Thief of Blood MTG Card
2015-11-13 - Number 22
2015-11-18 - Number 47
2017-06-09 - Number 71
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying As Thief of Blood enters the battlefield, remove all counters from all permanents. Thief of Blood enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each counter removed this way.
Her hunger will not be denied.
Cards like Thief of Blood
Thief of Blood is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that thrives on counter manipulation. Its closest counterparts might be Vampire Hexmage and Aether Snap, both known for removing counters from the playing field. Vampire Hexmage targets specific permanents, allowing for precision counter removal with its sacrifice ability. Aether Snap, much like Thief of Blood, clears all counters but with a singular, sweeping effect.
The notable difference with Thief of Blood is its ability to absorb these counters and grow stronger, which neither Vampire Hexmage nor Aether Snap can boast. Additionally, Thief of Blood enters the battlefield with these accrued counters, potentially altering its power and toughness significantly from the outset. On the flip side, Aether Snap is not a creature and doesn’t contribute to board presence, while Vampire Hexmage offers immediate action without waiting for summons.
Ultimately, Thief of Blood’s impact on the state of the game can be more dramatic, offering not just an answer to strategies reliant on counters but also presenting a formidable threat of its own. Its versatility in adjusting the balance of power on the board makes it a powerful contender in Magic: The Gathering’siverse menagerie of creatures.
Cards similar to Thief of Blood by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thief of Blood does not explicitly let you draw cards, but its ability to remove counters can shift the balance of the board vastly in your favor. When it enters the battlefield, it essentially resets proliferate strategies and planeswalkers, which can equate to nullifying multiple cards your opponent has played, delivering a significant swing in card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Thief of Blood isn’t typically associated with accelerating resources in the traditional sense of ramp or mana production, its unique utility can translate into a different kind of acceleration. By removing counters from permanents, including mana-generating artifacts or creatures, it can disrupt your opponents’ resource progression and potentially accelerate your path to victory.
Instant Speed: While Thief of Blood itself is a creature card and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its impact on the game state can be immediate and disruptive, especially if played cleverly in conjunction with flash enablers. The capacity to enter the battlefield unexpectedly before your opponent’s big turn can strip away their hard-earned counters and leave them at a severe disadvantage, effectively providing the strategic advantage often gained through instant speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Thief of Blood itself does not have a discard requirement, playing it in a deck may necessitate discarding other valuable resources to summon it due to its specific mana needs and high cost.
Specific Mana Cost: Thief of Blood requires an exact blend of mana, including both black and generic mana. This specific requirement can limit its inclusion to decks that can consistently produce the necessary colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that includes six mana—two of which must be black—Thief of Blood can be quite expensive compared to other creatures. This can make it a cumbersome addition, especially if fast-paced gameplay is important to your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thief of Blood is a flexible addition to any collection, adapting to multiple strategies by resetting counters on all permanents. This utility lets it thrive in various deck builds, from disrupting opponent strategies to enhancing your own board state.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in powerful combinations, working well with effects that proliferate or with cards that have negative interactions with counters. Its ability can swing the game by exploiting counter-heavy play from opponents or by setting the stage for your own counter-based strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state heavy with +1/+1 counters, energy counters, or planeswalkers, Thief of Blood has the potential to significantly alter the course of a match. Its impact on the board can be decisive against decks that rely on these mechanics, making it a relevant choice in ever-evolving competitive play.
How to beat
The Thief of Blood card brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield, with the ability to significantly alter the state of the game by removing all counters from other permanents and placing them on itself. When faced with this card, effective strategies become paramount for maintaining the upper hand.
One approach to outmaneuvering Thief of Blood is to limit the number of counters present on your permanents before it enters the fray. This can be achieved by playing fewer cards with counter mechanics or by using those counters before Thief of Blood can capitalize on them. Additionally, keeping instant-speed removal spells at the ready ensures you can respond to its casting immediately, neutralizing the threat before it can affect the board. Another tactic includes employing hexproof or shroud abilities to shield your important permanents, making it impossible for Thief of Blood to target them.
It’s important to always be prepared for the appearance of such a card, as an unforeseen Thief of Blood can quickly turn the tide of the game. By staying one step ahead and having a plan to minimize its impact, you can secure your position and keep control of the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thief of Blood MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Thief of Blood and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Thief of Blood Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Cynthia Sheppard.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cynthia Sheppard | |
| 2 | 2015-11-18 | Legendary Cube Prize Pack | PZ1 | 47 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cynthia Sheppard | |
| 3 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cynthia Sheppard |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thief of Blood has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thief of Blood card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-11-04 | Experience counters aren’t removed from players this way, but loyalty counters are removed from planeswalkers. |
| 2015-11-04 | If more than one Thief of Blood enters the battlefield at the same time, you can apply the replacement effect of any of them. That one will enter with additional +1/+1 counters due to its own ability and the others will not. |