Blastoderm MTG Card
2000-02-14 - Number 102
2000-08-02 - Number jk102
2001-08-08 - Number jt102
2014-06-16 - Number 198
2014-12-05 - Number 7
2019-11-07 - Number 1142
2002-06-24 - Number 35134
2020-09-26 - Number DDD-7
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Fading,Shroud |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Undefeated by sorcery-speed spells, Blastoderm ensures board presence and withstands initial removal attempts.
- While limiting targeting options, the Shroud ability enhances Blastoderm’s value in green-centric decks.
- Its four-turn invulnerability to targeted removal pressures opponents, making it a strategic asset.
Text of card
Fading 3 (This creature comes into play with three fade counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a fade counter from it. If you can't, sacrifice it.) Blastoderm can't be the target of spells or abilities.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Blastoderm itself doesn’t generate direct card advantage, its sheer resilience to control spells that often lead to one-for-one trades can indirectly lead to card advantage. By forcing your opponent to use multiple resources to deal with it, Blastoderm can easily become a key player in gaining the upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: Blastoderm may not provide direct resource acceleration, but its low cost relative to its power and toughness means you’re getting a significant presence on the board early on. For four mana, you’re deploying a threat that requires immediate addressing, which accelerates the pressure you put on an opponent.
Instant Speed: While Blastoderm doesn’t have abilities that operate at instant speed, its Fading 3 ability means it comes into play shielded from sorcery-speed removal spells for your opponent’s next turn. This guarantees it will stick around for at least a swing or two, making it quite effective against decks that rely on setup and sorcery-speed interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Blastoderm doesn’t come with a direct discard requirement; however, since it features the Shroud ability, you may find your options for targeting and enhancing it significantly limited. This can indirectly cause card discard if you’re unable to use buffs or protections on this creature.
Specific Mana Cost: Blastoderm requires a specific mana configuration to cast—two generic and two green mana. This mana composition necessitates a dedicated green mana base, which could potentially restrict its inclusion in multi-colored or colorless decks that can’t consistently provide the required green mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Blastoderm is a sizeable creature for its cost. Nonetheless, it’s important to weigh its cost against other options available. Certain decks might prefer creatures with immediate board impact or lower-cost creatures that allow for a more versatile playstyle.
Reasons to Include Blastoderm in Your Collection
Versatility: Blastoderm offers a robust presence in green creature-focused decks due to its solid stats and immunity to targeted spells for a limited time, allowing for aggressive board development against control decks.
Combo Potential: Despite not having intrinsic combo synergies, its resiliency makes it an excellent candidate for decks utilizing flicker effects or enchantments like Rancor, providing a recurring threat that’s tough to handle.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with spot removal, Blastoderm’s Shroud ability for its first four turns on the battlefield makes it an asset, as it is impervious to most targeted removal spells, allowing it to pressure opponents effectively during this crucial window.
How to beat
Blastoderm has been a formidable presence on the battlefield since it first appeared in the Nemesis set of Magic: The Gathering. Recognized for its substantial 5/5 stats and the ephemeral nature provided by fading, it presents a unique challenge to overcome. To effectively neutralize Blastoderm, it’s essential to bypass its shroud ability which prevents it from being the target of spells or abilities.
One strategy is to control the combat phase. Since Blastoderm can’t be targeted by spells or abilities, using global effects like Wrath of God to clear the board can be a key maneuver. Another tactic is to employ creatures with higher defense values to block and withstand Blastoderm’s attacks, waiting out the fading counters until it phases itself out of the game. Also, cards that change the rules of combat, such as Ensnaring Bridge, can prevent Blastoderm from attacking at all. Understanding the timing and employing preventative measures against Blastoderm ensures that this creature’s impact is minimized during play.
Ultimately, cards like Blastoderm test a player’s ability to adapt and find creative solutions to seemingly indestructible threats. Navigating around its protections can turn the tides of the game in your favor.
Cards like Blastoderm
In the world of Magic the Gathering, a creature like Blastoderm holds its ground as a formidable powerhouse. Nestled within the spectrum of green creature spells, it bears comparison to other notable heavyweights such as Leatherback Baloth. The Baloth comes with an impressive 4/5 body for three green mana, but unlike our shrouded friend, it lacks the evasion from being targeted that Blastoderm offers with its fading ability.
Blastoderm shares its fading mechanic with cards like Thornscape Battlemage. Yet, the Battlemage leans towards utility with its kickers rather than raw power. On the perseverance spectrum, Penumbra Wurm also enters the battlefield with a hefty price tag but leaves behind a token when it dies, granting longevity that Blastoderm doesn’t quite match.
While various creatures may boast some similarities, the sheer tempo advantage gained by Blastoderm’s above-curve size and its brief but potent period of invulnerability set it apart in green creature-based strategies, solidifying its niche in MTG’s vast array of creature spells.
Cards similar to Blastoderm by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blastoderm MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and World Championship Decks 2000, 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 Blastoderm and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See Magic products
Printings
The Blastoderm Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-02-14 | Nemesis | NEM | 102 | 1997 | normal | black | Eric Peterson | |
| 2 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | jk102 | 1997 | normal | gold | Eric Peterson | |
| 3 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | jt102 | 1997 | normal | gold | Eric Peterson | |
| 4 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35134 | 2003 | normal | black | Eric Peterson | ||
| 5 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 198 | 2015 | normal | black | Nils Hamm | |
| 6 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 7 | 2015 | normal | black | Nils Hamm | |
| 7 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1142 | 2003 | normal | black | Nils Hamm | |
| 8 | The List | PLST | DDD-7 | 2003 | normal | black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blastoderm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
