Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	87
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Kresh thrives in creature-dense environments becoming a powerful threat as it gains strength from fallen creatures.
Its mana cost and necessity for creature sacrifices introduce strategic considerations for building a compatible deck.
Its ability to grow power through creature deaths avails it a pivotal role within creature-centric strategies in MTG.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control is devoured, put an X/X green Ooze creature token onto the battlefield, where X is the devoured creature's power.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar offers a unique form of card advantage by growing stronger with each creature that dies. This means that in creature-heavy games, this Avatar can become a formidable threat that can demand answers or dominate the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Kresh, through its ability to capitalize on the death of creatures, effectively converts board state changes into personal power, this acceleration can set the pace in your favor, outstripping opponents in terms of a threatening presence on the board without the need for additional mana expenditure.

Instant Speed: While Kresh itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it profits from interaction at instant speed potentially growing remorselessly during any phase of the game. Instant-speed removal spells can quickly turn into a double-edged sword against opponents, as Kresh gains power immediately from any creatures dying during these exchanges.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Holding Kresh the Bloodbraided as your commander can be a double-edged sword. To bring him onto the battlefield, you need to be ready to sacrifice creatures, which could deplete your field of other valuable assets. This requisite can become a strategic drawback when you’re attempting to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Kresh’s mana cost is highly specific, requiring one red, one black, and one green along with two generic mana. This Jund combination binds him to a particular color pie, making it challenging to fit him into a more diverse or color-flexible deck build.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five-mana value to summon Kresh, players might find him a slow addition in fast-paced matchups. There are alternative commanders or creatures with lower casting costs that offer powerful abilities or quicker board impact, aligning better with aggressive strategies.

Reasons to Include Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar in Your Collection

Versatility: Kresh the Bloodbraided excels in its adaptability across a variety of deck archetypes. Commanding attention in commander formats, this card harmonizes with strategies keen on creature strength and sacrifice synergies, making it a formidable force to reckon with.

Combo Potential: The inherent ability to swell in power with each creature death on the battlefield paves the way for explosive combos. Kresh the Bloodbraided thrives in setups that exploit sacrifice mechanics, bolstering its might draw by draw while orchestrating a spectacle of power accumulation.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Kresh the Bloodbraided’s tendency to grow stronger with the tide of the game positions it as a pivotal player, potentially swaying the battle in your favour. Its stature in the meta is underscored by its capacity to adapt and dominate through the ebb and flow of creature dynamics.

How to beat

Kresh the Bloodbraided is a formidable presence on the battlefield, often growing to monstrous sizes by feeding off the death of creatures. To tackle this Avatar powerhouse, consider utilizing exile effects or bounce spells to mitigate its growth potential. Remember, simply destroying creatures could play into your opponent’s strategy and make Kresh even stronger.

Controlling the board state is crucial, which means sweepers can be helpful, but be wary. If Kresh isn’t on the field when other creatures die, his ability won’t trigger. Timing your removal spells for when Kresh enters the fray is vital. Consider cards like Path to Exile or Bounce spells like Unsummon to handle Kresh directly without adding to his strength.

Pillow fort strategies that prevent Kresh from attacking or dealing damage can also be effective. Ensnaring Bridge or other such defensive enchantments can keep Kresh at bay. Lastly, utilizing graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace can stifle strategies that revolve around sacrificing creatures for value, thereby limiting Kresh’s potential to become an overwhelming threat.

Cards like Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar

Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar builds its presence on the battlefield by amassing power from creatures’ demise. In MTG, this mechanic echoes that of Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, who also grows stronger by devouring other creatures. Unlike Kresh, Prossh comes with an army of tokens upon its casting. Nevertheless, Kresh can potentially outshine Prossh as it gains power regardless of how creatures perish, offering a more versatile power boost.

Another counterpart is the famed Ghave, Guru of Spores. While Ghave excels in its ability to create and manipulate +1/+1 counters, Kresh the Bloodbraided benefits solely from the fallen, making its strategy more straightforward but equally as formidable in confronting adversaries on the field. Ghave offers a combo-friendly approach, but Kresh rewards the tactful elimination of any creature, not just tokens.

The synergy Kresh has with sacrifice-focused decks puts it on par with other formidable juggernauts within the same strategy. Compared to creatures that grow incrementally, Kresh can become an immediate threat, marking its unique standing among powerful creatures in MTG that thrive on the battlefield’s shifting dynamics and the art of war.

Prossh, Skyraider of Kher - MTG Card versions

Ghave, Guru of Spores - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, 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 Kresh the Bloodbraided Avatar and other MTG cards: