the effect is similar to call to the grave but for vampires.
i could see this being useful, especially if you want your opponent to have a creature-heavy graveyard for something such as cemetery reaper.
i'd like it if it wasn't legendary, then you could really clear the board fast.
DonRoyale
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(10 votes)
This, like the vast majority of WWK's vampires, is begging to be put in the Vampire deck that's been seeing a lot of success lately, but I just don't see it fitting. Malakir Bloodwitch is such a superior card for the spot of the 5-drop, and while both beg to be removed, Bloodwitch not only can dodge Lightning Bolt, but Path to Exile as well, neither of which the Ruin Sage can live through. Bloodwitch also has flying and the blood-sucking ability, and while Cruel Edict on a stick is nice, your creatures shouldn't even be worrying about getting rid of the opponent's creatures; you should have Vampire Nocturnus out by then and be flying over your opponents for the win.
Is he a bad card? No. Just...he's not the best Vampire out there. Perhaps EDH will be kinder to him; I can see him being played there as a great general to stop your opponent from ever casting creatures until he's removed from the board somehow.
Khias
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Switch his power and toughness and he'd be four stars, but he can be bolted to easily alone. Although, if you manage to get a Blade of the Bloodchief on something while he's in play it could help you lock the board or draw hate away from Vampire Nocturnus.
Sanderleet
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(6 votes)
first word of his name is spelled " And-I-Won" :)
Lestat13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
We've no room in the current aggro-midrange vampires build.
AXER
★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5.0)(7 votes)
A MUST-HAVE for any Vampire deck!!!
Guest643499915
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I can pull him out of bolt range with a single Urge to Feed and he really helps swing things around in the late game in short order. Block, Urge if needed, tap him, and then on your upkeep your opponent loses another creature. Seems pretty solid, I'm gonna be running 2 in my vampire deck. He gets you out of a bind if you're losing and he finishes the game faster if you're winning. Can't really complain about it.
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not bad, good lord as general in EDH or Commander. A bit limited though in the types of decks he finds a home in. 3.5/5
Loozar402
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's definitely got a great ability, but I hesitate spending 5 mana to drop a creature than worries about Lightning Bolt.
True_Smog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Excellent vampire.
daekoaram
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Gotta love this card! , my brother couldn't summon any creatures because of this LOL! every upkeep my brother had to sacrifice a creature but since im using vamp deck , i don't :D 5/5 from me !
feliciano182
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
This bastard is just screaming to get a lightning bolt
thatguywiththebeard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well i love the ability of this card even though its slow to trigger off. It's especially deadly after you have mindsludged them turn 5 and lay him out turn 7 or 8 (granted they didn't draw some sort of removal spell.) I don't like the 3 toughness... but after a mind sludge he should be safe, kinda like a gamble.I am gunna run one and 2 bloodwitches and sideboard my 3rd bloodwitch and 1 more ruin sage. 4/5
Grimn777
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
would much rather have malakir bloodwitch as the large creature in my vampire deck. This dies to lightning bolt and now to searing blaze, has no immediate effect on the game the turn it comes into play, does not fly, and is vulnerable to white removal. Yes, in the long run, were the game to go on for 4 turns after you play him, AND if he is not killed, his effect will have a bigger impact, but that is alot of ifs. Dropping a bloodwitch immediately drops their life total, and usually means game over in a turn or two if you have curved reasonably well.
Might have potential in a far more controlling version of a vampire build, maybe with blue to protect him with counterspells? Haven't really thought of him as that competitive to be honest.
3.5/5
f_fivefiftyseven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Meh, a decent card if your playing vampires, which will likely become the overplayed decktype once Jund rotates. A Legendary 4/3 for 5 that makes your opponents sac a creature every turn (unless they're playing vamps too) is decent, and being black helps it avoid some removal, but there are other things I'd rather play. And this is me trying to tell myself I didn't get screwed over by opening 2 in the Fatpack I bought. Oh well, at least I also got a playset of Searing Blaze
Sorxores
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
in the pre release he did win my a couple of matchs, but even in pre release, with all those urge to feed, tomb hex, searing blaze, dead reckoning running around, he did got killed a lot.
