Bazaar Trader MTG Card


Bazaar Trader - Worldwake
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin
Released2010-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameWorldwake
Set codeWWK
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number72
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMatt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

  1. Bazaar Trader manipulates ownership, enabling creative control of artifacts, creatures, or lands.
  2. Its instant speed functionality affords flexibility and surprise in gameplay dynamics.
  3. While alignment with red mana is restrictive, its unique ability justifies inclusion in specific decks.

Text of card

: Target player gains control of target artifact, creature, or land you control.

"No need for a hurda? How about these maps to recently discovered tombs? Or these vials of invisible potion? Very fancy . . ."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bazaar Trader offers a unique advantage by letting you gain control of target artifacts, creatures, or lands you already own, effectively circumventing typical trading limitations and helping maintain superior board position.

Resource Acceleration: This creature can act as a form of resource acceleration when paired with cards that benefit from ownership changes, such as those with “enters the battlefield” effects, hence maximizing the potential of your plays and available resources.

Instant Speed: Even though Bazaar Trader itself is not an instant, it operates at instant speed, providing the flexibility to make unexpected trades and seize opportunities at the optimal moment during either player’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bazaar Trader’s ability mandates that you have a targetable permanent that you own to give away. This can sometimes backfire if you find yourself lacking a dispensable asset, essentially rendering the card’s ability useless at that moment.

Specific Mana Cost: As a card with a red color identity, it fits primarily in decks that can produce red mana. This requirement potentially restricts it from being a versatile addition to multicolored or non-red decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Trader himself is not costly to cast, effectively using his ability often necessitates pairing him with other cards. This can escalate the mana investment required to execute a beneficial trade, and in some cases, there might be more mana-efficient strategies available in the game.


Reasons to Include Bazaar Trader in Your Collection

Versatility: Bazaar Trader offers unique gameplay options by allowing you to gain control of permanents in various situations. Its ability to target any permanent means it can be slipped into numerous deck types, enhancing strategies that capitalize on ownership exchange.

Combo Potential: With Bazaar Trader, the door opens to a multitude of combo applications. Imagine pairing it with cards designed to temporarily gain control of an opponent’s creature; Bazaar Trader can turn that temporary advantage into a permanent one, effectively disrupting your opponent’s board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on designated control pieces or combo enablers, Bazaar Trader can upend the balance by snatching key components right out of your opponent’s arsenal. In a meta where control of the board dictates the victor, having Bazaar Trader can offer a surprising pivot, turning the tides in your favor.


How to beat

Bazaar Trader is a unique card within the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to alter the ownership of permanents. Although it might seem tricky to counter, managing this card can be straightforward with the right strategy. To disrupt a Bazaar Trader’s impact, one effective method is to target the permanents’ control rather than the Trader itself. Utilize removal spells for creatures or enchantments before the Trader’s ability is activated. This preemptive action prevents your opponent from gaining any advantage.

Moreover, holding onto instant-speed removal or bounce spells ensures that even if the Trader’s ability is placed on the stack, the target can be eliminated or returned to the owner’s hand in response, negating the trade. It’s also wise to incorporate cards that restrict the abilities of your opponents’ creatures. Cards that prevent activations or utilize counterspells to directly oppose the Trader’s ability can seal the deal. By keeping control of the board and being ready to react, you can diminish the influence Bazaar Trader has on the game, maintaining your stronghold.

Ultimately, Bazaar Trader can be a challenging card to face, but with a thoughtful approach and the right tools, its potential can be effectively neutralized, allowing players to maintain control of the board and their permanents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricacies of Bazaar Trader can unlock new avenues for innovative gameplay in MTG. Whether it’s creating powerful synergies or disrupting your opponent’s strategy, this card’s value extends far beyond its initial impression. It can change the landscape of a match, sometimes tipping the scales in your favor when leveraged correctly. We recommend exploring the various creative combos and deck themes that Bazaar Trader can complement. Dive into our extensive resources to discover hidden synergies and learn to harness the full potential of this versatile MTG card. Elevate your gameplay – join our community for deeper insights and tactical advice.


Similar Cards to Bazaar Trader

Bazaar Trader offers a unique twist in the realm of permanent exchange cards in MTG. The card can stand shoulder to shoulder with Switcheroo, both facilitating trades, but with Bazaar Trader, the transactions are decidedly one-sided. This quality alone makes the card a strategic gem for those crafty enough to exploit it. While Switcheroo requires a fair swap of creatures, Bazaar Trader allows you to give away permanents without the need for reciprocity, setting the stage for advantageous plays.

Comparably, Harmless Offering shares a kinship with Bazaar Trader, existing in the space of gifting permanents. However, with Harmless Offering, the control of the permanent is given to an opponent permanently, and it’s not limited to just artifacts or creatures, but any nonland permanent, thus opening a wider window of strategic betrayal. Bazaar Trader’s ability to orchestrate this transfer at any time as an activated ability allows for more reactive and tactical maneuvers during different phases of the game.

While the intrinsic risks of transferring ownership of your permanents exist, the clever application of Bazaar Trader, much like these other cards, can certainly tilt the game in your favor. It’s a nuanced tool that, when used with savvy and smart deck construction, can become a game-changer in many MTG scenarios.

Switcheroo - MTG Card versions
Harmless Offering - MTG Card versions
Switcheroo - MTG Card versions
Harmless Offering - MTG Card versions

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Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
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Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
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Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bazaar Trader MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake, 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 Bazaar Trader and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bazaar Trader has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2010-03-01 If either the targeted player or the targeted permanent is an illegal target by the time the ability resolves, the ability does nothing. The player won’t gain control of the permanent.
2010-03-01 This effect has no duration. The targeted player retains control of the targeted permanent until the game ends, the permanent leaves the battlefield, or an effect causes someone else to gain control of it.
2010-03-01 You may target yourself with Bazaar Trader’s ability. Normally, this won’t have any visible effect. However, the ability would override an effect with a limited duration that gave you control of a permanent. For example, if you temporarily gained control of a creature with Act of Treason, targeting yourself and that creature with Bazaar Trader’s ability would then cause you to gain control of the creature indefinitely.

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