Bladeback Sliver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Abilities Hellbent
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Bladeback Sliver delivers incremental damage, offering a consistent advantage throughout the game.
  2. Enhances Sliver decks with its synergy, enabling explosive turns and faster victories.
  3. Flexibility from instant speed ability usage adds depth to gameplay strategies.

Text of card

Hellbent — As long as you have no cards in hand, Sliver creatures you control have ": This creature deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker."

Slivers can turn a last stand into a stunning victory.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bladeback Sliver can steadily deal damage to your opponent, aiding you in chipping away at their life total without needing to commit additional cards. This incremental damage can add up, effectively providing you with an advantage as you whittle down your adversary’s health.

Resource Acceleration: In a Sliver deck, Bladeback Sliver pairs incredibly well with mana-generating Slivers. This synergy can result in explosive turns where you not only advance your board state but also use the Bladeback Sliver’s ability to apply pressure or even close out games. This can result in a significant acceleration of your winning resources.

Instant Speed: Bladeback Sliver’s ability can be activated at instant speed, enabling you to utilize it at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to certain actions. This flexibility allows you to keep mana open for interactions while maintaining the threat of activation, potentially leading to advantageous strategic moves at pivotal moments in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bladeback Sliver does not necessitate the player to discard cards, but integrating it in a deck often requires specific synergy with other slivers, which may lead to potential resource constraints if your slivers are not optimally drawn or already on the field.

Specific Mana Cost: Bladeback Sliver requires red mana, making it less flexible and thereby more challenging to be included in multicolored or non-red sliver decks. Consequently, this can restrict deck-building options and affect the card’s versatility in game play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its provided ability, Bladeback Sliver’s mana cost is on the higher side compared to other slivers. With a cost of two red mana and one of any color, you might find that allocating resources for this card can delay your game tempo, especially when other lower-cost slivers could be played to establish a stronger board presence more quickly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bladeback Sliver finds its place across various deck archetypes in the Sliver tribe, known for its ability to adapt and thrive under diverse game conditions. Its capability to deal damage to each opponent bolsters not just aggressive strategies but also serves as a finisher in long-drawn games.

Combo Potential: When combined with other slivers that increment mana production or change creature types, Bladeback Sliver can quickly turn into a significant threat, enabling damage-dealing combos that exploit the presence of multiple slivers on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s ripe with creature-heavy decks, Bladeback Sliver steps up as a valuable asset, being able to sneak in damage while bypassing traditional defenses. Its inclusion in a Sliver deck can tip the scales when facing opponents with extensive creature setups.


How to beat Bladeback Sliver

Bladeback Sliver proves to be an interesting card that can tilt a game to your favor especially when paired with a host of other Slivers, fueling its fire-pinging ability. As a Sliver aficionado shapes their strategy around this creature’s capability to indirectly deal damage to opponents, an effective countermeasure involves disrupting this synergistic bond. Removing Slivers from the battlefield is essential. Board wipes or spot removals shoulder this task well, leaving the Bladeback Sliver devoid of its empowering comrades and effectively neutered. Focusing on controlling the board early prevents the Sliver synergy from overwhelming you later on.

Moreover, prevention tactics like holding up instant-speed removal when your opponent is gearing up to activate the Bladeback Sliver’s ability can be a game-changer. Cards with life gain also offset the incremental damage this Sliver deals, helping to stabilize your position. Employing enchantments to nullify abilities or leveraging flying creatures to stay above ground-based threats are other viable tactics. Ultimately, dissecting the Sliver hive and keeping their numbers in check will greatly enhance your chances of outlasting and defeating a deck that relies on the Bladeback Sliver.


Cards like Bladeback Sliver

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Bladeback Sliver carves a niche for itself among the sliver creatures known for their synergistic abilities. For those who appreciate the tribal cohesion, Bonescythe Sliver comes to mind, which grants all Slivers double strike, potentially doubling their damage output. This is a significant enhancement compared to Bladeback Sliver’s direct damage ability which is contingent on your opponent having no colored permanents and controlling a Mountain.

The synergistic Gallant Sliver is another relative, endowing Slivers with vigilance, allowing them to attack without tapping. It provides a different strategic advantage, focusing on maintaining a strong defense. Bladeback Sliver, however, offers a more aggressive approach by enabling direct damage to opponents, which can be crucial in specific gameplay situations.

Assessing utility and role in strategic Sliver decks, Bladeback Sliver offers a specialized form of pressure in a game that can force opponents to alter their game plan. While it may not have the overt power of some of its kin, its unique ability to deal damage under the right conditions makes it a useful cog in the Sliver tribal machine.

Bonescythe Sliver - MTG Card versions
Bonescythe Sliver - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 Promos (PDP14)

Cards similar to Bladeback Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironclaw Orcs - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Goblin Raider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Utvara Scalper - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bladeback Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Bladeback Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bladeback Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1192015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 4172015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bladeback Sliver has restrictions

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

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