Bellowing Fiend MTG Card

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 108

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 119★

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 119

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Spirit
Abilities	Flying
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Bellowing Fiend creates card advantage by potentially removing multiple opponent creatures over time.
Resource acceleration is indirectly influenced by opponents’ reactions to the Fiend’s presence.
Instant speed spells enhance the Fiend’s abilities, creating more favorable combat situations.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Bellowing Fiend deals damage to a creature, Bellowing Fiend deals 3 damage to that creature's controller and 3 damage to you.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bellowing Fiend presents a unique interaction with the battlefield where it can eliminate key threats upon dealing damage, potentially taking out several creatures over multiple turns. This kind of removal generates card advantage as you’re able to deal with multiple opponent cards using just your single card.

Resource Acceleration: While the Bellowing Fiend itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its existence on the battlefield can pressure opponents to overcommit resources to deal with it. This can lead to resource misallocation on their part, essentially slowing them down and indirectly accelerating your board state.

Instant Speed: Although Bellowing Fiend is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant speed spells that can manipulate combat or damage outcomes. Pairing the Fiend with instant spells that prevent your creatures from taking damage can turn its ability into a one-sided affair, clearing the way for your strategy without the downside.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bellowing Fiend comes with a powerful triggering ability that can deal damage to a creature or player, it has the significant downside of requiring you to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. This can put players at a disadvantage by diminishing their hand, especially if they are running low on cards or relying on each one for strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The Fiend requires a specific mana configuration to cast, including both black and red mana. This dual cost makes it less flexible and might necessitate a deck built around these colors, thereby limiting its inclusion in multicolored or colorless decks that could otherwise benefit from its abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost of Bellowing Fiend is relatively high. For five mana, its 3/3 stats may not stand up well against other creatures with similar or even lower casting costs. In a fast-paced game, investing five mana in a single creature that may get quickly removed can set a player back in terms of board presence and tempo.

Reasons to Include Bellowing Fiend in Your Collection

Versatility: Bellowing Fiend offers a unique blend of abilities, making it a flexible addition to decks that capitalize on dealing damage to opponents directly and manipulating life totals.

Combo Potential: This card can be a linchpin in setups aiming to exploit its damage ability, pair it with effects that double damage or with life gain strategies to turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: With a continuously shifting MTG scene, Bellowing Fiend could emerge as a tech choice against decks that have a tough time dealing with recurring direct damage or those that struggle to answer flying threats efficiently.

How to Beat Bellowing Fiend

Bellowing Fiend, a unique creature in MTG, brings a mix of offensive potential and tactical considerations to the table. This shadowy entity can be quite a challenge due to its ability to deal damage to target opponent or creature whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability. To effectively neutralize this threat, understanding the timing and sequence of your plays is crucial.

Combat tricks and removal spells need to be used with caution. Instead of targeting it directly, which would trigger its ability, opt for board wipes that don’t single out creatures, such as ‘Wrath of God’ or ‘Damnation’. Playing around Bellowing Fiend is key, and sometimes the best strategy might be to wait until you have the means to dispose of it without incurring extra damage.

Alternatively, employ creatures with protection from black or those that can block and survive the damage it deals. Cards like ‘Mother of Runes’ can grant protection from black for the turn, minimizing the impact Bellowing Fiend can have on your board presence. With careful planning and consideration of Bellowing Fiend’s capabilities, you can mitigate its damage and maintain control over the game.

Cards like Bellowing Fiend

Bellowing Fiend showcases unique dynamics in the landscape of creatures within MTG. Echoing the aggressive stance of cards like Pestilence Demon, it presents a similar ability where dealing damage to opponents comes hand in hand with damage to yourself or your creatures. However, unlike Pestilence Demon, which affects all creatures and both players, Bellowing Fiend is more targeted, hitting only a single opponent while preserving your board state.

When examining Flameborn Hellion, a kindred spirit can be seen. Both creatures accelerate the pressure on opponents, but Bellowing Fiend offers more control over the battlefield with its selective damage. Flameborn Hellion requires attacking each turn if able, creating potential vulnerability, while Bellowing Fiend can act both offensively and defensively. Another parallel is drawn with cards like Skirsdag High Priest, which allows creation of formidable demon tokens, albeit with a different activation condition centered around morbid.

Drawing conclusions from gameplay impact and strategic flexibility, Bellowing Fiend occupies its niche among MTG’s array of choice for players seeking a balance between aggressive tactics and maintaining a favorable position on the battlefield. Its targeted approach to damage can shift the tides of a game, marking its relevance in decks built around life total manipulation and control.

Skirsdag High Priest - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bellowing Fiend by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bellowing Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Seventh Edition, 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 Bellowing Fiend and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Bellowing Fiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-10-14	Tempest	TMP	108	1997	Normal	Black	Jim Nelson
2	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	119★	1997	Normal	Black	Chippy
3	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	119	1997	Normal	White	Chippy