Bloodbraid Elf MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elf Berserker
Abilities Cascade,Haste
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Cascade grants card advantage by playing an additional card free of cost, enhancing battlefield presence.
  2. Instant speed play from cascade disrupts opponents, pivoting the game in crucial moments.
  3. While possessing strengths, the elf’s specific mana and high cost can limit its versatility.

Text of card

Haste Cascade (When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Bloodbraid Elf, its cascade ability triggers, allowing you to play another card from your deck without paying its mana cost. This effectively nets you two cards with a single play, bolstering your options on the battlefield and putting pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The cascade mechanic not only provides a card but also potentially accelerates your resources. Whether it’s an additional creature to strengthen your board presence or a noncreature spell that disrupts your opponent, Bloodbraid Elf can tip the scales in your favor by offering additional value that exceeds its own casting cost.

Instant Speed: While Bloodbraid Elf itself is not an instant, it does allow you to play the cascaded card at instant speed, even though that card may normally be a sorcery. This unexpected speed can catch opponents off guard, disrupting their plans and delivering a swift change in game dynamics at crucial moments—making every play with Bloodbraid Elf a potential game-changer.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside of utilizing Bloodbraid Elf is that cascade may force you to play a card you’d rather save. This involuntary play can deplete your hand and disrupt strategic plans, especially if you’re holding onto key cards for later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a particular mana composition of one red and one green, Bloodbraid Elf requires a dedicated investment in those colors. This can constrain deck building and limit the card’s inclusion to predominantly Gruul (red-green) archetypes or multicolored decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Bloodbraid Elf offers value by combining a creature with the cascade mechanic, its four mana cost can be steep in the early game. Faster-paced matches might not favor a four-drop, as the metagame often rewards lower curve strategies that can deploy threats or interact with the opponent more quickly.


Reasons to Include Bloodbraid Elf in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodbraid Elf can seamlessly integrate into a multitude of deck strategies, particularly those that capitalize on aggressive gameplay. Its ability to offer both a creature on the board and a free cast spell enhances various deck builds.

Combo Potential: The cascade mechanic inherent to Bloodbraid Elf opens up numerous combo possibilities, as you can potentially cast high-impact spells for free, spinning single plays into game-changing moments.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that frequently shifts between control, aggro, and combo, Bloodbraid Elf remains a relevant choice. Its hastened attack coupled with cascade offers a quick and resourceful response to an ever-evolving competitive landscape.


How to beat

Bloodbraid Elf is a dynamic force on the battlefield with its haste ability and the power to cascade into another spell, most often catching opponents off-guard in MTG. Addressing this card requires strategic planning and precision timing. One effective method is to keep instant-speed removal at the ready, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, to dispatch the elf before it has an opportunity to swing in with its 3/2 stats. Counter strategies can also be potent; by using a card like Dovin’s Veto, you’re able to counter the spell cast from Bloodbraid Elf’s cascade, mitigating its board impact significantly.

When adjusting a deck to combat the elf, consider incorporating more cards with the flash mechanic, permitting you to play creatures and spells on your opponent’s turn, thereby dodifying the surprise element that Bloodbraid Elf brings to the table. Employing creatures with reach or those that can generate tokens can also act as a buffer, absorbing the potential combat damage and maintaining a level field.

Ultimately, responding effectively to Bloodbraid Elf in MTG calls for awareness and readiness to counter its strengths with timely plays and specific card choices that destabilize its value in the play sequence.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you navigate the vibrant world of MTG, Bloodbraid Elf emerges as a fascinating card worth exploration. Whether you’re beefing up a Gruul deck or looking for explosive plays, this creature’s cascade ability can redefine your game plan. For those keen on honing their strategy and constructing a deck that’s both agile and impactful, consider the unique advantages of cascading into victory. Dive deeper into deck synergy and find out how to maximize every Bloodbraid Elf play, making each match not just a duel but a display of calculated mastery. Ready for the next level? Join us and witness the power of strategic deck building.


Cards like Bloodbraid Elf

Bloodbraid Elf stands as an iconic figure in Magic: The Gathering, wielding the potent mechanic of cascade. Comparably, Shardless Agent shares this ability, though it carries a lower casting cost and offers a different color profile suited to different deck builds. Where Bloodbraid Elf brings haste to the battlefield, Shardless Agent focuses on its artifact creature status, giving it a more versatile role in artifact-focused plays.

Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder is yet another card swimming in the cascade pool, boasting the capacity to cascade not just once, but potentially multiple times in a single turn. Though the setup required for Yidris may be more complex, the payoff in cascading every spell you cast can be game-changing. On another branch, Etherium-Horn Sorcerer introduces a flexible recurring cascade ability. While less immediate in board impact than Bloodbraid Elf, its potential for long-term value through reuse can complement different strategies.

Consideration of utility and synergy is crucial when evaluating these alternatives. In terms of aggression and immediate board presence, Bloodbraid Elf often emerges as a favorite for players looking to weave haste and cascade into their gameplay and can be a pivotal card in aggressive and midrange decks.

Shardless Agent - MTG Card versions
Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder - MTG Card versions
Etherium-Horn Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Shardless Agent - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder - Commander 2016 (C16)
Etherium-Horn Sorcerer - Planechase 2012 (PC2)

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Tuknir Deathlock - Legends (LEG)
Jungle Patrol - Mirage (MIR)
Yavimaya Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Voracious Cobra - Invasion (INV)
Chishiro, the Shattered Blade - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Hans Eriksson - Commander Legends (CMR)
Goblin Clearcutter - Legions (LGN)
Giant Solifuge - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Gruul Scrapper - Guildpact (GPT)
Rumbling Slum - Planechase (HOP)
Yule Ooze - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Rosheen Meanderer - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Hellkite Hatchling - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Rhox Brute - Battlebond (BBD)
Spellbreaker Behemoth - Commander 2013 (C13)
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Thorn-Thrash Viashino - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Polis Crusher - Theros (THS)
Kird Chieftain - Magic 2015 (M15)
Grove Rumbler - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodbraid Elf MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Bloodbraid Elf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodbraid Elf Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2023-07-18. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 368672003normalblackSteve Argyle
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1022932015normalblackPaolo Parente
32009-04-30Alara RebornARB 502003normalblackDominick Domingo
42012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 842003normalblackSteve Argyle
52016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1972015normalblackRaymond Swanland
62016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1842015normalblackRaymond Swanland
72016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 842015normalblackSteve Argyle
82019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14022015normalblackSteve Argyle
92020-09-26The ListPLST PCA-842015normalblackSteve Argyle
102021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3721997normalblackDominick Domingo
112022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8392015normalblackRaymond Swanland
122022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3732015normalborderlessPaolo Parente
132022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1842015normalblackRaymond Swanland
142022-11-02Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown KitSLC 20092015normalborderlessEjiwa "Edge" Ebenebe
152023-07-18Historic Anthology 7HA7 162015normalblackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodbraid Elf has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
2021-06-18 Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
2021-06-18 Due to a recent rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
2021-06-18 If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
2021-06-18 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2021-06-18 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
2021-06-18 The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
2021-06-18 When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
2021-06-18 You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.

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