Bearded Axe MTG Card


Bearded Axe - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Number388
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byOvidio Cartagena

Key Takeaways

  1. Bearded Axe contributes to card advantage by boosting creatures, saving additional card plays.
  2. Instant speed equipping allows for surprise tactics and advantageous combat adjustments.
  3. Despite its benefits, the discard requirement and specific mana cost may limit versatility.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each Dwarf, Equipment, and/or Vehicle you control. Equip

Every dwarven artisan spends the first hundred years of their life forging a single weapon and infusing it with runic magic.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bearded Axe enhances your board presence by equipping creatures with additional power, indirectly contributing to card advantage by bolstering your offensive capabilities without the need to commit more cards to the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Crucial in decks focusing on equipping creatures, Bearded Axe can represent a form of resource acceleration. By improving existing creatures, you effectively increase the value of your field without needing to invest further mana into casting additional creatures.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Bearded Axe can be equipped at instant speed, offering flexibility in responding to threats or changing the tide of battle after blockers are declared. This strategic depth is key in outmaneuvering opponents during complex combat scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Bearded Axe is its discard requirement, which could deplete your hand, especially if you don’t have a reliable way to draw more cards or if you’re engaged in a longer, drawn-out match where resources can become scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Bearded Axe comes with a mana cost that is color-specific, requiring both generic and red mana. This can be restrictive and may not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks that might struggle to meet the red mana requirement consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively high mana cost for its equipment abilities, Bearded Axe may not be the most mana-efficient option available. Players may find other equipment cards that provide similar or better effects at a lower mana investment, potentially making Bearded Axe a less favorable choice in competitive play.


Reasons to Include Bearded Axe in Your Collection

Versatility: Bearded Axe serves as a solid equipment card that can be valuable in a variety of decks. It excels in strategies that reward equipped creatures or require extra toughness.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Bearded Axe can be part of a combo with cards that track the number of equipment on the field or utilize equipped creature synergies for powerful effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to fortify creatures against burn spells and other damage-based removal, Bearded Axe could play a strategic role in formats where such tactics are prevalent.


How to beat

Bearded Axe is a card that brings a certain level of resilience and power boost to the creatures it equips in the world of Magic: The Gathering. When facing a creature adorned with this artifact, its increased toughness and strength pose a notable challenge. To effectively navigate around the advantages granted by Bearded Axe, one should focus on removal spells that circumvent the buff in toughness, such as those that exile or force a player to sacrifice creatures, thus ignoring the combat stats provided by the equipment.

Direct damage spells can sometimes fall short due to the toughness boost, so alternative strategies could involve bounce spells or negative counter placements, rendering the equipped creature less of a threat without needing to directly destroy it. In the realm of blue and black spells, control tactics that either return the creature to the player’s hand or outright remove them from the battlefield without damage can prove potent. Enchantment-based removals also provide an answer, deterring the continuous use of equipment like Bearded Axe without dealing with combat math.

The key is to prioritize spells and abilities that don’t require trading resources at a loss, thereby maintaining a strong position on the board and reducing the overall impact of the Bearded Axe’s enhancing abilities on your opponent’s creatures.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the world of MTG is about strategy, finesse, and recognizing understated powerhouses like the Bearded Axe. This card can give your creatures the muscle they need to survive collisions with tougher foes. If you’re keen on developing decks that leverage land count or you thrive in the late-game stage where a solid offense is crucial, Bearded Axe is a worthy addition to your arsenal. Consider its potential and how it compares to other equipment in your strategy. For more insights and a deeper understanding of how to integrate cards like Bearded Axe into your winning decks, join our thriving community of MTG aficionados and sharpen your skills with every shuffle.


Cards like Bearded Axe

Bearded Axe stands as an intriguing equipment card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique blend of enhancement for creature strategies. It can be compared to well-known alternatives like Bonesplitter, a staple in aggressive decks that grants an additional two attack points. While Bonesplitter is less costly to both play and equip, Bearded Axe takes a different approach by providing a potentially larger attack boost based on the number of lands the controller has in play.

Another comparable card is the Heirloom Blade, which not only increases a creature’s attack power but also has an ability that synergizes with tribal decks. In contrast, Bearded Axe’s advantage grows as you play more lands, potentially outpacing the static bonuses from cards like Heirloom Blade in long-standing games. Still, Heirloom Blade’s immediate impact and tribal benefits tend to be most advantageous early on.

When weighing the pros and cons of equipment cards that increase attack power, Bearded Axe shows its merit in decks that aim to hit hard in the late game. Its dynamic attack boost has a distinct scaling mechanism that can surpass that of other options, making it a formidable choice for those who prioritize land ramp strategies.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Heirloom Blade - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Heirloom Blade - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Cards similar to Bearded Axe by color, type and mana cost

Heart of Ramos - MTG Card versions
Breya's Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Cursed Mirror - MTG Card versions
Battlemage's Bracers - MTG Card versions
Komainu Battle Armor - MTG Card versions
Geistflame Reservoir - MTG Card versions
Granite Shard - MTG Card versions
Goblin Replica - MTG Card versions
Foriysian Totem - MTG Card versions
Vulshok Replica - MTG Card versions
Spin Engine - MTG Card versions
Weldfast Monitor - MTG Card versions
Mizzium Tank - MTG Card versions
Brimstone Trebuchet - MTG Card versions
Glittering Stockpile - MTG Card versions
The Reaver Cleaver - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Hammer - MTG Card versions
Gilded Assault Cart - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Tracker - MTG Card versions
Mountain Mover - MTG Card versions
Heart of Ramos - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Breya's Apprentice - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Cursed Mirror - Doctor Who (WHO)
Battlemage's Bracers - Commander 2021 (C21)
Komainu Battle Armor - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Geistflame Reservoir - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Granite Shard - Mirrodin (MRD)
Goblin Replica - Mirrodin (MRD)
Foriysian Totem - Time Spiral (TSP)
Vulshok Replica - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Spin Engine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Weldfast Monitor - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Mizzium Tank - The List (PLST)
Brimstone Trebuchet - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Glittering Stockpile - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)
The Reaver Cleaver - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Dwarven Hammer - Commander Masters (CMM)
Gilded Assault Cart - Kaldheim (KHM)
Arcbound Tracker - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Mountain Mover - 2020 Heroes of the Realm (PH20)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bearded Axe MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Bearded Axe and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bearded Axe has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-02-05 Bearded Axe will count itself, so it will give at least +1/+1 in most cases.
2021-02-05 The bonus granted by Bearded Axe is constantly updated as the number of Dwarves, Equipment, and Vehicles you control changes.

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