Bloodline Shaman MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 249
2005-08-22 - Number B26
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elf Wizard Shaman |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oc T: Choose a creature type. Reveal the top card of your library. If that card is a creature card of the chosen type, put it into your hand. Otherwise, put it into your graveyard.
Every creature of the forest has a name, and she knows them all.
Cards like Bloodline Shaman
Bloodline Shaman enters the arena of creature-based utility in MTG, sharing common ground with esteemed cards like Fauna Shaman. Both serve a crucial function of tutoring creatures, yet they dance to a different tune. Fauna Shaman offers specific creature search capabilities at the cost of a card from your hand, whereas Bloodline Shaman takes a more random approach, potentially revealing a creature card among the top four cards of your library.
Elvish Harbinger is another card that echoes similarities with Bloodline Shaman, delivering the ability to search for Elf cards. However, the Harbinger guarantees the creature you’re looking for, making it more dependable in elf-centric decks. This is in contrast to the Shaman’s providence to chance, giving a slight edge to those favoring dependable outcomes over stochastic charm.
Ultimately, Bloodline Shaman stands as a compelling choice for players who appreciate the allure of chance or who aim to synergize with the top-deck manipulation aspects of their game. Its unique blend of random filtering paired with the excitement of the unknown carves a niche within MTG’s creature search mechanics.
Cards similar to Bloodline Shaman by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bloodline Shaman offers players the ability to sift through their deck and increase the chance of drawing into the most impactful creatures for any given situation. It’s an exceptional tool for tuning your draws and maintaining pressure on the opponent with a steady stream of threats.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the Shaman’s ability indirectly implies a type of resource acceleration by helping you consistently hit your land drops or by fetching creatures that can accelerate your mana pool, such as mana dorks or land-fetching creatures.
Instant Speed: The Shaman’s ability allows you to use your mana efficiently on your own turn for deploying threats, while also holding the capability to adjust the top of your deck on the opponent’s end step. This means you can wait until you have more information before committing to a particular line of play, adding a layer of strategic flexibility.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bloodline Shaman mandates the discarding of a card to activate its ability. This can lead to a precarious situation when your hand is depleted, potentially forcing you to get rid of valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost demands one green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that aren’t green-heavy. Such a requirement could restrict its integration, hindering deck diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost to cast and use the ability that’s on the higher side, Bloodline Shaman faces stiff competition from other cards that can summon creatures or filter cards at a lower mana investment, possibly relegating it to a less optimal choice for players seeking to maximize their mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include Bloodline Shaman in Your Collection
Versatility: Bloodline Shaman offers a flexible role in your tribal decks, providing you with an ability to potentially filter your next draw. This can be a crucial advantage whether you’re seeking creatures for board presence or answers to threats.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that allow you to manipulate the top of your library, Bloodline Shaman can become a reliable engine for fetching needed creature types, helping to assemble your combo pieces with increased consistency.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where tribal decks are prevalent, or certain creature types gain an edge, the Bloodline Shaman’s ability to sift through your deck for specific creature types can give you a significant advantage over less adaptable strategies.
How to beat
Bloodline Shaman represents a unique challenge on the battlefield, offering a blend of tribal enhancement and card filtering that savvy opponents must address. By allowing players to look at the top card of their library and potentially put it into their hand if it matches the creature type chosen, Bloodline Shaman can provide continuous card advantage in a focused tribal deck. To counteract this, controlling the tempo of the game is crucial.
Consequently, tactics such as using removal spells to eliminate the Shaman before it can activate, or utilizing counterspells to avoid its casting entirely, are effective strategies. Moreover, graveyard disruption can hinder the card’s effectiveness, as can cards that restrict the ability to choose or reveal cards from the library. It is essential to prioritize maintaining board control and preventing the Shaman from generating card advantage that can tilt the game in your opponent’s favor.
Effectively mitigating the impact of Bloodline Shaman may demand a reactive approach, but by employing targeted disruption and maintaining pressure, you can neutralize its influence and keep the momentum of the match in your grasp.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bloodline Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Salvat 2005, 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 Bloodline Shaman 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 Bloodline Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 249 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | B26 | 2003 | Normal | White | Rebecca Guay |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodline Shaman has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |