Baleful Strix MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Bird
Abilities Deathtouch,Flying
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Its card draw ability upon entrance provides immediate advantage, perfect for resourceful gameplay.
  2. Deathtouch and flying make it a formidable blocker, enhancing its defensive capabilities.
  3. Despite its utility, specific mana requirements can complicate its inclusion in varied decks.

Text of card

Flying, deathtouch When Baleful Strix enters the battlefield, draw a card.

Its beak rends flesh and bone, exposing the tender marrow of dream.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Baleful Strix offers a two-for-one potential, drawing a card upon entering the battlefield which helps you stay ahead in the resource game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Baleful Strix doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost integrates seamlessly into strategies looking to ramp up quickly and efficiently.

Instant Speed: With flash, Baleful Strix could be cast during an opponent’s turn to surprise attack or set up defenses, but as it lacks this ability, its main strength lies in its static abilities once on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Baleful Strix doesn’t require a discard when played, opportunities for card advantage may be missed if the opponent has no creatures to destroy, making its death-touch ability essentially redundant.

Specific Mana Cost: Baleful Strix commands a specific hybrid mana cost of blue and black. This requirement may not always align seamlessly with a player’s mana base, especially in decks that run three or more colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might compete with other resourceful cards at the same mana slot, players might find the cost of incorporating Baleful Strix into a deck challenging when balancing against other strategic options available at two mana.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Baleful Strix is a multi-faceted card that can slip into a variety of decks. Its flying and deathtouch abilities make it a formidable blocker against almost any creature, while its ability to draw a card upon entering the battlefield ensures card advantage.

Combo Potential: This bird artifact creature can seamlessly integrate into artifact-centric decks, synergizing well with abilities that trigger upon artifact entry or death. Its intrinsic value in both offensive and defensive positions also aids in setting up game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, Baleful Strix remains a constant threat. It holds its own against powerful creatures and can alter the flow of the game, making it a staple in eternal formats where its impact is always felt.


How to beat

Baleful Strix is a card that often sees play in formats like Legacy for its immediate value and versatility. With flying and deathtouch attributes, it acts as both a deterrent and an efficient removal tool. However, despite its strengths, there are strategies to handle this card effectively. Removal spells that don’t target creatures directly, like Supreme Verdict, bypass the deathtouch attribute and eliminate the bird without triggering any ‘on death’ effects. Additionally, evasive creatures with protection from blue or black can safely slip past Baleful Strix’s defenses.

Playing around this card is also a key strategy. Engage in combat or cast spells knowing that Baleful Strix could be sacrificed for a greater cost. Prioritize maintaining a strong board presence with creatures that can offer more than just damage to outweigh the card draw benefit Baleful Strix provides on entry. Cards that grant mass indestructibility or hexproof, like Heroic Intervention, can safeguard your board and minimize the impact of losing a creature to its deathtouch ability.

Remember, the key is to render the immediate value Baleful Strix provides inconsequential with your broader game plan, maintaining pressure, and forcing situations unfavorable even for a creature as efficient as the Strix. By doing so, you can alleviate the impact it has on the game and maintain dominance on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Refining your deck with nuanced card choices like Baleful Strix can provide a significant edge in gameplay. This artifact creature extends beyond simple mechanics, forging strategies that encompass both offense and defense. Its ability to draw upon entry asserts its utility in card advantage, while flying and deathtouch present a formidable barrier against adversaries. To keep your MTG gameplay sharp and adaptive in today’s evolving metagame, incorporating cards like Baleful Strix could be crucial. Dive deeper with us, discover deck-building insights, and learn how to optimize your playstyle with key cards that could turn the tide of your matches.


Cards like Baleful Strix

Baleful Strix, a unique blend of card advantage and defense, resonates well with MTG players seeking to fortify their positions. This artifact creature stands out with its ability to draw a card upon entering the battlefield, bearing similarity to creatures like Elvish Visionary. However, Elvish Visionary lacks the added deterrence provided by deathtouch, making Baleful Strix a notable threat to opponents’ creatures.

Decorated with flying, Baleful Strix also invites a comparison with Ice-Fang Coatl, which combines card draw with combat abilities. Although Ice-Fang Coatl requires snow permanents to enable deathtouch, it draws cards and has flash, offering strategic flexibility that Baleful Strix does not. Looking further, we have Wall of Omens, another defender with an entry-based card draw. Unlike Baleful Strix, Wall of Omens lacks offense, reinforcing its purely defensive role.

Effectively, Baleful Strix holds its ground in the meta by providing an early blocker with the added perk of card draw. It’s a reliable choice for players who appreciate the dual functionality of deterrence and cycling through their decks. This combination of passive defense and card advantage elevates Baleful Strix’s status in Magic: The Gathering.

Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Ice-Fang Coatl - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Ice-Fang Coatl - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Wall of Omens - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Baleful Strix by color, type and mana cost

Dimir Signet - MTG Card versions
Talisman of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Thoughtcutter Agent - MTG Card versions
Puppet Conjurer - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Strix - MTG Card versions
Mask of Riddles - MTG Card versions
Time Sieve - MTG Card versions
Dimir Signet - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Talisman of Dominance - Fallout (PIP)
Thoughtcutter Agent - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Puppet Conjurer - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Tidehollow Strix - Commander 2013 (C13)
Mask of Riddles - New Capenna Commander (NCC)
Time Sieve - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Baleful Strix MTG card by a specific set like Planechase 2012 and Commander 2013, 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 Baleful Strix and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Baleful Strix Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 2012-06-01 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 822003normalblackNils Hamm
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1772003normalblackNils Hamm
32014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 2432015normalblackNils Hamm
42016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1962015normalblackNils Hamm
52016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1812015normalblackNils Hamm
62016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 822015normalblackNils Hamm
72017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 802015normalblackNils Hamm
82019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13952015normalblackNils Hamm
92019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 942015normalblackAllen Douglas
102020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1912015normalblackNils Hamm
112020-09-26The ListPLST PCA-822015normalblackNils Hamm
122021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1772015normalblackNils Hamm
132022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1432015normalblackNils Hamm
142022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1201997normalblackNils Hamm
152024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2002015normalblackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Baleful Strix has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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