Bloodbond Vampire MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 104
2017-11-24 - Number 15
2020-07-17 - Number 209
2022-12-02 - Number 380
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Shaman Ally |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on Bloodbond Vampire.
"Let the vampires join us. In this war, we no longer have the luxury of choosing our comrades." —General Tazri, allied commander
Cards like Bloodbond Vampire
Bloodbond Vampire shines as a standout in the roster of growing creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. In essence, this vampire ally benefits from each instance of life gain, receiving a +1/+1 counter, thus gradually and consistently increasing its power. it bears resemblance to creatures like Ajani’s Pridemate, a card which also grows with life gain but lacks the tribal synergies.
In the family of vampires, Malakir Cullblade offers a similar mechanic. While Bloodbond Vampire thrives on life gain, Malakir Cullblade gains strength from the opponents’ creatures dying. Both cards can escalate in threat level, but the former ties seamlessly into life gain decks, a prominent strategy in the MTG metagame. Whereas Malakir Cullblade might demand more specific conditions to flourish.
Evaluating them side by side, Bloodbond Vampire has the potential for consistent growth in the right deck, particularly in ally-based strategies, and stands out as a formidable creature that can become a major threat if left unchecked by your opponents. Its particular synergy with life gain strategies makes it a valuable asset in MTG, where incremental advantages often determine the victor of a game.
Cards similar to Bloodbond Vampire by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bloodbond Vampire offers an escalating threat which can dominate the battlefield if unchecked. Each instance of life gain, which is a common strategy in black and white decks, allows this creature to grow, fundamentally translating into card advantage as your single card becomes a must-answer threat.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resources, the inherent synergy that Bloodbond Vampire has with life gain enables it to benefit from other cards that do. This synergy creates an indirect form of acceleration by bolstering your board presence swiftly, thereby demanding fewer resources for defending and allowing you to allocate mana elsewhere.
Instant Speed: While the Bloodbond Vampire itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it capitalizes on instant speed life gain effects that are common in its colors. This allows you to surprise your opponent by growing the Vampire out of harm’s way or into a more formidable attacker, all within the scope of a single turn cycle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When building a strategy around the Bloodbond Vampire card, bear in mind that its ability is contingent on other cards triggering the lifegain mechanic. This interdependence can leave you at a disadvantage if you’re unable to maintain a combo or synergy that enables its growth.
Specific Mana Cost: Bloodbond Vampire demands a precise mana arrangement to cast, specifically one black mana. This requirement can be restrictive, making the card less flexible and harder to include in multi-colored decks that may struggle with color fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including one black, Bloodbond Vampire’s expense for initial deployment is considerable. There exist other creatures at similar or lower cost brackets that may provide more immediate impact or value on the battlefield, which is a vital consideration for deck efficiency.
Reasons to Include Bloodbond Vampire in Your Collection
Versatility: Bloodbond Vampire is a flexible card that can easily slot into any black deck or vampire-centric build. It’s not just limited to a single archetype, giving players the freedom to experiment with it across various formats.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with life gain strategies. As you gain life, Bloodbond Vampire grows stronger, making it an integral piece to combo decks that capitalize on enhancing creatures based on life gain triggers.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to become a substantial threat if unchecked, Bloodbond Vampire holds its own in a meta that is rich with counter and removal spells. It forces your opponents to deal with it, or it can quickly spiral out of control, especially in prolonged matches.
How to beat
The Bloodbond Vampire presents a unique challenge for MTG players due to its ability to grow stronger whenever you gain life. Facing off against this formidable creature requires a strategy that either prevents the life gain mechanism or removes the vampire swiftly from the battlefield.
Efficient removal spells are the first line of defense against creatures like the Bloodbond Vampire. Cards that can exile or destroy without targeting, such as board wipes, are particularly effective. Alternatively, preventing the opponent from gaining life through cards that stifle this ability can halt the vampire’s growth and make it easier to manage. Utilizing graveyard manipulation also ensures that, once dealt with, the Bloodbond Vampire stays out of play.
Lastly, maintaining an aggressive stance can pressure the opponent, potentially disrupting their ability to utilize life gain synergies effectively. In summary, while the Bloodbond Vampire can be a daunting opponent, employing a combination of smart removal, life gain disruption, and aggressive tactics can turn the tide in your favor in an MTG match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bloodbond Vampire MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Explorers of Ixalan, 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 Bloodbond Vampire 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 Bloodbond Vampire Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Anna Steinbauer.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 2 | 2017-11-24 | Explorers of Ixalan | E02 | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 3 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 209 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 380 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodbond Vampire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bloodbond Vampire card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | A creature with lifelink dealing combat damage is a single life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, the ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once. |
| 2015-08-25 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won’t cause the ability to trigger, even though it causes your team’s life total to increase. |
| 2015-08-25 | The ability triggers just once for each life-gaining event, whether it’s 1 life from Drana’s Emissary or 7 life from Nissa’s Renewal. |