In Standard, once you reach 5 mana, what would you prefer to drop? a 4/4 flying protection from white that drain life from the opponent? or a slow board cleaner 4/3? Personally in my vampire deck, once I reach 5 mana, Malakir Bloodwitch will kill my opponent simply with it's draining ability, or next turn when it's going to swing with nothing able to block it. If I take out Malakir to put Anowon, well I'm going to slowly clear my opponent field to open the way to my flying vampire army??? with my weaker vampire getting blocked by Baneslayer giving back 5 life to my opponent MAYBE if I could choose what creature to sacrifice it would become useful since I could kill Baneslayer, but since it's my opponent who choose I doubt he's going to sacrifice baneslayer if he still have some ground soldier unable to block my flying army.
mdakw576
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Like people said already, he's competing with Malakir for the 5-drop. Unfortunately in an aggro vampire deck Malakir >>, and there aren't many good (if any) control vampire decks this could shine in. He really needed some kind of evasion (protection from some kind of color maybe?) and 1 more toughness to survive bolt.
He's not bad at all, it's just that Bloodwitch is better.
Cheza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Oh boy... silly black cards... of minddead players. R&D doesn't get it. I miss the "when the opponent has 10 life or less..." part as wel as some sort of power the vampire get's out of all the bloodsucking. I wouldn't mess my vampire deck with this card... as I have ignored Call to Grave in flavor of Oversold Cemetary in my undead deck.
jumpenrun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My only wished that he was made flying.Hehe.. Its a rare card, its suppose to be flying at least then they can made a drawback like having it mana cost as 6 or BBB2 or having an ability like as long as opponent has 10 or less life it gains flying. But still, great card.
HairlessThoctar
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
And to think, they were nice enough to put a foil of this guy into a precon with the Pact on legs. Good times.
Gaussgoat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Everyone worries about lightening bolt with this guy, but there are about 10 million ways to make him tough enough to avoid it and/or shroud him. The effect is devastating, effectively giving you a kicked Gatekeeper of Malakir every turn that hits ALL players in a multi-player match.
I would absolutely put this guy in a vampire deck, especially since he is a potential fixer for creatures that may be really getting in the way of your all-out assault (ie, anything with Protection Black, etc)
As I said above, a brutal addition to any multi-player deck.
4.5/5
Donovann
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is nothing but devastating. This is being compared to Malakir Bloodwitch a lot. I think this card can be even more devastating than the Bloodwitch. It doesn't have an immediate effect like the Bloodwitch, but forcing your opponents to sacrifice a creature every turn is awesome. Against certain decks, there are few ways to recover or get rid of this guy. His 3 toughness is a little vulnerable, as is his legendary status, but that's to counterbalance such a powerful card. Sure, he's easily burned, destroyed, exiled or countered, but run two of him in a decks long with some Rise from the Grave or Dead Reckoning. As long as he's in an exclusively vampire decks, you won't have to sacrifice anything. Your opponent's armies are cleared away, and you can swing easily for damage and gain lots of life with Child of Night and Vampire Nighthawk. This doesn't really compete with the Bloodwitch - they just serve different purposes. Use them both in your deck, if you can.
bigrig69
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
horrible card for vampire decks, they already smash most creature based match-ups
fairly exciting card for control deck sideboards.
is good vs polymorph, eldrazi, baneslayer the 1/4 switch turtle, wall of omens
if he was 4/4 he would be in a LOT of decks, i think its a better card than consuming vapors when its in the sideboard.
crizlunati
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
COMBO WITH ABSYSSAL PERSECUTOR!!! Come on people, you didn't see that?
