game. By eliminating a potent threat or a blocker, it paves the way for your creatures to press an attack, potentially clearing the path towards your victory more swiftly.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed provides immense flexibility. You can adapt to dynamic gameplay, waiting for the opportune moment to cast it, such as in response to an opponent’s crucial spell or during combat to disrupt your opponent’s strategies—keeping them on their heels and giving you the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The card Blood Curdle doesn’t directly require discarding as a cost; however, its specific mana cost necessitates careful hand and deck management, which could indirectly lead to a tight hand where each card’s value and timing become critical.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Blood Curdle, you need one black and three generic mana. This specific requirement can challenge players not running a heavily black-influenced deck, potentially making it a dead draw in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of four mana, Blood Curdle sits at a point where players expect significant impact on the board state. Considering alternatives at this mana slot, or even lower, could deliver either more removal options or additional utility, which might relegate Blood Curdle to a support role rather than a mainstay in optimized decks.


Reasons to Include Blood Curdle in Your Collection

Versatility: Blood Curdle offers an immediate answer to threats by removing creatures, regardless of size, which makes it a valuable tool in any black deck. Its addition of a menace counter helps turn the tides by giving your attacking creatures an edge during combat phases.

Combo Potential: The menace counter provided can synergize with strategies that capitalize on evasion or count-based mechanics. This bolstering effect can be pivotal in strategies that rely on creature control to dominate the board.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creatures are a cornerstone in many MTG decks, removal spells like Blood Curdle are crucial. Its relevance remains steady due to its role in disrupting opposing board states and the consistent presence of formidable creatures in the meta.


How to beat Blood Curdle

Blood Curdle is a formidable removal spell in MTG that can disrupt your board presence. It stands out due to its ability not only to destroy a creature but also to give a menace counter, potentially altering the course of combat on the battlefield. When facing this card, a key strategy involves maintaining a diversified field of creatures to lessen the impact of any single removal. It’s essential to have a mix of expendable and high-value creatures to ensure your game plan can endure the loss Blood Curdle might impose.

Additionally, playing around Blood Curdle involves thoughtful timing and strategic spells. Instant-speed protection spells or hexproof enablers like Blossoming Defense can safeguard your most crucial creatures when your opponent has mana open for removal. Leveraging counter spells also denies Blood Curdle from ever hitting the board, preserving your team and maintaining your momentum. Lastly, be conservative with playing out your biggest threats until you can protect them or until your opponent has used their removal, mitigating the risk of falling victim to Blood Curdle’s forceful interaction.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unleashing the full potential of Blood Curdle in your MTG deck can dramatically alter the battlefield in your favor. Exploring varied strategies and optimizing your deck to enhance its effectiveness can lead to pivotal moments in your matches. Blood Curdle’s strength lies not just in creature removal but in its ability to shift combat dynamics subtly yet significantly. We encourage you to delve deeper into techniques that can maximize your card’s impact. Ready to transform your understanding of strategy and improve your game? Dive into our insights and guides to sharpen your skills and integrate Blood Curdle seamlessly into your winning formula.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blood Curdle MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Blood Curdle and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blood Curdle has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blood Curdle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-04-17 Blood Curdle targets only one creature: the one that will be destroyed. You choose which creature to put a menace counter on after the target creature has been destroyed.
2020-04-17 If a creature you control was exiled until the creature that was destroyed left the battlefield, the exiled creature returns in time to receive the counter.
2020-04-17 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Blood Curdle tries to resolve, the spell won’t resolve. You won’t put a menace counter on any creature. If the target is legal but not destroyed (most likely because it has indestructible), you do put a menace counter on a creature you control.