Bloodfire Mentor MTG Card


Bloodfire Mentor - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Efreet Shaman
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Power 0
Toughness 5
Number102
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byChase Stone

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides deck filtering ability, helping players sculpt their hand for optimal gameplay strategies.
  2. Flexibility in use with an instant speed activated ability, allowing for reactive gameplay.
  3. Its looting effect is valuable in decks that utilize discard and draw synergies.

Text of card

, : Draw a card, then discard a card.

The adept underwent months of preparation to withstand pain, until he was finally ready to receive the efreet master's teachings.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bloodfire Mentor provides a consistent method to sift through your deck, turning unneeded cards into potential new strategies, reflecting a form of card advantage through selection rather than raw quantity.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing resources, the Mentor’s ability aligns well with looting strategies that can convert card draw into resources, indirectly benefitting your mana curve and resource pool.

Instant Speed: Bloodfire Mentor’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering flexibility. You can end your turn without committing mana to other actions and still make use of it reactively if no threats demand immediate response during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bloodfire Mentor demands a card to be discarded to activate its ability. This could lead to a deficit in hand resources, especially detrimental in the late game when every card can be pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: The card requires red mana for casting, making it less flexible and potentially difficult to accommodate outside of mono-red or two-color decks that include red.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bloodfire Mentor comes with a three-mana investment, which can feel costly considering its ability. There are other options in the game that enable you to draw cards without the need to dispense precious cards from your hand for a similar or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include Bloodfire Mentor in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodfire Mentor offers a unique skill set that supports deck strategies emphasizing looting—allowing you to draw additional cards while discarding less useful ones. This flexibility makes it a useful addition to any collection aimed at refining hand dynamics and gaining a strategic upper hand.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in decks that capitalize on drawing and discarding mechanics or those that benefit from having creatures with tap abilities. It pairs well with cards that leverage draw or discard triggers for potent interactions.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape shifts, control decks that value incremental card advantage can slot in Bloodfire Mentor to grind out value over time. While it might not be a staple in all metas, it can be a tactical inclusion against certain decks or in a more casual setting where slower, methodical play is rewarded.


How to Beat Bloodfire Mentor

Bloodfire Mentor, with its ability to funnel through a deck at the cost of discarding and drawing a card, sits in a unique position in Magic: The Gathering. This red creature may not be as impactful as other card selection tools available, but its consistent digging capability can be a minor thorn in an opponent’s side in the right deck. To effectively counteract Bloodfire Mentor’s card draw ability, denying it the chance to become a value engine is key.

Targeted removal spells offer a straightforward solution, swiftly dealing with the Mentor before it can start generating card advantage. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can easily dispose of it due to its modest toughness. Alternatively, utilizing counter spells when the Mentor is cast can nip the problem in the bud, preventing it from ever taking its card-filtering place on the battlefield.

Negating Bloodfire Mentor’s influence isn’t just about removing it; one can also employ hand disruption to preemptively undermine its effectiveness. Thoughtseize and Duress can pluck key cards from your opponent’s hand, reducing the Mentor’s utility to reshuffle unwanted pieces. Whichever strategy you choose, addressing the Mentor promptly will stifle your opponent’s capacity to dig for answers or combo pieces and pave the way for your victory.


Cards like Bloodfire Mentor

Bloodfire Mentor finds its place among creatures that enhance the drawing capabilities of a player in Magic: The Gathering. Close comparisons can be made with cards like Jeskai Elder, which not only allows drawing a card but also requires discarding one. What makes Jeskai Elder different is its potential combat benefit due to prowess, which isn’t an attribute of Bloodfire Mentor.

Another related card is Merfolk Looter, which effectuates a similar draw and discard action but at a lower cost and with the added agility of being an activated ability rather than a triggered one. However, Bloodfire Mentor compensates with higher toughness, providing more resilience on the battlefield. Lastly, there’s Rumaging Goblin who shares the same mana cost with Bloodfire Mentor, and both can be instrumental in filtering cards, though the goblin swaps the draw ability for rummaging, giving a slight variation in hand manipulation.

While Bloodfire Mentor may not be the first choice for every deck seeking draw abilities, its function as a repeatable source of card selection has situational value. It plays a distinct role for those looking to reinforce their draw strategies in a more gradual, enduring fashion.

Jeskai Elder - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Jeskai Elder - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
Merfolk Looter - Exodus (EXO)

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

Frenetic Efreet - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - MTG Card versions
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - MTG Card versions
Veyran, Voice of Duality - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Gelectrode - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Noggle Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Crackleburr - MTG Card versions
Noggle Ransacker - MTG Card versions
Izzet Staticaster - MTG Card versions
Jhoira of the Ghitu - MTG Card versions
Spellheart Chimera - MTG Card versions
Jori En, Ruin Diver - MTG Card versions
Whirler Virtuoso - MTG Card versions
Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Protean Raider - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Efreet - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Whirlpool Warrior - The List (PLST)
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Veyran, Voice of Duality - Commander 2021 (C21)
Wee Dragonauts - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Gelectrode - The List (PLST)
Frenetic Sliver - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Noggle Hedge-Mage - Eventide (EVE)
Crackleburr - Eventide (EVE)
Noggle Ransacker - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Izzet Staticaster - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Jhoira of the Ghitu - Modern Masters (MMA)
Spellheart Chimera - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Jori En, Ruin Diver - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Whirler Virtuoso - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Nivix Cyclops - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Enigma Drake - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Protean Raider - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodfire Mentor MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Bloodfire Mentor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodfire Mentor has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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