Bloodsworn Steward MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Vampire Knight |
Abilities | Flying |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Commander creatures you control get +2/+2 and have haste.
"My liege will lead and I will follow—to the battlefield, to the grave, and beyond."
Cards like Bloodsworn Steward
Bloodsworn Steward is a compelling commander’s ally in Magic: The Gathering, reminding seasoned players of the classic Lieutenants from Commander 2014, such as Tyrant’s Familiar. Much like Tyrant’s Familiar, Bloodsworn Steward makes your commander significantly more formidable, though the Steward boosts power and grants haste, rather than dealing direct damage. This readily turns your leading creature into a more immediate threat on the battlefield.
Moving forward, Bastion Protector offers a similar empowering effect for commanders, providing indestructible along with a power increase. Its ability doesn’t cover haste, but the added durability is undeniably powerful. Conversely, the notorious Fervor shines in certain decks, providing haste to all creatures you control, which makes all your cards as immediate threats but does not boost power like Bloodsworn Steward. Hence, while Fervor impacts the entire field, Bloodsworn Steward specializes in making your single commander a focal point of power.
Overall, Bloodsworn Steward offers an exclusive blend of acceleration and empowerment to MTG commanders, situating itself as a valuable option for players aiming to lead a fast and aggressive strategy with their deck’s central figure.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bloodsworn Steward not only brings a substantial body to the battlefield but also offers a boon to your commander by granting it an additional +2/+2. This added power to your key creature can be the difference in outpacing your opponents through increased combat damage or enabling enhanced abilities based on power statistics.
Resource Acceleration: The steward’s command-centric design essentially serves as a resource accelerator for your commander’s abilities. By granting your commander an innate haste ability, it eliminates the waiting period for your commander to participate in the conflict, allowing for immediate impact and a quicker route to victory.
Instant Speed: While Bloodsworn Steward itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with commanders that have abilities which can be activated at instant speed. This enables a reactive playstyle and allows you to make pivotal plays during opponents’ turns, taking full advantage of the steward’s haste-granting capability.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Bloodsworn Steward demands a specific mana alignment, needing both generic and red mana to cast. This can be restrictive for decks that aren’t heavily invested in red or those that struggle with mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, including three generic and one red mana, Bloodsworn Steward can be a bit steep. This cost can potentially slow down your game, especially in fast-paced matches where efficiency is key.
Commander-Centric Ability: The card’s ability to enhance the power of your commander is only relevant if you have a commander on the field. This can be a drawback in situations where your commander has been neutralized or in formats outside of Commander where this feature is irrelevant.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Bloodsworn Steward is a reliable option for Commander enthusiasts due to its ability to enhance the strength of your commander. Whether you’re leading an aggressive deck or a more controlled build, the bonus power and haste it provides are beneficial across multiple strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with commanders that have impactful triggered abilities or attack-based effects. By granting haste, Bloodsworn Steward can enable immediate impact plays, making it an integral part of many combo setups.
Meta-Relevance: With the commander format’s focus on legendary creatures, Bloodsworn Steward holds a solid position in the metagame. It raises the bar for your commander’s performance, which can often tip the scales in your favor in a variety of meta scenarios.
How to Beat Bloodsworn Steward
Bloodsworn Steward is a commanding presence in MTG, elevating your commander’s power while it’s on the battlefield. Its ability to grant +2/+2 and haste to your commander adds speed and strength to your strategy. However, every card has its Achilles heel. With Bloodsworn Steward, direct removal spells quickly neutralize it. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder can deal with the Steward before it can leverage its bonuses, rendering it ineffective. Artifact removal spells also strip the power boost from your commander, making it more vulnerable.
Additionally, countering it when cast is an effective tactic. Holding up mana for spells such as Counterspell or Negate keeps Bloodsworn Steward from ever taking effect. Lastly, edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature, such as Diabolic Edict, can be particularly potent if Bloodsworn Steward is the only creature on the field. This card might seem daunting, but remember, with the right strategy and a careful selection of spells, overcoming Bloodsworn Steward is entirely within reach.
Strategizing around these options can assure that this creature doesn’t dictate the pace of the game. Managing threats like Bloodsworn Steward is what sets apart seasoned MTG players from the rest.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the nuances of cards like Bloodsworn Steward can make a substantial difference in MTG, particularly within the Commander format. Its ability to accelerate your gameplay and empower your commander should not be overlooked. Whether you aim to dominate swiftly or craft a deck with flexible combat tactics, including Bloodsworn Steward could be your next strategic move. To successfully integrate this card into your arsenal or counteract it on the battlefield, knowledge and clever deck-building are key. Elevate your Commander deck’s capabilities and refine your strategy against potential threats. For insights and advanced tactics including the Bloodsworn Steward, continue learning with us and sharpen your MTG skills.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bloodsworn Steward MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Commander 2017, 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 Bloodsworn Steward 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Bloodsworn Steward Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2021-11-19. Illustrated by Daarken.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65699 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
2 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
3 | The List | PLST | C17-22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | ||
4 | 2021-11-19 | Crimson Vow Commander | VOC | 144 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodsworn Steward has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |