Blademane Baku MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Blademane Baku gains strength for each spirit or arcane spell cast, improving board presence and overall game value.
  2. Its ability works well at instant speed, enabling reactive play and maintaining pressure on the opponent.
  3. While powerful, it requires precise mana and card management, which can be strategically limiting.

Text of card

Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may put a ki counter on Blademane Baku. , Remove X ki counters from Blademane Baku: For each counter removed, Blademane Baku gets +2/+0 until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blademane Baku enhances board presence with every cast of a spirit or arcane spell, effectively creating additional value with each action and strengthening your position in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly acting as a resource accelerant, Blademane Baku’s ability to grow stronger without expending extra mana lets you allocate resources more freely to other demands on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Blademane Baku’s ability to gain counters through instant-speed arcane spells allows you to adapt and react swiftly to threats, keeping your opponents on their toes and maximizing the impact of your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blademane Baku demands card sacrifice to power up, which might lead to a critical depletion of your hand, leaving you with fewer strategic options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s activation leans on a white mana base; hence, if your deck isn’t built around white mana or is multicolored, consistently generating the needed mana can be challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To fully utilize Blademane Baku’s potential, a substantial investment of mana is required, which might not always equate to an equivalent battlefield advantage, especially when you consider other cards with similar costs that may offer immediate impact or greater versatility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blademane Baku stands out due to its ability to adapt to various deck builds, making it a valuable card for players who enjoy modifying and optimizing their strategies. Its spirit-triggered ability to gain +2/+0 until the end of turn can be a game-changer in the right setup.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks focused on spirit or arcane themes. With the potential to accumulate multiple ki counters in a single turn, Blademane Baku works wonders with cards that allow you to cast multiple spirits or arcane spells, scaling its power each time.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the current competitive scene, where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having a card that can become a significant threat with minimal investment can be an asset. Blademane Baku’s ability to grow in power correlates directly with the number of spells cast, allowing it to match or outpace the tempo of many decks in the meta.


How to beat

Blademane Baku presents itself as a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to grow its power through the accumulation of Ki counters. Each time you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, Blademane Baku gets that little bit stronger. To effectively tackle this creature, timing and spell choice are paramount. Strategies for overcoming it include direct removal spells, which can ensure that the Baku doesn’t become an insurmountable threat. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the creature before it accumulates too many counters. When facing Blademane Baku, it’s also wise to limit the number of Spirits and Arcane spells in play to stifle the Baku’s power-boosting capability.

Another approach involves utilizing counterspells that target the key spells that would enhance Baku’s power. Spells like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto can be highly effective in this context. Lastly, controlling the board with constant pressure and not allowing the game to stall to a point where the Baku can capitalize on a build-up of Ki counters is crucial. In essence, direct removal, strategic counterspells, and aggressive gameplay can help keep Blademane Baku in check.


Cards like Blademane Baku

Blademane Baku may remind veteran players of other spirit creatures with its ability to capitalize on spells to grow in strength. This creature is akin to cards like Shade of Trokair, which also benefit from being cast or spliced onto arcane spells. However, Blademane Baku sets itself apart with its specific focus on arcane spells, encouraging a deck-building synergy centered around this subset. Shade of Trokair does not provide the same level of synergy with arcane spells but offers the flexibility of suspending for prolonged effects.

Another card to consider is Wee Dragonauts, which has a similar trigger, gaining a boost whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell. This pair work in different deck archetypes, with Wee Dragonauts serving as a perfect fit for spell-slinger decks. Unlike Blademane Baku, it doesn’t require a buildup of spirit or arcane spells to unlock its potential. Instead, it provides an immediate but temporary power increase with each cast spell.

In essence, when evaluating Blademane Baku next to its counterparts, it stands out in a format where arcane spells shine, offering incremental, permanent growth as opposed to the fleeting power boosts of cards like Wee Dragonauts. It’s this dedicated synergy that grants Blademane Baku a niche role in spirit or arcane-themed decks within the MTG universe.

Shade of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Shade of Trokair - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Wee Dragonauts - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)

Cards similar to Blademane Baku by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - 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
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Mudbrawler Cohort - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
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)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Mudbrawler Cohort - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blademane Baku MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Blademane Baku and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blademane Baku Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Edward P. Beard, Jr..

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-02-04Betrayers of KamigawaBOK 952003normalblackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL C42003normalwhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL C302003normalwhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.
42005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL C532003normalwhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blademane Baku has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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