Curse of Bloodletting MTG Card


Curse of Bloodletting - Dark Ascension
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Aura Curse
Abilities Enchant
Released2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameDark Ascension
Set codeDKA
Number85
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMichael C. Hayes

Key Takeaways

  1. Curse of Bloodletting supercharges damage output, transforming minor threats into major ones.
  2. It accelerates win conditions by doubling damage without extra mana costs.
  3. Despite higher mana investment, its targeted damage increase can be pivotal in games.

Text of card

Enchant player If a source would deal damage to enchanted player, it deals double that damage to that player instead.

It is the demon's mark, an infernal claim on the flesh of the guilty.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Curse of Bloodletting doesn’t directly allow you to draw more cards, it creates a significant advantage by potentially doubling the damage output to a specific opponent. This persistent effect draws out more value from each damage dealer you control, turning even the smallest pings into substantial threats.

Resource Acceleration: Curse of Bloodletting effectively accelerates your damage resources. By doubling the damage dealt to a chosen player, every attack or damage-dealing spell you utilize is magnified, achieving your win condition at a much faster rate without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: While Curse of Bloodletting is an enchantment cast at sorcery speed, its impact is felt immediately and lingers throughout the game. This continuous pressure can force opponents to act as if under constant instant-speed threat, disrupting their strategy and resource allocation as they attempt to mitigate the looming double damage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Curse of Bloodletting doesn’t require a discard, it demands a significant commitment of resources that might be better allocated elsewhere, especially in a tight match.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost demands a strict commitment to red mana, possibly hindering its inclusion in multicolor decks that can struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a whole five mana, three of which must be red, places this enchantment on the expensive side, potentially delaying impactful plays or making it a cumbersome card to keep in hand during the early game.


Reasons to Include Curse of Bloodletting in Your Collection

Versatility: Curse of Bloodletting can be a pivotal card in numerous red-based decks, adding a strategic layer to games. Its ability to double damage to a chosen player complements aggressive strategies and can turn the tide in your favor swiftly.

Combo Potential: This enchantment shines in combination with cards that deal damage. Pairing it with direct damage spells or creatures with potent attack abilities can lead to devastating turns and even one-shot victories.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where life totals are a key battleground, Curse of Bloodletting can function as an ace up your sleeve. Against decks that secure themselves behind a wall of life points, it serves as an equalizer that keeps opponents on their toes and introduces a threat they cannot ignore.


How to beat

Curse of Bloodletting is a formidable enchantment in the world of MTG, known for its ability to double the damage that a player takes. This card can quickly turn the tides of a game by amplifying every point of damage dealt to the enchanted player, essentially putting them on a much shorter clock. To counteract this, players must prioritize removal spells that can target enchantments. Cards like Disenchant, Naturalize, or even universal removals like Anguished Unmaking provide an out to this potentially game-ending threat.

Another viable strategy is to utilize hexproof-giving spells or abilities to protect oneself from being the target of Curse of Bloodletting in the first place. Leyline of Sanctity, for example, can render you immune from being the recipient of such curses. As a preventive measure, controlling the board and keeping pressure on your opponent can deter them from finding the right moment to cast such curses. Playing the game with an understanding of your opponent’s strategy and maintaining control of the pace will greatly increase your chances of avoiding the devastating effects of Curse of Bloodletting.

Effectively, dealing with Curse of Bloodletting comes down to preparedness. Having a deck equipped with the right balance of control, protective measures, and removal will help navigate around the curse’s significant impact on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into MTG’s depths reveals the game’s tactical soul, and Curse of Bloodletting exemplifies this. Doubling the pain to your adversaries, this card escalates any strategy’s threat level. It’s about the incremental edges as much as the dramatic plays, the slow build-up to an overwhelming board state. As you tailor your deck, consider how cards like Curse of Bloodletting can synergize with your game plan. Whether you’re looking to dominate casual kitchen-table games or clashing in competitive matches, understanding your deck’s synergy and strategic nuances is key. Ready to unleash havoc and claim victory? Dive deeper with us and harness the power of strategic MTG play.


Cards like Curse of Bloodletting

Curse of Bloodletting is a potent enchantment that amplifies damage dealt to a player in Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with Furnace of Rath, a card that doubles damage dealt to all players and creatures. While both offer the lure of increased damage, Curse of Bloodletting targets a single player, providing a more focused strategy that can be pivotal in multiplayer games. Another card in close relation is Dictate of the Twin Gods. Similar to Furnace of Rath, this enchantment has the same damage-doubling effect but with the element of surprise courtesy of Flash, allowing you to play it at any time. This can dramatically shift the tide of a game when timed correctly.

Gisela, Blade of Goldnight also shares a likeness with Curse of Bloodletting. She not only halves damage going to you and your creatures but also doubles the damage you deal. This angel brings a significant board presence beside the enchantment’s pure damage amplification. When evaluating these damage modifiers, Curse of Bloodletting stands out in games where the strategy is to incapacitate a particular opponent swiftly, making it a unique and strategic choice in MTG’s diverse pool of cards.

Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight - MTG Card versions
Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Curse of Bloodletting by color, type and mana cost

Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Bulwark - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
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Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Pyroconvergence - MTG Card versions
Possibility Storm - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunt - MTG Card versions
Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Bulwark - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
Aether Charge - MTG Card versions
Gratuitous Violence - MTG Card versions
Extra Arms - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Pyroconvergence - MTG Card versions
Possibility Storm - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunt - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Curse of Bloodletting MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Curse of Bloodletting and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Curse of Bloodletting has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-01-22 Curse of Bloodletting works with any damage, not just combat damage. It also doesn’t matter who controls the source of the damage that’s being dealt.
2011-01-22 If more than one Curse of Bloodletting enchants the same player, damage dealt to that player will double for each one (two of them will end up multiplying the damage by four, three of them by eight, and four of them by sixteen).
2011-01-22 If multiple effects modify how damage will be dealt to the enchanted player, that player chooses the order to apply the effects. For example, Mending Hands says, “Prevent the next 4 damage that would be dealt to any target this turn.” Suppose a spell would deal 5 damage to enchanted player and that player has cast Mending Hands targeting themselves. The enchanted player can either (a) prevent 4 damage first and then let Curse of Bloodletting’s effect double the remaining 1 damage, taking 2 damage, or (b) double the damage to 10 and then prevent 4 damage, taking 6 damage.
2011-01-22 The source of the damage doesn’t change. A spell that deals damage will specify the source of the damage, often the spell itself. An ability that deals damage will also specify the source of the damage, although the ability itself will never be that source. Often the source of the ability is also the source of the damage.

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