Bad Moon MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Bad Moon indirectly grants card advantage by amplifying the threat level of creatures.
  2. Boosts value of your creatures without extra mana cost, enhancing board state.
  3. Universal black creature buff positions Bad Moon as a crucial strategic asset.

Text of card

All black creatures in play gain +1/+1.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bad Moon card in magic the gathering can lead to indirect card advantage by making each of your creatures more formidable. With a board presence already established, Bad Moon turns each creature into a bigger threat, potentially overrunning opponents who lack answers.

Resource Acceleration: Although Bad Moon itself doesn’t directly produce mana or accelerate resources, it efficiently uses the mana you’ve invested into your creatures by enhancing their power. This card essentially scales the value of your creatures without any additional mana cost, creating a more potent board state quickly.

Instant Speed: While Bad Moon is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, its ongoing effect can serve as a surprise boost in power during combat on your turn. Opponents must always account for the potential increase in the power of your creatures, which can alter their combat calculations and strategic decisions in real-time.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: As a card that necessitates black mana, Bad Moon can be limiting for multi-color decks that might struggle with a consistent black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two black mana, Bad Moon can be a bit costly for its effect—especially when you’re racing to establish board presence against decks that might operate more efficiently with less restrictive mana requirements.

Discard Requirement: While not a direct con of the card itself, it’s important to consider that in formats where hand disruption is prevalent, holding onto Bad Moon for the right moment could lead to it being discarded by an opponent’s strategy, negating its potential impact on the game.


Reasons to Include Bad Moon in Your Collection

Versatility: Bad Moon is a card that can effortlessly fit into a wide array of black decks, boosting the power and toughness of all black creatures on the battlefield. Whether you are building an aggressive swarm strategy or a control deck with a few key creatures, Bad Moon can be a game-changer.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with high creature density decks, especially those that utilize tokens or undead themes. Bad Moon effectively enhances these synergies, making your army of creatures a more formidable force to be reckoned with on the tabletop.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where black creatures play a significant role, Bad Moon can act as a powerful force multiplier. Its universal black creature buff makes it a valuable asset in mirror matches and against decks that struggle to deal with an increased number of large, threatening creatures.


How to beat

Bad Moon is a card that can dominate the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to empower black creatures. Although powerful, there are strategies to counteract its buffing effect. One effective approach includes running enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize which can directly remove Bad Moon from the game. Playing sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can also reset the board, nullifying Bad Moon’s advantage.

Strategic deck-building can minimize Bad Moon’s impact as well. Opt for creatures that can deal with multiple creatures at once, or employ ones with protection from black to negate the strengthened threats. Additionally, utilizing cards to manage your opponent’s mana base can delay or even prevent them from casting Bad Moon altogether, disrupting their game plan effectively. Aim to maintain card advantage and use your spells judiciously to keep the board in your favor.

Ultimately, while Bad Moon has the potential to tilt the scales, incorporating versatile answers in your deck and staying aware of your opponent’s potential plays are key in surmounting the challenge it presents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Beyond evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of Bad Moon, the real art lies in mastering the strategies that maximize its potential. Black mana enthusiasts understand the pivotal role this card plays when leveraged effectively. Consider incorporating Bad Moon into decks focused on black creatures to exponentially increase their threat level. Also, keep in mind the importance of balance and deck versatility to counter potential setbacks. For those seeking to sharpen their deck-building skills and deepen strategic gameplay, delve further with us. Discover comprehensive guides, expert tips, and a community ready to support your growth in the enthralling world of MTG.


Cards like Bad Moon

Bad Moon is an iconic card in MTG that stands out for its simplicity and potent boost to black creatures. It finds kinship with cards like Glorious Anthem, which similarly provides a blanket bonus to creatures, but to all colors, not just black. However, Bad Moon offers that exclusive strength to dark-aligned decks, amplifying only black creatures’ power and toughness and thus concentrating its benefit for a more focused strategy.

Gauntlet of Power is another comparison, though it is more expansive in its effects. It doubles the mana of a selected color and similarly boosts creatures of that color. Whereas Bad Moon is reserved for black creatures only, Gauntlet of Power’s scalability makes it a powerful but more costly alternative. Still, for its narrower but significant impact and lower mana cost, Bad Moon retains its place in the pantheon of creature buff cards.

Sibling to these is also the notable Caged Sun. While Caged Sun can select a color to strengthen creatures and ramp mana, it’s at a higher mana investment than Bad Moon, though offering a broader spectrum of benefits. Through this lens, Bad Moon excels in its role, particularly in decks where a quick and efficient boost to a swarm of black creatures can be game-changing.

Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Gauntlet of Power - MTG Card versions
Caged Sun - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - Urza's Saga (USG)
Gauntlet of Power - Time Spiral (TSP)
Caged Sun - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Bad Moon by color, type and mana cost

Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Dark Privilege - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Edict - MTG Card versions
Dying Wail - MTG Card versions
Insubordination - MTG Card versions
Mourning - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Fear - Tenth Edition (10E)
Warp Artifact - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Deathgrip - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Animate Dead - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blight - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Seizures - Ice Age (ICE)
Leshrac's Sigil - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Lim-Dûl's Hex - Ice Age (ICE)
Dance of the Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dark Privilege - Multiverse Gift Box (MGB)
Enfeeblement - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Oath of Ghouls - Exodus (EXO)
Despondency - Urza's Saga (USG)
Yawgmoth's Edict - Urza's Saga (USG)
Dying Wail - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Insubordination - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Mourning - Invasion (INV)
Chains of Mephistopheles - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Brain Maggot - Historic Anthology 2 (HA2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bad Moon MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Bad Moon and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Bad Moon Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 931993normalblackJesper Myrfors
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 941993normalblackJesper Myrfors
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 941993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 941993normalblackJesper Myrfors
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 941993normalblackJesper Myrfors
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 941993normalblackJesper Myrfors
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 941993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 941993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1201993normalblackJesper Myrfors
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1201993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1421997normalwhiteGary Leach
122006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 381997normalblackJesper Myrfors
132014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1352015normalblackGary Leach
142014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 482015normalblackGary Leach
152020-09-26The ListPLST DDD-482003normalblackGary Leach
162022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 932015normalblackJesper Myrfors
172022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3901997normalblackJesper Myrfors

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bad Moon has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks