Malakir Bloodwitch MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Shaman
Abilities Flying,Protection
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Her protection from white and life swing ability offer strategic advantage and resilience in gameplay.
  2. Resource acceleration through life gains enables effective time management and game control.
  3. Instant speed synergy makes Malakir Bloodwitch a tactically sound play in reactive decks.

Text of card

Flying, protection from white When Malakir Bloodwitch enters the battlefield, each opponent loses life equal to the number of Vampires you control. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Malakir Bloodwitch provides strategic value through her protection from white, which lets her evade many removal spells while also posing a threat that must be dealt with. When she enters the battlefield, her ability can also result in a net life swing, providing you with a potential collective life gain against multiple opponents – a form of card advantage that can be pivotal in multiplayer formats.

Resource Acceleration: While Malakir Bloodwitch doesn’t directly ramp your mana like some green cards, her ability can represent a sort of resource acceleration. Gaining life can effectively ‘buy’ you more time to deploy your resources, and the life lost by opponents can accelerate their demise, shortening the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: Although the Bloodwitch herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, she synergizes well in formats where instant-speed interaction is crucial. Her evasion and impactful entrance make her an excellent follow-up to holding up mana for instant-speed responses, allowing you to pivot smoothly between defense and offense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Malakir Bloodwitch does not require a discard as a cost, it’s important to consider this type of drawback when evaluating any card’s potential downsides. Cards that necessitate discarding can pressure your hand, forcing tough decisions on resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: Malakir Bloodwitch demands a specific mana alignment; requiring black mana could be restrictive. Decks not heavy in black mana may find it challenging to summon this creature without the right mana base or fixing tools.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end of the curve, the Bloodwitch can be less appealing compared to lower-cost cards that provide immediate board impact. This high cost can be a significant factor in faster-paced games where early momentum is critical.


Reasons to Include Malakir Bloodwitch in Your Collection

Versatility: Malakir Bloodwitch is a versatile card that can act as both an offensive and defensive asset. Its pro-white ability shields it from many common removal spells, while its flying attribute allows it to evade ground defenses and press for damage in the air. This adaptability makes it a solid choice for various black-oriented decks seeking resilience and reliable pressure on opponents.

Combo Potential: The Bloodwitch’s ability to cause a life swing upon entering the battlefield complements decks that exploit life-total changes. Integrating it with cards that trigger on life gain or loss can set off powerful combinations, solidifying board presence, and disrupting opponent strategies. Plus, its vampiric nature ties well with tribal synergies within vampire-themed decks, further expanding its combo scope.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where life totals are a fierce battleground and aggressive strategies prevail, Malakir Bloodwitch serves as a premiere choice. It carves a niche in black decks that strive to stabilize against aggressive white weenie or token strategies, making it not just relevant but often a game-changer when timed correctly.


How to beat

Malakir Bloodwitch is a formidable presence on the battlefield, challenging opponents with its combination of flying, protection from white, and a life-draining enter-the-battlefield effect. To counteract such a powerful adversary in Magic: The Gathering, one should consider leveraging spells and abilities that don’t target, or even better, those that don’t rely on color.

Cards with universal removal effects like Damnation or Toxic Deluge can clear the board without the concern of protection from white coming into play. Using artifacts or colorless spells, such as Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, whose abilities can affect Malakir Bloodwitch despite any color protection, is another viable strategy. Additionally, employing strategies that focus on hand disruption or counterspells can prevent Malakir Bloodwitch from hitting the field in the first place, effectively nullifying its impact on your life total.

Ultimately, flexibility in your approach and inclusion of versatile removals in your deck can prepare you to successfully navigate encounters with powerful creatures like Malakir Bloodwitch, maintaining the balance of power in your favor throughout the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the battlefield in MTG means knowing every card’s strengths and shortcomings. Malakir Bloodwitch presents itself as a formidable ally, skillfully dodging common removals and tipping life totals in your favor. Yet unlocking its full potential requires strategic deck construction and meta awareness. If the Bloodwitch piques your interest and you wish to harness its power in your Vampire tribal or control deck, join the BurnMana community. Here, we dive deeper into MTG strategies, discussing card synergies, mana optimization, and how to outmaneuver your opponents. Elevate your game – learn, adapt, and dominate with BurnMana.


Cards like Malakir Bloodwitch

Malakir Bloodwitch stands out as a powerful addition to Vampire tribal decks in the vast landscape of MTG. With the ability to affect each opponent’s life total upon entry, this card draws a parallel with Gray Merchant of Asphodel, which also possesses an impactful life swing effect. However, Gray Merchant of Asphodel’s devotion mechanic may lead to higher life total exchanges based on the number of permanents in play.

Considering other vampiric compatriots, Bloodline Keeper provides a similar black-aligned tribal synergy, generating creature tokens to bolster the ranks. But Malakir Bloodwitch’s pro-white protection and its direct health impact set it apart. Cliffhaven Vampire also operates in the realm of life adjustment, yet it triggers continuously with ally lifegain rather than a single, robust entrance ability.

Ultimately, Malakir Bloodwitch serves a unique dual role, both as a defensive asset with protection from a common removal color and as an offensive force, capable of tipping the scales of life totals in one fell swoop, solidifying its niche among Vampire decks within MTG.

Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions
Cliffhaven Vampire - MTG Card versions
Gray Merchant of Asphodel - Theros (THS)
Cliffhaven Vampire - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Malakir Bloodwitch by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Zombie Goliath - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - Tempest (TMP)
Entropic Specter - Exodus (EXO)
Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Fallen Angel - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Hollow Dogs - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Grotesque Hybrid - Torment (TOR)
Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sootfeather Flock - Legions (LGN)
Zombie Cutthroat - Scourge (SCG)
Gluttonous Zombie - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Vermiculos - Mirrodin (MRD)
Woebearer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Zombie Goliath - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Malakir Bloodwitch MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Commander 2017, 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 Malakir Bloodwitch and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Malakir Bloodwitch Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2021-11-19. Illustrated by Shelly Wan.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 1002003normalblackShelly Wan
22017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1162015normalblackShelly Wan
32021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1312015normalblackShelly Wan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Malakir Bloodwitch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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