Kheru Bloodsucker MTG Card


Kheru Bloodsucker - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number75
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDaniel Ljunggren

Key Takeaways

  1. Kheru Bloodsucker excels in creature-based strategies, turning losses into incremental life-point advantages.
  2. Demands precise mana and creature presence, which may limit its inclusion in diverse deck types.
  3. Stands out for its combo and synergy potential, especially in sacrifice-oriented decks.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control with toughness 4 or greater dies, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. , Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Kheru Bloodsucker.

It stares through the empty, pain-twisted faces of those it has drained.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kheru Bloodsucker provides incremental card advantage by leveraging creature deaths, be it from board wipes or combat casualties. This can lead to a steady stream of benefits every time a creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it dies.

Resource Acceleration: While this creature itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by dissuading opponents from attacking or blocking, potentially leading to a more favorable board state that benefits your strategy and resource development.

Instant Speed: Kheru Bloodsucker’s ability can be triggered during any turn, offering the flexibility to adapt to the flow of the game. This can be especially useful at instant speed when combined with effects that sacrifice creatures, allowing you to put +1/+1 counters on it outside the typical sorcery speed window.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This Magic the Gathering card requires the sacrifice of another creature to trigger its ability. For players without a steady board presence, this could prove a significant setback, as maintaining creatures to fuel Kheru Bloodsucker’s ability can strain limited resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Kheru Bloodsucker demands a precise mana alignment, requiring one black and two generic mana. This can complicate deck-building strategies, especially in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is essential to consistently casting spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Kheru Bloodsucker might not be the most mana-efficient option. For its abilities, players might expect a lower cost, especially when other cards could provide similar benefits or impact the board state more effectively for the same or less investment.


Reasons to Include Kheru Bloodsucker in Your Collection

Versatility: Kheru Bloodsucker can be an impactful card in decks that focus on creature sacrifice or life-drain tactics. It’s not restricted to a single strategy, making it a flexible addition to various builds.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with token generators and sacrifice outlets. The ability to benefit from the loss of other creatures means it can become a potent force in the right combo-centric setup.

Meta-Relevance: Within environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Kheru Bloodsucker thrives. It can turn the tide by using opponents’ creature losses to your advantage, making it a card worth considering for its interactive potential.


How to beat Kheru Bloodsucker

Kheru Bloodsucker is an intriguing creature that thrives in decks centered around life gain and creature sacrifice. Its ability to drain opponents’ life whenever another creature you control dies makes it a key component in such strategies. To tackle Kheru Bloodsucker effectively, one must disrupt the synergy it creates. Removing creatures from the board before they can be sacrificed will minimize the amount of life siphoned off by this creature.

Counteracting Kheru Bloodsucker also involves managing your own life total and creatures. Playing cards that offer life gain or damage prevention can help to buffer against the gradual life loss. Employing exile effects to permanently remove Kheru Bloodsucker from the game prevents its recurrence and neutralizes the threat. Importantly, because Kheru Bloodsucker requires other creatures to be potent, sweeping the board with removal spells puts a damper on its draining ability. Lastly, maintaining pressure and curbing the number of creatures your opponent controls will ensure that Kheru Bloodsucker becomes far less menacing.


Cards like Kheru Bloodsucker

Kheru Bloodsucker finds its niche in the Magic: The Gathering world by offering both a creature presence and a unique ability to capitalize on toughness loss among other creatures. One can draw parallels with Blood Bairn, which also thrives on sacrificing creatures for a beneficial outcome. However, unlike Kheru Bloodsucker, Blood Bairn focuses on buffing itself rather than draining an opponent’s life.

Morbid opportunist like Falkenrath Noble also shares the theme of leveraging creatures’ deaths. It does so by providing card draw instead of the direct life-point impact offered by Kheru Bloodsucker. The noble, while not affecting life totals, can be crucial for maintaining card advantage. On top of that, there’s Zulaport Cutthroat, a close relative in this category, providing life-loss to opponents upon the death of your creatures which mirrors the Bloodsucker’s strategy but applies it differently.

Assessing Kheru Bloodsucker within the context of these similar cards, it’s evident that while there are alternatives in this space, Kheru Bloodsucker holds its own with a unique blend of abilities that can turn the tide of a game by leveraging creature sacrifice for incremental life-point swings.

Blood Bairn - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Noble - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Blood Bairn - Magic 2014 (M14)
Falkenrath Noble - Innistrad (ISD)
Zulaport Cutthroat - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Cards similar to Kheru Bloodsucker by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Dusk Imp - Tenth Edition (10E)
Severed Legion - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kheru Bloodsucker MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Kheru Bloodsucker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kheru Bloodsucker has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-09-20 Kheru Bloodsucker’s triggered ability will trigger when it dies if its toughness is 4 or greater.

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