Garna, Bloodfist of Keld MTG Card


Garna recovers creatures to hand, boosting card advantage after losses or trades during the game. Instant speed casting of Garna allows for reactive, strategic plays to surprise opponents. The card’s specific mana and discard requirements may limit its use to certain deck builds.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Berserker
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever another creature you control dies, draw a card if it was attacking. Otherwise, Garna, Bloodfist of Keld deals 1 damage to each opponent.


Cards like Garna, Bloodfist of Keld

Garna, Bloodfist of Keld stands out among the array of aggressive commanders in Magic: The Gathering due to her ability to return creatures from the graveyard to your hand and granting them haste. Notably reminiscent of Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, who also interacts with the graveyard but targets smaller creatures to be put directly onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Alesha’s rigid requirement of the creature’s power being 2 or less contrasts with Garna’s more flexible mechanic.

Another peer in strategy is Feldon of the Third Path, who similarly to Garna, manipulates the graveyard by creating token copies of creatures. However, Garna focuses on hand recursion, allowing for a wider range of subsequent plays. Marchesa, the Black Rose also synergizes with creatures returning to the battlefield, yet through a different gameplay pattern that revolves around +1/+1 counters and theft elements, distinguishing her approach from Garna’s immediate effects.

Analyzing these comparisons, Garna, Bloodfist of Keld carves a unique niche as a commander facilitating rapid tempo and aggressive board states, proving her versatile role in reanimator and aggro strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - MTG Card versions
Feldon of the Third Path - MTG Card versions
Marchesa, the Black Rose - MTG Card versions
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - MTG Card versions
Feldon of the Third Path - MTG Card versions
Marchesa, the Black Rose - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Garna, Bloodfist of Keld by color, type and mana cost

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Possessed Barbarian - MTG Card versions
Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Rats - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - MTG Card versions
Blazing Specter - MTG Card versions
Blazing Hellhound - MTG Card versions
Carnage Gladiator - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Garna, Bloodfist of Keld. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rakdos TokensRakdos Tokens StandardRakdos SacrificeWHITE - SAT - 12PM - Chicago Standard Cup

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Garna, Bloodfist of Keld offers the unique ability to return to your hand all creatures that were put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, potentially recovering valuable assets and maintaining card advantage in your favor. This powerful effect can turn the tide of a game by replenishing your resources after a board wipe or strategic trades.

Resource Acceleration: With Garna, the capacity to expedite your gameplay arises from its second effect, granting haste to other creatures you control. This acceleration allows you to pressure opponents by immediately using your reanimated or newly cast creatures for offensive or defensive maneuvers, effectively speeding up your board presence and threat level.

Instant Speed: Garna’s ability to be cast at instant speed is inherently valuable, enabling you to react to your opponent’s actions during their turn. This opens doors for surprise comebacks and tactical plays, such as reviving key creatures post combat or in response to removal, ensuring that you make the most out of every card and every turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Garna, Bloodfist of Keld comes with a condition that can be a double-edged sword. The card demands that you discard a card as part of the casting process. In situations where your hand is already depleting, losing another card could hinder your momentum and strategy, particularly if you lack ways to generate additional card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: One of the hurdles when incorporating this card into your deck revolves around its mana requirement. The demand for both red and black mana can constrain deck-building strategies, particularly for those looking to maintain a consistent mana base across multiple colors. This could potentially discourage inclusion in anything but dedicated Rakdos (red-black) builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the costs and benefits is crucial in deck optimization. With a mana value of five, Garna may come off as steep for the effect it brings to the table. This can be cumbersome in fast-paced games where efficiency is key, and it might not compare favorably to more cost-effective alternatives that can provide similar or greater impact on the game at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Garna, Bloodfist of Keld is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of red or black-themed decks. Its ability to instantly return creatures from your graveyard to your hand makes it an asset in strategies that churn through creatures quickly.

Combo Potential: Garna has great synergy with sacrifice and graveyard mechanics, enabling combos that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. This can lead to game-ending plays by exploiting loop mechanics or unexpected bursts of power.

Meta-Relevance: As the game adapts and evolves, cards that offer utility and interact with wide meta trends become essential. Garna’s abilities are relevant in environments where creature-based strategies dominate, making it a wise choice for a player looking to stay competitive.


How to Beat Garna, Bloodfist of Keld

Garna, Bloodfist of Keld is a unique creature card that can dictate the pace of a match in Magic: The Gathering. Skilled players recognize that Garna’s ability to grant haste to other creatures and provide a potential instant-speed board recovery can be a game changer. Successfully countering Garna involves a few strategic moves.

Firstly, focus on removal spells that can target Garna before their ability is utilized. Instant removals such as Path to Exile or Shock allow you to remove Garna in response to their casting, thereby negating the immediate threat. Timing your removal when Garna hits the battlefield is crucial; do it before the opponent gets the chance to use their abilities or declare attackers.

Control decks may rely on counter spells to prevent Garna from entering the battlefield altogether. Cards like Counterspell and Dovin’s Veto are essential tools to keep Garna at bay. In contrast, aggressive decks might utilize exile effects or sacrifice mechanisms to deal with Garna post-summoning. It’s also vital to anticipate potential graveyard strategies that may bring Garna back into play, so cards like Rest in Peace could be essential in a well-rounded strategy.

Overall, staying one step ahead and managing the battlefield effectively are key in overcoming the challenge posed by Garna, Bloodfist of Keld. By prioritizing threat assessment and having an adaptable game plan, you can diminish the impact Garna has on the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Garna, Bloodfist of Keld MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United, 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 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Garna, Bloodfist of Keld Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3402015NormalBlackBenjamin Ee
22022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2992015NormalBlackBenjamin Ee
32022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2002015NormalBlackAndrey Kuzinskiy
42022-09-09Dominaria United Art SeriesADMU 712015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Garna, Bloodfist of Keld has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal