The Balrog of Moria MTG Card


Offers card advantage and resource acceleration, crucial for dominating the game. Combines instant speed with raw power, enhancing strategic plays. Despite its strengths, comes with significant mana and discard drawbacks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Avatar Demon
Abilities Cycling,Haste,Trample,Treasure
Power 8
Toughness 8

Text of card

Trample, haste When The Balrog of Moria dies, you may exile it. When you do, for each opponent, exile up to one target creature that player controls. Cycling When you cycle The Balrog of Moria, create two Treasure tokens.


Cards like The Balrog of Moria

The Balrog of Moria invites comparisons with other formidable creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Imagine a colossal force like Desolation Twin, a 10/10 creature that brings a copy of itself onto the battlefield. While The Balrog of Moria doesn’t replicate itself, its presence alone can be as commanding as having two giants at your command. Meanwhile, consider Phyrexian Colossus, which boasts an immense power and toughness, but at a cost to your life total, whereas The Balrog of Moria demands no such sacrifice, making it a daunting adversary in any match.

Another parallel can be drawn with Pelakka Wurm, which presents a beneficial life-gain upon entering the battlefield. However, the sheer might and menace of The Balrog of Moria can eclipse the Wurm’s benevolence with its aggressive playstyle. Each of these cards showcases different strategies: one focuses on quantity, another on a high-risk, high-reward approach, and the latter plays a more nurturing role, but The Balrog of Moria stands out with its raw power and intimidation factor.

Assessing their roles in a deck, The Balrog of Moria holds its own against other impressive creatures, bringing a different kind of strategic advantage due to its size and the impact it has when it stomps onto the scene.

Desolation Twin - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Desolation Twin - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to The Balrog of Moria by color, type and mana cost

Lady Orca - MTG Card versions
Barktooth Warbeard - MTG Card versions
Tsabo Tavoc - MTG Card versions
Bladewing the Risen - MTG Card versions
Kaervek the Merciless - MTG Card versions
Kazarov, Sengir Pureblood - MTG Card versions
Gut, Brutal Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Orca, Siege Demon - MTG Card versions
The Balrog, Durin's Bane - MTG Card versions
Witch-king, Sky Scourge - MTG Card versions
Lady Orca - MTG Card versions
Barktooth Warbeard - MTG Card versions
Tsabo Tavoc - MTG Card versions
Bladewing the Risen - MTG Card versions
Kaervek the Merciless - MTG Card versions
Kazarov, Sengir Pureblood - MTG Card versions
Gut, Brutal Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Bladewing, Deathless Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Orca, Siege Demon - MTG Card versions
The Balrog, Durin's Bane - MTG Card versions
Witch-king, Sky Scourge - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mississippi RiverMississippi River LegacyCreative Technique$1K - Legacy - SCG CON Hartford - Friday - 1:00 pm

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With its formidable presence on the battlefield, The Balrog of Moria provides an immense card advantage. Every time it strikes down an opponent’s creature, you delve deeper into your deck, drawing into the power and strategy needed to outmaneuver your rivals.

Resource Acceleration: Representing a surge in resources, this card has the potential to radically shift the dynamics of mana availability. Through its intimidating might and synergies, it can accelerate your mana pool, allowing for bigger threats to be cast earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: The quicksilver nature of an instant-speed ability on a card like The Balrog of Moria drastically amplifies its strategic value. It positions you to react swiftly to shifting battle conditions, ensuring you can adapt and respond when the moment is most crucial, keeping opponents constantly on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Balrog of Moria requires you to part ways with another card from your hand, which can feel punishing when your resources are already dwindling. This drawback forces players to strategize their hand management, making every played card a critical decision.

Specific Mana Cost: To summon this iconic creature, your deck must provide the exact mana combination it demands. This can be a stumbling block in a game that values flexibility, as the rigid cost can clash with a deck’s mana base, limiting the diversity of strategies that can effectively wield this powerful entity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ensuring you have enough mana to bring The Balrog of Moria into play is not an easy feat. Its commanding presence comes with a steep price, and there are instances where this cost could set you back in the race against an opponent harnessing less mana-intensive creatures or strategies that accelerate their board state more efficiently.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Balrog of Moria card offers a wide range of adaptive strategies within the game. Its robust abilities enable it to act as a formidable defender or a strong offensive entity, making it a card that adapts seamlessly to various playstyles and deck types.

Combo Potential: With its potential to disrupt opponent strategies through direct damage and creature removal abilities, The Balrog of Moria can be the linchpin in powerful combinations. It synergizes well with cards that benefit from destroying creatures or exploiting direct damage to the opponent.

Meta-Relevance: Given its strength and flexibility, The Balrog of Moria maintains relevance in the dynamic competitive environment. In a meta where large creatures and impactful board presence are key, having this card in your collection could give you a significant edge during gameplay.


How to beat

The Balrog of Moria card showcases intimidating might in MTG, but it’s by no means unbeatable. To triumph over such a formidable creature, employing the right tactics and card selection is critical. Tactics such as exile spells stand out as efficient remedies, regardless of its considerable power and ability to devastate upon entering the battlefield. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can dispatch the Balrog instantaneously, bypassing any concerns about its power or toughness. It’s also pivotal to manage your pace and keep mana available for these solutions when you suspect an opponent could unleash this terror from their deck.

Another strategy involves stifling the card’s abilities. Players may opt for cards like Pithing Needle, which can prevent the activation of abilities that aren’t mana abilities. By being preemptive and strategic about the timing, you can effectively neutralize the Balrog’s impact on the game. Lastly, never underestimate the power of strong board control. Sweeper spells like Wrath of God can clear out the Balrog along with other threats, leveling the playing field. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can prepare a solid defense against the might of The Balrog of Moria and maintain control over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of The Balrog of Moria is crucial for any MTG player looking to enhance their deck’s performance. This card’s capacity for card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant-speed reactions make it a formidable asset, while its drawbacks in discard requirements and specific mana costs provide a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience. Balancing your deck to accommodate such a powerhouse involves careful strategy and thoughtful construction. To learn more about seamlessly integrating The Balrog of Moria into your collection and uncovering strategies to overcome this behemoth, connect with us for deeper insights and tips to ensure your deck is battle-ready.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Balrog of Moria MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 The Balrog of Moria and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The The Balrog of Moria Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Rudy Siswanto.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1292015NormalBlackRudy Siswanto
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 462015NormalBlackRudy Siswanto
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 4492015NormalBlackRudy Siswanto

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The Balrog of Moria has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
2023-06-16 Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren't spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as Saruman's Trickery) won't affect them.