Borrowed Malevolence MTG Card
2016-07-22 - Number 82
2023-03-21 - Number 100
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Escalate |
Text of card
Escalate (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.) Choose one or both — • Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. • Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Cards like Borrowed Malevolence
Borrowed Malevolence stands out in the realm of flexibility and tactical boost mechanisms in Magic: The Gathering. When dissecting its kin, Apprentice Necromancer is a card that comes to mind. Though both cards can give creatures +1/+1 until end of turn, the Necromancer solely focuses on this single ability whereas Borrowed Malevolence offers an additional option to give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn as well, providing more versatility in a dual-choice spell.
Further into the similarities, Grasp of Darkness is another competitor, allowing players to give a creature -4/-4 until end of turn. While it offers a larger power reduction, it lacks the positive buffing option of Borrowed Malevolence, making Grasp of Darkness less adaptable in situations where a power boost is needed. Lastly, there’s Ulcerate, which provides an even greater power swing with -3/-3 but at the cost of 3 life. Again, the adaptability of Borrowed Malevolence to either enhance your own creatures or weaken the opponent’s is unmatched by this alternative.
Overall, Borrowed Malevolence’s ability to either strengthen your forces or debilitate opponents’ creatures with one card makes it a versatile and potent tool in players’ MTG arsenal, shining within its category for its dynamic applications on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Borrowed Malevolence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Borrowed Malevolence offers the flexibility to affect two different creatures during a single combat scenario. By granting a creature +1/+1 or giving an opponent’s creature -1/-1, you effectively shift the board in your favor, potentially impacting two combat exchanges and tipping the scales for card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, the efficiency of Borrowed Malevolence at a low cost can save resources. By only using one black mana, it allows for strategic plays and the conservation of mana for other spells in the same turn, keeping up the tempo and pressure on the opponent.
Instant Speed: The true power of Borrowed Malevolence lies in its instant speed, granting you the element of surprise. It enables reactive play, allowing you to wait for the most opportune moment to enhance your creature’s power or weaken an adversary’s, potentially disrupting their combat strategy and making for unexpected turnarounds during the heat of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Borrowed Malevolence does not have a discard requirement, managing your resources effectively is vital, especially in competitive play. Cards with such requirements can set you back if they are critical to your strategy or if you have a hand full of essential cards with no expendable options.
Specific Mana Cost: Borrowed Malevolence requires black mana, which means it must fit within decks that can produce this color. This restricts its flexibility and can be problematic for decks that don’t run black mana or have a limited mana base that could support it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost may be deemed high for its effects compared to similar cards. In high-speed formats, effective mana utilization can be the difference between victory and defeat, and every mana point counts towards developing your board or answering threats. Efficient alternatives might be available that can achieve similar results for a lower investment, making them preferable in decks where speed and efficiency reign supreme.
Reasons to Include Borrowed Malevolence in Your Collection
Versatility: Borrowed Malevolence offers a dual-mode spell that can flexibly serve as either a combat trick or removal support. This adaptability allows it to seamlessly fit into various decks, primarily black-based strategies that thrive on efficient, multi-purpose spells.
Combo Potential: With its ability to give a creature +1/+1 or an opponent’s creature -1/-1 until end of turn, this card has potential to complement synergistic interactions, such as with creatures that benefit from power boosts or the weakening of enemy creatures for favorable trades or creature-death triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where small margins can determine the outcome, Borrowed Malevolence can tip the scales. Its ability to disrupt your opponent’s board while enhancing your own can make it a key component, particularly in metas where combat-centric strategies are prevalent.
How to beat
Borrowed Malevolence stands out in the realm of combat trick spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its flexibility allows players to either give a creature +1/+1 and deathtouch or give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn. This dual utility can turn the tide of battle in your favor or dismantle an opponent’s key creature. The card’s escalate cost offers the rare opportunity to do both, making it a versatile option in any confrontational scenario.
Overcoming this card involves anticipating its use. Since it is an instant, the threat of Borrowed Malevolence looms during the entire combat phase. Players should be wary of attacking or blocking against an open mana pool that can cast this spell. Your best strategy is to either bait it out when the cost is least impactful or hold back on engaging key creatures when your opponent has enough mana to play and escalate the spell. Decisive play and recognizing the opportune moment to press or conserve your forces can neutralize the advantage Borrowed Malevolence provides. Additionally, having instant speed removal or counterspells ready can effectively counteract the surprise element this card brings to the table.
Hence, vigilance and strategic foresight are the keys to circumventing the flexible threat posed by Borrowed Malevolence, ensuring your creatures survive and your strategy remains unscathed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Borrowed Malevolence MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Borrowed Malevolence and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Borrowed Malevolence Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon | EMN | 82 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 100 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Borrowed Malevolence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Borrowed Malevolence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | Additional costs don’t affect a spell’s mana value. |
| 2016-07-13 | Effects that reduce the cost of spells reduce the total cost, including any escalate costs added. |
| 2016-07-13 | If an effect allows you to cast a spell that has escalate without paying its mana cost, you pay escalate costs for that spell if you choose more than one mode. |
| 2016-07-13 | If one target of an escalate spell becomes illegal, the other targets will still be affected. If all of the targets become illegal, the spell won’t resolve. |
| 2016-07-13 | If two of the chosen modes of an escalate spell target a creature, you may choose the same creature for each mode’s target, or choose different creatures. The same is true if the chosen modes target a player (or opponent). |
| 2016-07-13 | You can’t choose any one mode multiple times. |
| 2016-07-13 | You choose all of your modes at once. You can’t wait to perform one mode’s actions and then decide to choose more modes. |