Bloodhall Priest MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Cleric
Abilities Madness
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Triggers damage when discarding cards or with an empty hand, offering a strategic edge in gameplay.
  2. Instant speed ability provides surprise factor, potentially shifting game dynamics unexpectedly.
  3. Demanding mana requirements cater to specific decks, potentially limiting versatility in broader strategies.

Text of card

Whenever Bloodhall Priest enters the battlefield or attacks, if you have no cards in hand, Bloodhall Priest deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Bloodhall Priest, each time you discard or there are no cards in your hand, it enables you to ping any target, effectively managing board threats or nudging your opponent’s life total. This ability, when used correctly, keeps you a step ahead, as it can potentially remove an opponent’s creature or deal direct damage, hence maintaining card superiority.

Resource Acceleration: Although Bloodhall Priest doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional mana sense, its ability can be seen as a form of resource acceleration by aiding in eliminating your opponent’s threats without expending additional cards from your hand. This can lead to a more efficient use of your existing resources.

Instant Speed: Bloodhall Priest’s power lies in the surprise factor at instant speed. While not an instant itself, its ability can be triggered during your discard step, allowing you to take advantage of the timing to catch opponents off guard, whether it’s through a careful setup or in response to an opponent forcing you to discard. This can significantly sway the course of a game when unleashed unexpectedly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bloodhall Priest necessitates having no cards in hand to unleash its damage-dealing ability. This caveat may lead to moments where optimal damage output is hindered by a hand that cannot be easily emptied, potentially stalling your aggressive strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Cast with an exacting blend of red and black mana, Bloodhall Priest demands a rigidly tailored manabase. This specificity can be restrictive, sometimes pigeonholing the card into Rakdos decks and limiting its inclusion in more varied multicolored strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Bloodhall Priest can be considered mana-intensive. Its initial impact may not always justify the investment, especially when compared to other four-mana cards in the format that could provide immediate and more substantial board presence or effects.


Reasons to Include Bloodhall Priest in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodhall Priest offers a unique flexibility in deck building. It is a solid choice in any Rakdos deck, lending an impactful presence both as a beater and as a conditional damage dealer whenever you have no cards in hand. It slides smoothly into aggressive strategies, yet can also serve as a valuable asset in midrange builds that can manage their hand size effectively.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card becomes a repeated source of damage output. It triggers not only when you cast it with an empty hand but also on every turn where you’ve successfully emptied your hand, proving to be a recurring nuisance for your opponent. Artifacts like “Bag of Holding” or mechanics like Madness pair beautifully, turning card disadvantage to your favor and maximizing the damage from the Priest’s ability.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current landscape of the meta where quick resolutions and decisive plays can dominate, Bloodhall Priest can disrupt your opponent’s tempo and serve as both a threat and a removal tool. In a game that rewards efficient resource management, having a creature that capitalizes on an empty grip keeps your deck sharp and responsive to various situations.


How to beat

Bloodhall Priest is a card that can present quite the challenge on the battlefield with its ability to deal damage directly to any target upon discarding or drawing a card. To counteract this formidable adversary, consider focusing on preventing your opponent from utilizing the madness mechanic, which the Priest capitalizes on when a player discards cards. Hand disruption strategies can be highly effective, removing key cards before they’re used to trigger Bloodhall Priest’s ability.

Removal spells are also paramount when facing this creature. Direct removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can effectively deal with the Priest before its damage-dealing capability becomes a problem. Be vigilant for the right moment to play these spells, ideally when the opponent is tapped out to avoid any countermagic or protective spells. Lastly, graveyard management tools that exile cards can disrupt any plans to recast Bloodhall Priest from the graveyard, which halts its assault and keeps you in control of the game’s tempo.

Staying one step ahead of the Priest, by managing your opponent’s hand and the graveyard will tilt the odds in your favor. Keep your removal ready and nullify the madness mechanic to beat this powerful card.


BurnMana Recommendations

The exploration of Bloodhall Priest as an MTG card reveals its duality of aggression and utility. Leveraging an empty hand to deal punitive strikes or eliminate a threat epitomizes strategic depth. Integrating this card into your deck promises a dynamic playstyle, empowering both newcomers and veterans alike. Our discourse offers a launchpad into mastering such tactical plays, urging you to delve deeper into the strategies around card advantage, and even beyond. For a more comprehensive understanding of this potent Rakdos staple, continue your journey with us. Embrace the rich complexities of MTG and command the battlefield with finesse.


Cards like Bloodhall Priest

Bloodhall Priest offers a distinct blend of aggressive and reactive gameplay elements that make it a unique inclusion in MTG decks specializing in damage-dealing strategies. When looking at counterparts, Rakdos Cackler deserves attention as it also delivers early aggressiveness. Nevertheless, Bloodhall Priest steps up the game with its ability to potentially deal damage directly to a target when you have no cards in hand, an attribute Rakdos Cackler lacks.

Moving our gaze to cards like Falkenrath Aristocrat, we see a similarity in the vampire tribal synergy and a focus on direct pressure. However, Bloodhall Priest combines damage output with hand-condition advantages that can turn the tide mid to late game, something Falkenrath Aristocrat doesn’t exploit. Olivia, Mobilized for War is another fitting comparison – it’s from the same vampire lineage with abilities enhancing other creatures but does not offer the same direct damage potential as Bloodhall Priest.

Scrutinizing these cards side by side, it’s evident that Bloodhall Priest stands out, especially in strategies aiming to capitalize on empty hand benefits, thereby adding a tactical layer that can catch opponents unprepared in MTG matchups.

Rakdos Cackler - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Aristocrat - MTG Card versions
Olivia, Mobilized for War - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Cackler - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Falkenrath Aristocrat - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Olivia, Mobilized for War - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

Cards similar to Bloodhall Priest by color, type and mana cost

Lim-Dûl's Paladin - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Dead - MTG Card versions
Discordant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Volcano Imp - MTG Card versions
Possessed Barbarian - MTG Card versions
Pardic Collaborator - MTG Card versions
Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Rats - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Ashenmoor Liege - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Singe-Mind Ogre - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Paladin - Alliances (ALL)
Balduvian Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Discordant Spirit - Mirage (MIR)
Volcano Imp - Planeshift (PLS)
Possessed Barbarian - Torment (TOR)
Pardic Collaborator - Torment (TOR)
Prosper, Tome-Bound - Forgotten Realms Commander Display Commanders (OAFC)
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Blim, Comedic Genius - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rakdos Firewheeler - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Immersturm Predator - Kaldheim (KHM)
Murderous Redcap - The List (PLST)
Hellhole Rats - Dissension (DIS)
Wort, Boggart Auntie - Lorwyn (LRW)
Sootwalkers - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Ashenmoor Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Viashino Skeleton - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Singe-Mind Ogre - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Olivia Voldaren - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodhall Priest MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon 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 Bloodhall Priest and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Bloodhall Priest Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Mark Winters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 1812015normalblackMark Winters
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 181s2015normalblackMark Winters
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1882015normalblackMark Winters
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2312015normalblackMark Winters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodhall Priest 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 Bloodhall Priest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-07-13 If you have a card in hand at the moment the trigger condition occurs, Bloodhall Priest’s ability won’t trigger, even if you can get that card out of your hand right afterward. If you have a card in hand as the ability resolves, it has no effect. No damage will be dealt.
2016-07-13 The triggered ability triggers both when Bloodhall Priest enters the battlefield and whenever it attacks. You don’t have to choose only one.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks