Obstinate Baloth MTG Card

Thrives in discard scenarios, instantly hitting the field if discarded, turning opponent’s disruption into your benefit. Boasts a potent 4/4 body for four mana, serving as both offensive threat and defensive anchor early in the game. Adds strategic depth with its instant speed trigger, allowing unexpected plays during the opponent’s turn.

Magic 2011 (M11)
2010-07-16 - Number 188

Iconic Masters (IMA)
2017-11-17 - Number 179

Obstinate Baloth - The Brothers' War (BRO)

The Brothers' War (BRO)
2022-11-18 - Number 187

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Beast
Power	4
Toughness	4

Text of card

When Obstinate Baloth enters the battlefield, you gain 4 life. If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Obstinate Baloth, put it onto the battlefield instead of putting it into your graveyard.

Cards like Obstinate Baloth

In the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, the Obstinate Baloth stands out for its mix of life gain and sizable presence on the battlefield. Comparable creatures like Thragtusk bring similar versatility, entering the battlefield with a life boost of five and leaving behind a 3/3 creature token upon its departure. Although Thragtusk has a more immediate board impact, Obstinate Baloth’s ability to land into play after being discarded presents an additional strategic layer.

Another card worth mentioning is Kitchen Finks which, through persist, can return to the battlefield and provide a total of four life points over two lives. While Kitchen Finks excels in recursive strategies, Obstinate Baloth offers a bulkier single-instance life gain and a stronger creature without the need for a death trigger. Courser of Kruphix also fits into the conversation, trading direct life gain for top-deck land play and incremental life gain with each land drop.

Addressing needs for life gain, resilient creatures, and potential card advantage, Obstinate Baloth carves out a unique position among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its inclusion in decks hinges not only on its own merits but also on the overall game plan and synergies within a deck.

Cards similar to Obstinate Baloth by color, type and mana cost

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Decks using this card

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

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Gruul Midrange	Gladiator		Gladiator Games: We're Back
	Golgari Midrange	Standard	Golgari Midrange	Standard Challenge 64 2023-12-17

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Obstinate Baloth shines when it comes to card advantage, and not in the traditional sense of drawing more cards. If an opponent forces you to discard it, it immediately comes into play, negating the loss and swinging momentum in your favor. This can effectively turn an opponent’s disruption into an advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana resources, the Baloth’s 4/4 body for four mana offers a strong presence on the board early in the game. It can act as both an offensive threat and a defensive barrier, allowing you to stabilize and advance your board state efficiently.

Instant Speed: The ability to exploit its trigger on being discarded at instant speed adds a strategic layer to the game. You can pass the turn with a full grip and still deploy Obstinate Baloth onto the battlefield during your opponent’s turn if they attempt to make you discard, which can be a big surprise and shift the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obstinate Baloth’s ability to enter the battlefield when discarded from your hand can be situational. It requires specific scenarios or synergies to make full use of this effect, potentially constraining its integration into many strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Obstinate Baloth demands a particular combination of mana — two green and two generic. This can restrict its inclusion to heavy green or dual-color decks, which may not accommodate all playstyles or strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-cost entry in the game, Obstinate Baloth vies for a spot against other impactful four-mana creatures. It may be overshadowed by options that offer immediate board presence or utility, making it a less optimal choice in decks that value mana curve efficiency.

Reasons to Include Obstinate Baloth in Your Collection

Versatility: Obstinate Baloth is a highly flexible card, with the ability to fit into a range of green decks. Its immediate impact on the board, alongside the life gain, makes it a solid inclusion for both aggressive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has strong synergy with discard strategies, allowing it to be a surprise play against opponents’ discard effects or when paired with your discard outlets, it becomes a powerful tool that can alter the state of play significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where discard effects are prevalent, Obstinate Baloth shines by turning a potential drawback into an advantage. Additionally, its sturdy body helps it stand against other creatures in combat, making it relevant in diverse meta scenarios.

How to beat

Obstinate Baloth is a powerhouse creature card that provides significant value, especially in matchups centered around hand disruption. When facing this formidable four-legged beast, understanding its strengths is key to formulating a counter strategy. The Baloth shines when it is discarded from a player’s hand, quickly putting a sizable body on the board while granting life. The key to outmaneuvering this card lies in avoiding discard strategies and instead focusing on direct removal once it hits the battlefield.

One effective tactic is to employ spot removal spells that can bypass its lifegain ability, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Cut. Counteracts that sidestep the graveyard entirely, like exile effects, offer a clean solution. Alternatively, taking a control-oriented approach with board wipes like Wrath of God can neutralize the Baloth along with any other creatures on the board. Remember to apply pressure and establish a presence on the battlefield that can compete with a 4/4 creature, while staying wary of its potential surprise drop into play.

Ultimately, outlasting Obstinate Baloth hinges on a strategic blend of prevention and removal. By carefully selecting your spells and timing your removal, you can turn the tables on this tenacious creature and maintain dominance in your MTG games.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obstinate Baloth MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Iconic Masters, 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 Obstinate Baloth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Obstinate Baloth Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-07-16	Magic 2011	M11	188	2003	Normal	Black	Chris Rahn
2	2017-11-17	Iconic Masters	IMA	179	2015	Normal	Black	Chris Rahn
3	2022-11-18	The Brothers' War	BRO	187	2015	Normal	Black	Chris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Obstinate Baloth has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Predh	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Obstinate Baloth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2017-11-17	If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Obstinate Baloth, and both Obstinate Baloth's ability and another ability (such as that of an opponent's Leyline of the Void) instruct you to put Obstinate Baloth somewhere else instead of putting it into your graveyard, you choose which one to apply.
2017-11-17	If you discard Obstinate Baloth and put it onto the battlefield, you've still discarded it. Abilities that trigger when you discard a card (such as that of Raiders' Wake) will still trigger.
2022-10-14	If you discard Obstinate Baloth and put it onto the battlefield, you've still discarded it. Abilities that trigger when you discard a card will still trigger.