Bladewing's Thrall MTG Card
2003-05-26 - Number 55
2017-11-17 - Number 81
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Bladewing’s Thrall grants card advantage by recurring from the graveyard, enhancing dragon decks.
- Instant-speed revival of the Thrall can lead to unexpected blocking and combat advantages.
- Mana cost restrictions and reliance on dragons may limit the Thrall’s deck versatility.
Text of card
Bladewing's Thrall has flying as long as you control a Dragon. When a Dragon comes into play, you may return Bladewing's Thrall from your graveyard to play.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bringing Bladewing’s Thrall back from the graveyard without spending a card from hand adds significant card advantage, especially in dragon-heavy decks or graveyard synergy strategies.
Resource Acceleration: Although Bladewing’s Thrall itself does not directly accelerate resources, it does provide a recurring presence on the battlefield without additional mana investment, effectively saving resources for other strategic plays.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Bladewing’s Thrall can return to the battlefield at instant speed whenever a dragon comes into play, allowing for surprise blocks and combat tricks that can catch an opponent off-guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Bladewing’s Thrall in your deck creates an inherent risk, as it relies on having a Dragon on the field or in the graveyard to be cost-effective. Otherwise, you may face a scenario where the Thrall becomes a dead card in your hand, potentially crippling your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing both black mana and three other generic mana to cast, Bladewing’s Thrall can be restrictive for multicolored decks outside the black-red spectrum. This specific mana requirement sometimes hampers deck flexibility and reduces the card’s viability in a broad range of strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Bladewing’s Thrall can be a powerhouse in the right setup, its four mana cost is significant. In a fast-paced game, that four mana could be used to deploy other creatures or control elements that might have an immediate impact on the game state, as opposed to waiting for the right conditions to make the Thrall effective.
Reasons to Include Bladewing’s Thrall in Your Collection
Versatility: Bladewing’s Thrall offers flexibility by seamlessly slotting into various dragon-themed decks or those centered around graveyard mechanics. Its ability to return to the battlefield from the graveyard when a dragon appears makes it a persistent threat on the board.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with cards that can manipulate graveyard play or repeatedly bring dragons to the fore, thus ensuring a recurring presence of Bladewing’s Thrall. Its synergistic nature with dragons also enhances strategies that capitalize on tribal benefits.
Meta-Relevance: Given its unique interaction with dragon creatures, Bladewing’s Thrall becomes a strategic addition in metas with a prevalence of tribal decks. Its recurrence from the graveyard can confer you significant board advantage against control strategies that rely on creature removal.
How to beat
Bladewing’s Thrall is an intriguing creature card in MTG that can present a formidable challenge when it’s on the board. Primarily, this card synergizes with Dragon-type creatures, and it has the unique ability to resurrect itself from the graveyard when a Dragon comes into play, making it a persistent nuisance. To effectively conquer this card, players need to focus on graveyard control strategies.
One effective strategy is employing cards that exile creatures from graveyards or that keep graveyards empty, such as Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace. This prevents Bladewing’s Thrall from returning to the battlefield, neutralizing its regenerative ability. Additionally, players can use spot removal spells or enchantments that exile to remove Bladewing’s Thrall once it’s on the battlefield to ensure it doesn’t keep coming back.
Moreover, countering the spell when initially cast is another approach. Since Bladewing’s Thrall is most advantageous in a dragon-heavy deck, removing Dragon creatures or disrupting synergy plays can limit the effectiveness of the Thrall, making it less of a threat. Strategies that target card advantage and board control will often outpace the singular advantage that Bladewing’s Thrall provides.
Cards like Bladewing's Thrall
Bladewing’s Thrall is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of other cards that synergize with dragons or revolve around graveyard mechanics. Notably, Bladewing’s Thrall shares some resemblance with cards like Dragon Egg, which offers a creature upon death rather than an interaction with the graveyard. Dragon Egg lacks the recurring aspect of Bladewing’s Thrall but introduces a 2/2 flyer into the field as a trade-off.
Another card to consider is Draconic Disciple, which acts as a mana dork early in the game and later transforms into a Dragon creature. This card, while versatile, doesn’t provide the same consistent graveyard synergy as Bladewing’s Thrall. Both Bloodline Necromancer and Scion of Ugin are also dragon-themed cards; the former allows for instant reanimation of a Vampire or Wizard but misses the continuous revival capability, whereas the latter provides a sturdy colorless dragon creature without the intricacy of revival or graveyard interaction.
In essence, while there are numerous dragon-themed cards available in Magic: The Gathering, Bladewing’s Thrall presents a distinctive niche, championing strategies that capitalize on both the presence of dragons and the maneuvering of the graveyard.
Cards similar to Bladewing's Thrall by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bladewing's Thrall MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Iconic Masters, 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 Bladewing's Thrall 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Bladewing's Thrall Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2017-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-05-26 | Scourge | SCG | 55 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 81 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bladewing's Thrall has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bladewing's Thrall card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-11-17 | The second ability of Bladewing’s Thrall triggers even if a Dragon enters the battlefield under an opponent’s control. The owner of Bladewing’s Thrall, not the controller of that Dragon, will control Bladewing’s Thrall. |
