Markov Blademaster MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Warrior |
| Abilities | Double strike |
| Released | 2012-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dark Ascension |
| Set code | DKA |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 96 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss |
Key Takeaways
- Markov Blademaster thrives in aggressive strategies, snowballing in power with each combat damage dealt.
- Its specific mana cost and combat dependency can be limiting in some multicolored or faster paced decks.
- Effective removal or blocker strategy is crucial to prevent the Blademaster from overwhelming the game.
Text of card
Double strike Whenever Markov Blademaster deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
"Mortals practice swordplay for a few decades at best. How can they ever attain the exquisite mastery that eternity has to offer?"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Markov Blademaster isn’t your typical source of card advantage, but it does offer strategic value in that it cultivates growing board presence. Each time it deals combat damage to a player, it gains not just one, but two +1/+1 counters. This repeated growth can swiftly outpace the opponent’s defenders, edging towards a superior position and indirectly leading to card advantage by demanding multiple resources to deal with.
Resource Acceleration: While Markov Blademaster doesn’t ramp in the traditional sense, it does accelerate your resource presence in the form of increased damage output. As a double-striking powerhouse, it serves to quickly reduce your opponent’s life total, racing towards game-ending conditions before they can stabilize. In a format where tempo can be as crucial as strict card resource, this vampire warrior certainly speeds up the clock.
Instant Speed: Despite Markov Blademaster working at sorcery speed due to its nature as a creature, it capitalizes on the combat phase, which can hold a similar surprise factor to instant speed. The ability to swing in and potentially reap the double-strike rewards during the declare attackers step, when opponents might be tapped out or unprepared, gives it an unpredictability factor that parallels the strategic deployment of instant spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Even though Markov Blademaster rewards players for an aggressive strategy, it lacks a cumbersome discard requirement which may compromise its synergy in certain deck compositions, especially those which cannot afford to lose hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Markov Blademaster demands a precise mana cost of one colorless and two red mana, which can place a strain on multicolored deck mana bases and makes it less flexible in terms of deckbuilding.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana and a setup reliant on combat phases, this card may be outpaced by other three-drops that offer immediate impact or less conditional power on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Markov Blademaster is a dynamic addition to any red deck that values aggressive play. Its double strike ability allows for maximizing equipment and aura spells, turning it into a significant threat on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with ways to enhance its power or provide additional attack phases. It accumulates +1/+1 counters quickly, which synergizes well with cards that proliferate or manipulate counters for greater impact.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where combat-oriented decks prevail, Markov Blademaster can be a game-changer. Its ability to scale in power with each hit makes it a persistent hazard for opponents and a must-answer threat in creature-based strategies.
How to beat
Dealing with a Markov Blademaster in MTG can be a tough challenge as it continually grows stronger with each successful hit. A double-striking creature that collects +1/+1 counters quickly becomes a major threat. To effectively counter this strategy, it’s essential to prevent the Blademaster from connecting with your life points. Creature removal spells are particularly potent against this vampire. Instances of removal, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, offer quick and cost-effective ways to dispatch the creature before it spirals out of control.
Beyond spot removal, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation ensure a clean state, no matter how many counters the Blademaster has accumulated. Moreover, it’s beneficial to utilize blockers with high toughness to survive the initial strike and prevent the second attack from triggering the ability, stalling the Blademaster’s power growth. In matches where life gain is substantial, using cards to gain life can help buffer against the Blademaster’s aggressive onslaught, buying additional time to find a permanent solution.
Ultimately, quick reaction, strategic removal, and efficient blocking are the pillars of defusing the threat posed by Markov Blademaster. Ensuring that these elements are key components of your game plan will greatly enhance your chances of disrupting your opponent’s strategy and maintaining control of the battlefield.
Cards like Markov Blademaster
The prowess of Markov Blademaster is a unique gem in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal for fans of aggressive vampire decks. When we draw parallels, this creature resembles cards like Mirran Crusader, both boasting double strike that allows them to hit twice in a single combat phase. Yet, the Blademaster gains a +1/+1 counter each time it does battle damage to a player, a feature the Crusader lacks.
Examining Fiendslayer Paladin, another card with a similar profile, we notice that while it also offers solid protection with its cannot-be-targeted by black or red spells ability, it does not escalate in power as the Markov Blademaster does. Comparatively, Adanto Vanguard also offers resilience and aggression but at the cost of life points to make it indestructible, unlike the self-boosting ability present in Markov Blademaster.
All things considered, Markov Blademaster stands out among double strike creatures for its potential to become an ever-growing threat on the battlefield. Each skirmish enhances its power, making it a formidable adversary over time, especially within its vampire tribe synergy, which allows for a vast array of strategic moves and buffs in gameplay.
Cards similar to Markov Blademaster by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Markov Blademaster MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Markov Blademaster and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Markov Blademaster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Markov Blademaster card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-22 | If this creature deals combat damage to multiple players simultaneously, perhaps because some combat damage was redirected, its ability will trigger for each of those players. |
| 2011-01-22 | The +1/+1 counter isn’t put on Markov Blademaster in time to increase the amount of combat damage dealt during that combat step. However, the +1/+1 counter put on Markov Blademaster when first-strike damage is dealt will increase the amount of damage dealt during the regular combat damage step. |
