Death's-Head Buzzard MTG Card
2003-05-26 - Number 63
2014-06-16 - Number 115
2018-03-16 - Number 84
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying When Death's-Head Buzzard is put into a graveyard from play, all creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.
Infested with vermin, ever hungering, dropping from night's sky.
Cards like Death's-Head Buzzard
Death’s-Head Buzzard is an intriguing creature that offers a unique twist to creature strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This card is reminiscent of Plague Mare, as both creatures create an impact on the board by providing a way to clear multiple creatures thanks to their enter or exit effects. Nevertheless, Death’s-Head Buzzard sets itself apart with its death-triggered ability, potentially sweeping away multiple weak creatures upon its demise.
Analogous in effect, Festering Newt shares the capability of affecting the board when it leaves play. With its lower casting cost, Festering Newt seems advantageous at first glance. However, it lacks the flying attribute and broader impact of the Buzzard. Then there’s Massacre Girl, which provides a much more dramatic board wipe effect. Despite being at a higher mana value, her impact is instantaneous and has the potential to clear even the most robust creatures from the battlefield.
When considering these comparisons, Death’s-Head Buzzard offers a middle ground with its evasive ability and conditional board control, making it a subtle yet powerful addition to any deck requiring such strategic components.
Cards similar to Death's-Head Buzzard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing Death’s-Head Buzzard can lead to card advantage as it has the potential to clear out multiple smaller creatures when it dies. Its death trigger makes it a versatile component in controlling the board and diminishing your opponent’s resources while keeping yours intact.
Resource Acceleration: While Death’s-Head Buzzard itself does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, its low casting cost allows for a more efficient curve. This frees up mana for other spells and abilities, maintaining tempo and potentially accelerating your game plan.
Instant Speed: The real power of Death’s-Head Buzzard is not in instant speed casting but in the instant-speed interactions it prompts. Sacrifice outlets or board altering spells combined with the buzzard’s death trigger can be used effectively during an opponent’s turn for surprise board control, catching them off-guard and disrupting their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not specifically demanding a discard, Death’s-Head Buzzard does present a potential card disadvantage upon death. This is because when the buzzard dies, it negatively impacts all creatures, which can unexpectedly wipe out your own beneficial creatures too.
Specific Mana Cost: As a card that requires black mana, Death’s-Head Buzzard is inherently restrictive with deck building. Players will need to have access to black mana sources, which can limit the versatility in decks that can utilize the buzzard effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, which includes two black mana, Death’s-Head Buzzard might be viewed as a steep investment for its 2/1 stats and situational death benefit. The card’s overall value could be diminished when considering other creatures at similar mana costs that possibly offer higher impact abilities or better stats.
Reasons to Include Death’s-Head Buzzard in Your Collection
Versatility: Death’s-Head Buzzard fits comfortably into deck archetypes that rely on creatures dying. As a flying creature, it serves as an aerial blocker and when it dies, it acts as a pseudo board wipe for smaller creatures.
Combo Potential: This bird has synergy with strategies that capitalize on death triggers. Pairing it with sacrifice outlets can create a repeatable way to clean the board of pesky 1-toughness creatures, amplifying the impact of your graveyard-focused plays.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where small creatures are prevalent, Death’s-Head Buzzard has a significant role. Its ability to disrupt opposing aggro strategies by wiping out a swarm of tokens or utility creatures makes it a relevant card for a shifting MTG meta.
How to beat
Death’s-Head Buzzard presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield in MTG. This flying creature carries the potential to disrupt your board with its death-triggered ability, clearing out smaller creatures upon its demise. To navigate through this, smart play revolves around timing the removal of the Buzzard when its ability would least impact your strategy or when you can capitalize on the Buzzard’s death throes.
Tactical employment of spell-based removal that exiles, such as Path to Exile, negates the Buzzard’s ability—ensuring it doesn’t exercise its wrath on your lineup of creatures. Managing a battlefield where the Buzzard’s ‘leave the battlefield’ ability is a non-factor can define the flow of the game. In addition, creatures that are indestructible or have sufficient toughness to withstand the Buzzard’s departure can be crucial, maintaining board presence amidst the clearing wave it aims to create upon leaving the field.
Ultimately, recognizing the right moment to force the Buzzard off the board, or rendering its ability ineffectual with smart deck composition and strategy, are key elements to gaining the upper hand against this feathered foe.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Death's-Head Buzzard MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Vintage Masters, 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 Death's-Head Buzzard and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Death's-Head Buzzard Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Marcelo Vignali.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-05-26 | Scourge | SCG | 63 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Marcelo Vignali | |
| 2 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marcelo Vignali | |
| 3 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marcelo Vignali |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Death's-Head Buzzard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Death's-Head Buzzard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-03-16 | The last ability of Death’s-Head Buzzard affects only creatures on the battlefield at the time it resolves. Creatures that enter the battlefield later in the turn won’t get -1/-1. |