Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Flying,Transform
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Bloodline Keeper provides vampire token generation each turn, enhancing board presence significantly.
  2. It requires specific mana but transforms into Lord of Lineage, empowering your vampire army.
  3. Efficient removal spells and strategic play are key to countering Bloodline Keeper’s dominance.

Text of card

Flying : Put a 2/2 black Vampire creature token with flying onto the battlefield. : Transform Bloodline Keeper. Activate this ability only if you control five or more Vampires.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bloodline Keeper card offers a unique mechanic to generate a 2/2 black Vampire creature token with flying every turn. This consistent ability stacks up additional creatures, extending your board presence and providing ongoing card advantage without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: This card accelerates your resource pool by allowing the creation of an army of Vampire tokens. These tokens can then be tapped for additional effects or sacrificed if your deck has synergistic abilities, effectively speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Bloodline Keeper itself isn’t an instant, its ability to create a token can be used at the end of your opponent’s turn. This timing flexibility means you can develop your board at instant speed, keeping mana open for responses during your opponent’s turn, then expanding your vampire legion right before your turn begins.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Bloodline Keeper has a strict mana requirement, needing one black and three other mana to cast. For decks not heavily focused on black mana, this card can strain your mana base or be difficult to play on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Bloodline Keeper offers a strong ability to create Vampire tokens, its four-mana cost is considered high in aggressive or tempo-leaning decks. This may slow your game plan as you’re allocating a significant amount of resources early on to establish its presence on the board.

Discard Requirement: There’s no direct discard requirement associated with casting Bloodline Keeper itself, but to maximize the synergies you may need to weigh your options in decks that focus on discard strategies. Choosing between building your board with Keeper or enabling other discard synergies can be a tricky balance for players.


Reasons to Include Bloodline Keeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodline Keeper is a dynamic card that serves multiple roles within a deck. It provides a steady stream of creature tokens, offering both a defensive buffer and offensive capability. Its ability to transform into Lord of Lineage means it can adapt to the changing needs of the game, either amassing an army of vampires or strengthening existing ones.

Combo Potential: The card has excellent synergy with vampire-themed decks and strategies focusing on token generation. When flipped, Lord of Lineage further amplifies the power of your vampire tokens, and in tandem with cards that benefit from token creation or increased creature power, the combo potential skyrockets.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-present importance of creatures in the game, Bloodline Keeper can find a place in various metas, particularly where vampire decks are viable. As metas evolve, the demand for cards that can create and empower creatures consistently keeps Bloodline Keeper relevant in many game situations.


How to Beat

Bloodline Keeper is a potent card in MTG that can quickly take over the game by creating an army of Vampire tokens. To overpower this card, a strategic approach is necessary. Removal spells are one of the most straightforward methods. Cards such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently eliminate Bloodline Keeper before its transformative ability activates. Other alternatives include using board wipes like Wrath of God to clear multiple threats at once, including the tokens generated by Bloodline Keeper.

Counterspells also serve as a preemptive measure to stop Bloodline Keeper from hitting the battlefield in the first place. By maintaining countermeasures like Mana Leak or Negate, you retain control over the game and prevent potential onslaughts. Enchantment-based answers such as Pacifism restrict Bloodline Keeper’s abilities without having to remove it, effectively neutralizing the threat.

Timing is crucial in these interactions. Reacting swiftly to the casting of Bloodline Keeper or to its activation can mean the difference between victory and defeat. A well-prepared deck and a tactical mind are essential tools for any player facing this formidable card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unveiling the Bloodline Keeper card offers a glimpse into the tactical depth of MTG. This card’s ability to generate vampire tokens effortlessly enhances your gameplay, allowing for diverse strategies. As adept MTG players know, constructing a robust deck capable of responding to evolving board states is critical. The key to mastery lies in adapting to the shifting tides of play. Bloodline Keeper excels in that, especially within vampire-centric builds. Keen to diversify your deck and explore new strategic horizons? Delve deeper into our insights and discover how to optimize your gameplay with Bloodline Keeper’s transformative power. Embrace the challenge and elevate your MTG experience with us.


Cards like Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage

Bloodline Keeper is a notable card within Vampire tribal decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives are creature cards that also bolster a clan of kin or have transformative potential. An example is Legion’s Landing, which summons a Vampire then morphs into a land capable of producing more creatures. While Legion’s Landing focuses on swarming the battlefield, Bloodline Keeper can directly upgrade those tokens into formidable threats.

Another Vampire kin is Captivating Vampire, smaller in stature but with a potent ability to take control of enemies’ creatures if you’ve assembled enough Vampires. What sets Bloodline Keeper apart is its built-in mechanic to become a flying powerhouse, Lord of Lineage, that empowers your other Vampires. Yet another peer is Vampire Nocturnus, which provides an imposing board presence through stat boosts conditional on the top card of your library. Bloodline Keeper’s influence, however, is steady, not reliant on the variability of deck order.

Every Vampire card carries its unique advantages, but Bloodline Keeper offers a blend of offensive power and the ability to quickly escalate your threat level, making it a prime choice within its archetype in Magic: The Gathering’s vast menagerie.

Captivating Vampire - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nocturnus - MTG Card versions
Captivating Vampire - Magic 2011 (M11)
Vampire Nocturnus - Magic 2010 Promos (PM10)

Cards similar to Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
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Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
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Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and From the Vault: Transform, 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 Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 902003transformblackJason Chan
22017-11-24From the Vault: TransformV17 42015transformblackJason Chan
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11572015transformborderlessNana Qi
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12102015transformborderlessNana Qi
52023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 272015transformblackJason Chan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bloodline Keeper // Lord of Lineage 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 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).

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