Blood Cultist MTG Card


Blood Cultist - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number157
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKarl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

  1. Blood Cultist presents both an offensive asset and a prowess for board control with its creature targeting ability.
  2. Its mana requirements and incremental power growth necessitate careful deck integration for maximum efficacy.
  3. Despite its higher cost, its versatility and meta relevance make it a valuable addition to specific MTG strategies.

Text of card

: Blood Cultist deals 1 damage to target creature. Whenever a creature dealt damage by Blood Cultist this turn is put into a graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on Blood Cultist.

"To immortality."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blood Cultist offers the ability to potentially remove multiple creatures over the course of a game, which indirectly leads to card advantage. Each creature your Blood Cultist takes down is one less card your opponent can utilize, tipping the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly related to mana acceleration, Blood Cultist can accelerate your resources in terms of board presence. Each successful activation can be considered a form of incremental value gain, making your other creature removal spells more effective or allowing them to be saved for more significant threats.

Instant Speed: Blood Cultist’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn. This can disrupt their strategies, force them to change plans, and give you the element of strategic surprise, all of which can be as valuable as the fastest mana ramp in tight situations.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the context of Blood Cultist, it’s crucial to note that while this card doesn’t have a discard requirement explicitly, it does require a sacrifice of creatures to be effective. This sacrifice mechanic can lead to a deficit in your board presence which is a strategic disadvantage if you don’t have expendable creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Blood Cultist requires a precise blend of black and red mana, which could hinder its inclusion in multi-colored decks that don’t focus on these colors. Players with decks that aren’t optimized for BR (Rakdos) may find the card’s mana cost restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that offers incremental advantages, Blood Cultist comes with a mana cost that is on the higher side. Considering that it takes time and resources to grow its power, players may find more immediate value in other cards with a lower or equivalent mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blood Cultist is a flexible option for decks that thrive on incremental damage and creature control. This card can slide into various red or black strategies that favor creature abilities and player interaction.

Combo Potential: Given its ability to ping creatures and players, Blood Cultist works exceptionally well with cards that benefit from or enable -1/-1 counters. It can become a key piece in machine-gun style combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where small creatures are prevalent, Blood Cultist can serve as a continuous removal tool, growing stronger with each activation. It can disrupt opponent strategies simply by being on the board.


How to beat Blood Cultist

Blood Cultist, a unique creature card, can be a real thorn in the side for many players due to its ability to grow stronger with each successful hit on any player or creature. This incremental power-up can spell trouble for those unprepared. To counteract the threat posed by Blood Cultist, a strategic approach is essential. Employing removal spells can nip the problem in the bud before the Cultist becomes too powerful. Options such as Murder or Doom Blade allow players to target and eliminate the Cultist directly, thwarting its menacing presence early on.

Another effective tactic is to exploit Blood Cultist’s modest starting statistics by engaging it in combat with stronger creatures. Overwhelm the card’s slow growth and remove it from play through superior force. Additionally, incorporating cards that prevent abilities from activating, such as Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker, can severely limit Blood Cultist’s impact on the game. Preventing its ability from triggering stifles its potential and leaves it as just another creature on the board.

Ultimately, staying proactive and aware of Blood Cultist’s capabilities will guide players to victory. By denying it the chance to accumulate counters and promptly addressing it with pointed removal or containment strategies, you can effectively neutralize this threat and maintain control of the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the versatility and board control offered by Blood Cultist, it’s clear that this card can be a game-changer in the right deck. Understanding its strengths and limitations allows you to strategize effectively, ensuring it complements your gameplay and adds depth to your overall strategy. If you’re drawn to decks that emphasize gradual advantage and enjoy cultivating a powerful board presence, investing in Blood Cultist could be your next smart play. Ready to optimize your strategy and explore new deck-building territories? Delve further into the MTG realm with us, where we uncover the synergies and tactics that will elevate your duels to epic levels. Advance in your MTG journey; join us to learn more and harness the full potential of your deck.


Cards like Blood Cultist

Blood Cultist is a card that stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering for its unique combination of abilities. When compared to Firebrand Archer, both share the ability to deal damage to opponents, but Blood Cultist offers more strategic depth with its ability to target creatures as well. This opens up various removal possibilities that Firebrand Archer lacks.

Murderous Redcap is another card that can be considered in the same conversation. Like Blood Cultist, Redcap enters the battlefield dealing damage, but it carries the persist mechanic, giving it a rebirth potential that Blood Cultist doesn’t possess. Conversely, Blood Cultist has the benefit of repeated use, growing stronger with each successful hit, something the Redcap doesn’t have without additional support.

In essence, Blood Cultist is less about immediate impact and more about growing a threat over time, a strategic option for players who enjoy nurturing a menacing presence on the battlefield. Within its niche, the Blood Cultist card aligns with Magic: The Gathering mechanics that reward patience and tactical prowess.

Firebrand Archer - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Firebrand Archer - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions

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Army Ants - MTG Card versions
Pyre Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vicious Kavu - MTG Card versions
Lava Zombie - MTG Card versions
Sarcatog - MTG Card versions
Anathemancer - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Discord - MTG Card versions
Vial Smasher the Fierce - MTG Card versions
Cryptborn Horror - MTG Card versions
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Augermage - MTG Card versions
Sedge Sliver - MTG Card versions
Ashenmoor Gouger - MTG Card versions
Pestilent Kathari - MTG Card versions
Shambling Remains - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Flailer - MTG Card versions
Ragemonger - MTG Card versions
Kathari Bomber - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blood Cultist MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Blood Cultist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blood Cultist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 Each time a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, check whether Blood Cultist had dealt any damage to it at any time during that turn. (This includes combat damage.) If so, Blood Cultist’s second ability will trigger. It doesn’t matter who controlled the creature or whose graveyard it was put into.
2008-10-01 If Blood Cultist and a creature it dealt damage to are both put into a graveyard at the same time, Blood Cultist’s ability will trigger, but it will do nothing when it resolves.

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