Bloodshot Cyclops MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 77
2001-04-11 - Number 176
2001-04-11 - Number 176★
2003-07-28 - Number 179★
2003-07-28 - Number 179
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Cyclops Giant |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Bloodshot Cyclops can disrupt opponents and provide decisive game swings by flinging creatures as direct damage.
- Synergies with token generation and sacrificial mechanics amplify its potential in specific MTG deck builds.
- Despite its power, its high casting cost and sacrifice requirement demand careful strategic board consideration.
Text of card
oc T, Sacrifice a creature: Bloodshot Cyclops deals X damage to target creature or player, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.
After their first encounter, the goblins named him Chuck.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing the Bloodshot Cyclops enables strategic sacrificial plays that can disrupt your opponent’s board while potentially setting up your own for future rounds. It turns your creatures into direct damage, which can give you the upper edge by eliminating key threats or even securing the game.
Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct resource accelerator, this card synergizes well in decks that use token generation. It converts a surplus of creatures into impactful direct damage, effectively accelerating your potential to close games by utilizing your existing resources more aggressively.
Instant Speed: While the Bloodshot Cyclops itself is not an instant, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This means you can wait until the most opportune moment during your own turn or your opponent’s turn to launch a creature at your opponent, keeping them guessing and maintaining the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate the Bloodshot Cyclops’s ability, you’ll need to forfeit another creature, which could set you back if your board presence is already thin. This cost means you have to make a crucial decision every time you want to use it—potentially sacrificing your strategic progress.
Specific Mana Cost: Clocking in at a total cost of six mana, with one of them being specifically red, this card demands a considerable investment and can be a challenge to cast in multicolored decks. It’s vital to have a solid mana base to ensure it hits the battlefield when you need it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 5 generic and 1 red mana, Bloodshot Cyclops is a card that comes into play later in the game. In formats where the pace is quicker and more efficient creatures are abundant, this could translate to the Cyclops being a dead draw at times when immediate action is required.
Reasons to Include Bloodshot Cyclops in Your Collection
Versatility: Bloodshot Cyclops provides utility across various strategies, acting as both a creature on the board and a potential game-ending ability. This creature can adapt to dynamic gameplay, making it a useful addition to many red-centric or multi-color decks.
Combo Potential: This giant offers significant combo potential, especially in decks that can either multiply creature strength or generate numerous creatures for Bloodshot Cyclops to fling at opponents. It synergizes well with decks built around sacrificial mechanics or those that capitalize on enters-the-battlefield or death triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where direct damage can make the difference between victory and defeat, Bloodshot Cyclops stands out. Its ability to convert surplus creatures into direct damage can be unexpectedly decisive, especially in formats that favor longer, creature-heavy games or those that permit the assembly of powerful synergies.
How to beat
Bloodshot Cyclops brings a unique twist to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature allows you to fling other creatures at your opponent’s life total, turning your army into direct damage. While intimidating, defeating this colossal threat can be tactical. Proper removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murder are effective ways to clear the Cyclops before it starts hurtling creatures your way. Control decks can also keep the Cyclops at bay with counterspells like Cancel or Dissipate, stopping the threat before it can affect the game.
For those opting for a more subtle approach, manipulating the timing of your plays makes a significant impact. Playing creatures with instant speed effects after the Cyclops’s ability has been used can preserve your board state. Moreover, cards like Pacifism can neutralize the Cyclops without having to remove it outright. Engaging in combat carefully, considering potential blockers that the Cyclops might send flying, can mitigate the damage dealt to your life total. This cautious strategy is often key in outlasting opponents who lean heavily on such powerful, singular threats.
Understanding the nuances behind Bloodshot Cyclops, from recognizing opportune moments for removal to strategic defensive plays, becomes crucial in overtaking players that depend on its daunting presence to secure victory.
Cards like Bloodshot Cyclops
Diving into the realm of creature destruction via sacrifice in Magic: The Gathering, Bloodshot Cyclops emerges as a unique card. It shares similar characteristics with fling-style cards that convert creatures into direct damage like Fling itself which, at a cheaper two mana cost, requires sacrificing a creature without tapping. Unlike Bloodshot Cyclops, Fling is an instant, allowing for unexpected plays.
Another card that echoes this concept is Thud, providing a similar effect to Fling but at sorcery speed. Though it offers the benefit of a minimized mana cost, it lacks the reusability that Bloodshot Cyclops provides through its repeatable activation ability. Comparatively, Brion Stoutarm brings a lifelink advantage to the strategy, with the ability to throw creatures at your opponents every turn and gain life equal to the damage dealt, enriching both offensive and defensive plays.
Overall, while cards like Fling and Thud offer a one-time burst of damage, Bloodshot Cyclops stands out with its ability to turn any creature into a potential recurring threat. This distinction appeals to those players who appreciate board control and direct damage strategies, positioning Bloodshot Cyclops as a classic option for MTG enthusiasts who relish tactical versatility in their gameplay.
Cards similar to Bloodshot Cyclops by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bloodshot Cyclops MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Seventh Edition, 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 Bloodshot Cyclops 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 Bloodshot Cyclops Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 77 | 1997 | normal | black | Ray Lago | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 176 | 1997 | normal | white | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 176★ | 1997 | normal | black | Daren Bader | |
| 4 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 179★ | 2003 | normal | black | Daren Bader | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 179 | 2003 | normal | white | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodshot Cyclops has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
