Bloodmark Mentor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Bloodmark Mentor bolsters red creatures, making them more formidable in combat with first strike.
  2. The card’s restrictive mana cost and color specificity can challenge deck-building versatility.
  3. Its low cost and combat trick potential make it a viable choice for aggressive strategies.

Text of card

Red creatures you control have first strike.

Boggarts divide the world into two categories: things you can eat, and things you have to chase down and pummel before you can eat.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bloodmark Mentor is not entirely about drawing cards, but it benefits your board state by granting an ongoing advantage. Your red creatures gain a crucial ability, first strike, potentially turning each combat in your favor. By enhancing your creatures’ combat capabilities, you indirectly pressure your opponent to find answers, thereby gaining a qualitative edge.

Resource Acceleration: This goblin warrior doesn’t directly ramp your mana, but it does accelerate your board presence by making your existing creatures more formidable. Each creature that gains first strike can be considered an uptick in your battlefield resources, as they become more efficient in combat and deter opponents from attacking or blocking.

Instant Speed: While Bloodmark Mentor itself must be cast at sorcery speed, the first strike ability it confers is always “on,” including during your opponent’s turn. This means any combat interaction your opponent attempts can be impacted by this upgrade, giving you a pseudo-instant speed advantage by altering the combat dynamics when it matters most.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bloodmark Mentor comes with a deckbuilding challenge as it primarily boosts red creatures, so cards outside of this specific color spectrum may not derive much benefit from its presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring double red mana for its casting cost, Bloodmark Mentor demands a heavily red-influenced mana base which can be restrictive and may not fit comfortably into multi-colored deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two red mana, this card can feel a bit too expensive for its static effect, especially when considering that other two-drop creatures or spells could offer more immediate board impact or versatility.


Reasons to Include Bloodmark Mentor in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodmark Mentor is a card that can seamlessly integrate into any red deck that capitalizes on combat. Its ability to grant red creatures you control first strike presents a universal combat trick, enhancing the board presence of a wide variety of decks.

Combo Potential: The Mentor can pair incredibly well with cards that deal damage when hitting an opponent, making it a key piece in combos that might otherwise be blocked. Coupled with cards that generate numerous red tokens, its first strike ability can turn a defensive line into a formidable attacking force.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and the persistent effectiveness of aggro strategies in various MTG metagames, including Bloodmark Mentor could provide a subtle yet powerful edge. Its utility makes it relevant especially in environments where combat-heavy decks prevail, making the Mentor a worthwhile inclusion that can bolster your creatures’ offensive and defensive capabilities.


How to beat

Bloodmark Mentor is a unique card in MTG that provides a keen advantage to red decks with its ability to grant first strike to other red creatures you control. Encountering this card on the battlefield means you could be up against an army of creatures capable of pre-emptive damage. To effectively counter this ability, consider including strategies that remove or neutralize it before it can tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.

One approach is using removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to directly target and eliminate Bloodmark Mentor from the game. Alternatively, mass removal spells such as Wrath of God can clear the board of multiple threats at once, including creatures empowered by the Mentor’s ability. If direct removal isn’t an option, playing creatures with deathtouch can dissuade your opponent from attacking, as they can take down any aggressor regardless of first strike.

Lastly, using counterspells is another strategic method to hinder Bloodmark Mentor ever hitting the field. A well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent your opponent from gaining the upper hand, ensuring you maintain control of the game pace.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the MTG landscape, Bloodmark Mentor emerges as a tactical addition to red-focused decks, offering a consistent edge in combat. Its inherent ability to grant first strike can swing clashes into your favor, transforming ordinary creatures into combat specialists. While it shines in mono-red play, incorporating Bloodmark Mentor into your collection could elevate multi-colored strategies that might leverage red creatures. Acknowledge its versatility and combo potential, and consider how it could fit into the current meta, especially if combat-centric play is prevalent. Dive deeper into your deck building journey and discover how Bloodmark Mentor can be a decisive force in your next MTG duel. For more insights and strategic tips, continue your journey with us.


Cards like Bloodmark Mentor

Bloodmark Mentor is a unique creature card from the world of Magic: The Gathering, known chiefly for its ability to impart valuable first strike to red creatures you control. It stands out in the company of cards like Fervent Champion, which also offers first strike. However, Fervent Champion is self-contained, providing first strike solely to itself along with other benefits to knight-themed strategies.

Looking at another comparison, Goblin Chieftain elevates fellow goblins, not by bestowing first strike, but with a speed boost and strength enhancement—a different form of empowerment valued in aggressive goblin decks. While the Chieftain’s boost is more global among its tribe, Bloodmark Mentor’s first strike could be seen as a more strategic asset in combat.

In analyzing the specialities of these cards, Bloodmark Mentor occupies a strategic niche in Magic: The Gathering. Catered towards decks that favor combat tricks and the protection of key creatures, Bloodmark Mentor may be preferred over alternatives that either enhance a single creature or provide a different form of tribal support.

Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Fervent Champion - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Goblin Chieftain - Resale Promos (PRES)

Cards similar to Bloodmark Mentor by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Stigma Lasher - Eventide (EVE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodmark Mentor MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Duels of the Planeswalkers, 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 Bloodmark Mentor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodmark Mentor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2011-04-01. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 832003normalblackDave Allsop
22010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 402003normalblackDave Allsop
32011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 502003normalblackDave Allsop

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodmark Mentor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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