Insufferable Balladeer MTG Card

Cycling through cards at instant speed makes Insufferable Balladeer a flexible fixture in MTG decks. Additional mana generation allows casting spells sooner, potentially altering the game’s pace. Combining card draw with mana boost, it offers dual advantages within its activated abilities.

Insufferable Balladeer - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dwarf Bard
Abilities	Goad,Vicious Mockery
Released	2022-06-10
Set symbol
Set name	Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Set code	CLB
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	184
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Borja Pindado

Text of card

Vicious Mockery — When Insufferable Balladeer enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls can't block this turn. Goad it. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)

Cards like Insufferable Balladeer

Insufferable Balladeer strides into the pantheon of MTG aura enchantments, reminiscent of those before it such as One with the Stars. While One with the Stars has been converting creatures and enchantments into non-threatening enchantments with only a single ability, Insufferable Balladeer similarly neutralizes combat threats by enchanting creatures. The key difference, however, is that Insufferable Balladeer’s effect also includes self-enchantment, providing buffs and potentially turning its wielder into a formidable combatant.

Flight of Fancy is another enchantment that shares the characteristic of impacting the board by targeting creatures. It doesn’t alter the abilities or power like Insufferable Balladeer, but it compensates with card drawing. Then there is Spectra Ward, which, although different in function by granting protection from all colors, parallels the idea of enhancing a single creature, akin to the theme of singular, powerful augmentation found in Insufferable Balladeer.

Evaluating Insufferable Balladeer amidst its contemporaries, it becomes clear that its duality of silencing enemy creatures or becoming a threat itself gives it a tactical flexibility. This multifaceted approach is an asset that can sway the tides in many MTG deck strategies. In this way, Insufferable Balladeer creates its unique niche within enchantment cards.

Cards similar to Insufferable Balladeer by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Insufferable Balladeer has an ability that lets you discard a card to draw a card. This cycling feature is great for filtering through your deck to find the right answers or threats, while maintaining a balance in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Another perk of Insufferable Balladeer’s ability is that if a song counter was put on it this turn, you gain one mana of any color. This can accelerate your resource availability, helping to cast impactful spells ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate its card draw and mana generation at instant speed offers significant flexibility. You can end your opponent’s turn by improving your hand and mana base while keeping up defenses or preparing counteractions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Insufferable Balladeer asks players to toss a card from their hand into the graveyard to tap into its full potential. For those moments when your hand is already scarce, this can be less than ideal, putting you at a disadvantage by lessening your array of strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: True to its Rakdos roots, this card demands both black and red mana, which could be a hurdle for decks that don’t align with these colors. This specificity narrows down the array of decks it can comfortably slip into, potentially curbing its widespread playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that’s part of your arsenal to control the board or gain an edge, the mana investment for Insufferable Balladeer might not hit the mark. Considering other cards in the game, there are alternatives that could churn out similar or greater value without demanding as much from your mana pool.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Insufferable Balladeer finds a place in decks that thrive on manipulating the graveyard. Its ability to gain different keywords each turn makes it adaptive to varying board states and tactical shifts during gameplay.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that mill or discard, Insufferable Balladeer becomes a powerful tool, capable of gaining essential abilities at crucial moments. This synergy can lead to unexpected combinations and swing the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where graveyard strategies are prominent, this card is particularly potent. It’s useful against control decks as it can consistently provide utility through its ever-shifting abilities, maintaining its relevancy across various meta shifts.

How to beat

The Insufferable Balladeer broaches the battlefield of MTG with a unique flair, contributing to a player’s strategy with its ability to elude and annoy. This sly creature’s essence lies in its escape abilities, making it a persistent nuisance that can return from the graveyard given the right conditions are met. To effectively neutralize the Insufferable Balladeer, a strategic approach is necessary.

Key to overcoming this adversary is to limit its escape capability. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can preemptively stop the Balladeer’s recursion. Moreover, employing spells that exile rather than destroy can prove exceptionally effective. Direct removal spells, like Path to Exile or Ashes to Ashes, not only handle the Balladeer but also ensure it doesn’t find its way back to the field. In matches against this persistent opponent, having a sound removal strategy alongside graveyard control is vital. This ensures that the Insufferable Balladeer’s song is silenced swiftly, preserving the tempo of your gameplay and keeping your opponent’s resources at bay.

In sum, sharpen your MTG strategies to include preemptive and immediate responses that will guarantee even a card as stubborn as the Insufferable Balladeer won’t disrupt your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Insufferable Balladeer MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Insufferable Balladeer and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Insufferable Balladeer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal