Blessing of Belzenlok MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by drawing for each creature you control with power 4 or greater.
  2. Flexibility to cast at instant speed adds a strategic layer to gameplay.
  3. Demands card discard and specific mana, which can limit deck inclusion.

Text of card

Target creature gets +2/+1 until end of turn. If it's legendary, it also gains lifelink until end of turn.

"My heart is not mine, it is Belzenlok's. All hearts are his, and all blood." —"Rite of Belzenlok"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blessing of Belzenlok excels in ensuring that your hand always has options. By allowing you to draw a card for each creature you control with power 4 or greater, this card can dramatically replenish your resources and keep the pressure on your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: It’s more than just about drawing cards; it also contributes to your board state. As your creatures grow in size, Blessing of Belzenlok becomes a formidable tool that can potentially transform into a significant advantage as the game progresses, working synergistically with decks that ramp up creature power.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting at instant speed means you can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of MTG. You’re able to play Blessing of Belzenlok on an opponent’s turn, following an attack or in response to an action, making it a versatile addition to any deck that thrives on timing and adaptability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blessing of Belzenlok requires the discarding of a card, a steep cost for decks that rely on maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s black mana necessity makes it exclusive to black or multi-colored mana bases, possibly restricting its playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a notable investment of two black mana, its cost may deter players considering other lower-cost alternatives for similar effects.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blessing of Belzenlok proves to be flexible within a diverse array of deck building strategies. This enchantment can complement a deck focusing on life loss, adding a sustained effect that consistently diminshes your opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: This card opens up doors for creative combinations, especially in decks that thrive on the loss of life as a strategic component. It pairs well with cards that trigger upon life loss or gain, offering potential for powerful synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where attrition and incremental advantages rule, Blessing of Belzenlok has its place. It can consistently apply pressure in prolonged matches, making it a card worth considering for a meta that prizes endurance and resilience.


How to beat

Blessing of Belzenlok is a niche yet potent combat trick often seen in black-dominated decks within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to enhance a creature with a crucial +2/+1 until end of turn can turn the tides in combat, making it a card that players should be prepared to face. Unlike other combat enhancements, this card does not offer permanent buffs or additional effects such as lifelink or deathtouch, which somewhat limits its long-term impact.

When strategizing against a card like Blessing of Belzenlok within a game, it’s essential to maintain open mana for instant-speed responses. Removal spells or bounce effects can effectively counteract the temporary power boost granted by this card. Additionally, considering the sacrifice aspect of the card, creatures enhanced with Blessing of Belzenlok often become prime targets for these responses — allowing you to potentially create a two-for-one card advantage situation.

Understanding the common strategies employed within the colors Blessing of Belzenlok is frequently paired with can also provide significant leverage. Predicting when your opponent might play this card is key. Tactical planning and measured plays can help you come out ahead against decks employing Blessing of Belzenlok as a combat trick in Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Blessing of Belzenlok

Blessing of Belzenlok stands as an intriguing option for players seeking to bolster their creatures’ offensive capabilities in MTG. Nestled among other cards that offer creature buffs, Blessing of Belzenlok offers a significant, albeit ephemeral, boost during combat. Its closest counterparts would include cards like Titanic Growth, which provides a reusable boost of +4/+4 to a creature until the end of the turn. Both cards excel at turning the tide of battle, but Titanic Growth’s +4 power increase has a broader impact due to its permanent effect and doesn’t come with the life loss aspect.

Unnatural Endurance is another spell that echoes the purpose of creature strengthening, giving target creature +2/+0 and also conferring it with the ability to rebound from the graveyard when it dies that turn. Unlike Blessing of Belzenlok, Unnatural Endurance allows for a resilient combat phase but with less aggressive power enhancement. This contrast highlights the trade-off between immediate board impact and potential long-term advantage in game strategies.

Comparatively, Blessing of Belzenlok finds its niche in MTG by providing an aggressive temporary boost that can be pivotal for decisive combat phases, despite the cost of life it demands, which can be a strategic gamble for victory.

Titanic Growth - MTG Card versions
Unnatural Endurance - MTG Card versions
Titanic Growth - Magic 2012 (M12)
Unnatural Endurance - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Blessing of Belzenlok by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Dark Ritual - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Sacrifice - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Darkness - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Marsh Gas - The Dark (DRK)
Gravebind - Ice Age (ICE)
Misinformation - Alliances (ALL)
Vampiric Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dredge - Invasion (INV)
Vendetta - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Coffin Purge - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Defile - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
March of Wretched Sorrow - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Fatal Push - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - The List (PLST)
Fade from Memory - Onslaught (ONS)
Duh - Unhinged (UNH)
Aesthetic Consultation - Unhinged (UNH)
Stop That - Unhinged (UNH)
Disembowel - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blessing of Belzenlok MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Blessing of Belzenlok and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blessing of Belzenlok Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Joe Slucher.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-04-27DominariaDOM 772015normalblackJoe Slucher
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5772015normalblackJoe Slucher
32020-09-26The ListPLST DOM-772015normalblackJoe Slucher

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blessing of Belzenlok has restrictions

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

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