Treacherous Blessing MTG Card


Treacherous Blessing provides a significant initial card draw but at the cost of life with subsequent spells. The card’s black mana cost can restrict its inclusion in multicolored decks that are less black-focused. Despite drawbacks, its capacity for enabling combos and contributing to meta can make it a collection staple.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

When Treacherous Blessing enters the battlefield, draw three cards. Whenever you cast a spell, you lose 1 life. When Treacherous Blessing becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.

Phenax is generous with gifts and unforgiving of debts.


Cards like Treacherous Blessing

Treacherous Blessing is a unique draw engine for players who delve into the darker arts of MTG. Not unlike the famed Phyrexian Arena, Treacherous Blessing allows players to gain card advantage at the expense of their life total. With Phyrexian Arena, the constant drip of one card per turn is tempered by a one-life payment, while Treacherous Blessing provides a more immediate trio of cards at once, costing life whenever you cast another spell afterwards.

Underworld Connections provides a similar option for incremental card advantage. It requires the tapping of a land and a life payment for each card, giving a controlled method of drawing compared to the burst from Treacherous Blessing. Painful Quandary is another card that imposes a cost on spells – in this case, affecting opponents by either discarding a card or paying life, which contrasts with Treacherous Blessing’s self-imposed risk for reward.

While these cards carry a life cost for card advantage trade-off, Treacherous Blessing stands out with its initial surge of cards, making it a potent choice for those willing to gamble their life for power in MTG’s vast array of strategic options.

Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Underworld Connections - MTG Card versions
Painful Quandary - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Underworld Connections - MTG Card versions
Painful Quandary - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Treacherous Blessing by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rakdos PactRakdos Pact PioneerRakdos PactPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-21
Mardu MidrangeMardu Midrange PioneerMardu MidrangePioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-02
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange PioneerOrzhov MidrangePioneer League 2024-01-10
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024
Golgari ControlGolgari Control GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Abzan Amalia ComboAbzan Amalia Combo PioneerAbzan Amalia ComboPioneer Showcase Qualifier 2023-12-10 (1)
4c Midrange4c Midrange Pioneer4c MidrangePioneer Preliminary 2024-01-04
Golgari ScapeshiftGolgari Scapeshift PioneerGolgari ScapeshiftPioneer Super Qualifier 2023-12-29
Jund ComboJund Combo PioneerJund ScapeshiftSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023
Orzhov YorionOrzhov Yorion PioneerOrzhov MidrangeF2F Tour Championship - Toronto Round 4 (Regional Championship)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Treacherous Blessing is a potent source of card advantage that allows you to draw three cards upon entering the battlefield. This feature is especially beneficial in decks that want to refill their hand and have a strong presence in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not generating mana or Treasure tokens directly, Treacherous Blessing synergizes with strategies that capitalize on the quantity of spells cast or the number of cards in hand, indirectly accelerating resources.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Treacherous Blessing can be utilized alongside instant-speed interaction. This allows players to maintain a full grip of cards ready to respond to opponents’ actions or end-step surprises, making it a formidable tool in any deck that values options and adaptability during all phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Treacherous Blessing does not specifically require discarding as part of its casting cost, the card demands a sacrifice of sorts in continual life loss. Each time you cast another spell, you lose 1 life, which can add up and put you at a significant disadvantage, especially in games that favor long-term strategies or against opponents with direct damage capabilities.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes double black mana, Treacherous Blessing asks for a commitment to black mana resources. This can potentially limit deck-building flexibility and make it less applicable for multicolored decks not heavily invested in black mana or those that operate on a strict mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although three mana might not seem particularly steep for the initial draw of three cards, Treacherous Blessing’s ongoing life loss can be seen as an added ‘cost’ over time. When considering this alongside its vulnerability to removal before you can leverage the card advantage, other card draw options might be more cost-effective, sparing you the incremental life payments.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Treacherous Blessing offers a significant draw engine for decks that can mitigate or take advantage of the life loss when casting spells. Its flexibility makes it a useful addition in various archetypes that prioritize card flow.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Treacherous Blessing becomes more than just a draw spell. It can be pivotal in combos, especially where its life loss can trigger beneficial effects or in strategies that exploit card sacrifices for gain.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where keeping your hand filled can mean the difference between victory and defeat, Treacherous Blessing stands out. Its place in the meta can be advantageous, especially if you’re up against decks that allow you the time to capitalize on the card advantage it provides.


How to beat

In the landscape of Magic the Gathering, Treacherous Blessing stands out as a compelling black enchantment, driving card advantage at the cost of a life-payment mechanism. To beat this double-edged sword, consider leveraging enchantment removal spells like Disenchant or shrewdly forcing your opponent to overflow their hand, thereby capitalizing on the drawback of Treacherous Blessing. Interaction with the stack can also be a fruitful strategy; specifically, countering the spell as it’s cast aims directly at the root, curtailing the repercussion before it takes hold.

Moreover, converting the life loss to your advantage with synergistic cards that benefit whenever life is lost can subtly turn the tables. Playing with cards designed to capitalize on life loss, such as Daxos’s Torment, represents an oblique yet effective approach. Another method entails applying pressure with aggressive plays, nudging the opponent into a precarious balance of card advantage versus survivability, further aggravated by the persistent life-drain caused by Treacherous Blessing’s ability whenever a spell is cast.

Thus, understanding the multifaceted nature of Magic the Gathering strategy can lead to several routes to outmaneuver a Treacherous Blessing on the battlefield, emphasizing the importance of resource management, deck construction, and tactical responsiveness in gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

Treacherous Blessing is more than just another card in your MTG collection; it’s a power play that challenges your strategic acumen, tempting you with card flow at a life cost. For players willing to delve into the risk-reward gameplay, this black enchantment can be a game-changer. Are you equipped to harness its potential, mitigating the downside while reaping the rewards? Maybe you’ve got the perfect counterbalance for its life-draining effect. Whatever your play style, Treacherous Blessing beckons with its dark allure. Join us to deepen your understanding and skillfully incorporate it into your winning deck strategy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Treacherous Blessing MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Theros Beyond Death 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 Treacherous Blessing and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Treacherous Blessing Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2020-01-24. Illustrated by Marco Teixeira.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 799492015NormalBlackMarco Teixeira
22020-01-24Theros Beyond Death PromosPTHB 117p2015NormalBlackMarco Teixeira
32020-01-24Theros Beyond Death PromosPTHB 117s2015NormalBlackMarco Teixeira
42020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 1172015NormalBlackMarco Teixeira
52020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 3162015NormalBlackMarco Teixeira

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Treacherous Blessing has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-01-24 If you cast a spell that targets Treacherous Blessing, you choose whether you lose 1 life before or after you sacrifice it. You lose 1 life even if you sacrifice it first.