Nikeyeia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@chrizlunati: How? So you can sacrifice the Persecutor? I think that there is better ways than paying 5 mana and waiting a turn.
MDStrawHat
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Consider people that Captivating vampire and to some extent vampire nocturnus can boost his body away from bolt range
Paleopaladin
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
His windchimes make him decidedly less menacing...
IshubarashI
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
just run a play set of Cadaver Imps (freaking love these guys!) and when you get 2, keep playing one every turn bringing the other back, keeps you from losing a valuable creature every turn. I'm talking about casual play of course, for people who want to run one in a non-vampire deck
Eved
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(21 votes)
Anowan, the Lightning Rod
Vampire96
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
3/5 Its almost good...but not that much its a typical black, more power over toughness.. I'd love this card if it has a 2/4 or even a 1/5 (too weak to attack at this point so add flying i guess...)
LarsBM
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you use this in a two headed giant game, does each team sacrifice a non-vampire creature or each player individually? (I'm thinking the latter but I'm not sure)
Clavat99
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Build a token deck around this card... have Anowon out, create tons of non-vamp tokens, get out Butcher of Malakir and then just sit back and watch your opponents field get drained 2 creatures at a time. Throw in a Blade of the Bloodchief or two on Butcher of Malakir when you play him and seal the deal. Of course this whole strategy can be crushed with a simple maneuver of Tsabo Tavoc
Pipikako
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The best vampire ever printed !
Sironos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He would be a lot better if bloodwitch didn't exist, it's a shame really, cause I really love the mechanic, but the bloodwitch is just so much harder to counter than this. Green decks have nightmares about this guy though. This, bloodwitch and Drana are competing for the 5 mana spot, I think the blood witch wins, it's simply more competitive due to being dificult to get rid of.
supershawn
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
HOW THE HELL IS THIS ALLOWED AS AN EDH GENERAL BUT NOT BRAIDS!?
MasterOfEfherium
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Too Bad This Thing Dies To Removal!
Nayban
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
@Paleopaladin Those are metal Cilenders that he keeps his notes in. They also have markings etched on them that make a book when rolled out. (He traveled with Nissa and Sorin in the Zendikar book)
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
vampires are racist
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As seem in the web comic! *Adjusts nerdy glasses*
igniteice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A fairly good vampire. I've started running this over Sheoldred, Whispering One. It costs less, benefits from Bloodline Keeper and Captivating Vampire, and in my vampire deck, I'm more interested in them sacrificing a creature than bringing a creature back. Getting a creature back is nice, but the sacrifice is the main prize for triggers on Falkenrath Noble and Sangromancer.
TuffWebz
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This isn't even close to Braids, that's why. Read the two cards carefully, Braids' mechanic is far more aggressive and hits 2 other card types, so it doesn't stop if they neglect dropping anymore creatures... they don't get a chance to play around it, whereas with this guy it is not until the owner's upkeep that anyone has to sacrifice a creature. There's also a big difference between 4 and 5 mana, and accelerating her out turn 2 as opposed to this guy turn 3. Lastly I don't a lot of people ever opted to play this in the 1st place, whereas tons of people used to abuse Braids.
Captainobvious99
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is an excellent card for a black vampire deck. here's the deal, he's not that vulnerable to lightning bolts and others if you structure your deck properly. Assuming your playing Bloodline Keeker and Vampire Nocturnus, you already have buffs to keep his defense high enough, and since they cost less, chances are you have one of them out first. Sorry, but this card is greatly superior to Malakir Bloodwitch for the simple fact that you keep your opponents creatures in check. Malakir gives you a one-time bonus that offsets a few health between you and your opponent, but otherwise, is not the best value at a 5 casting cost. I dont play it in my vamp deck and I dont miss it a bit. After honing down over hundreds of games, my vampire deck is now extremely nasty.
atemu1234
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So it is a bad card against another vampire deck.
Kryptnyt
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Underwhelming mostly because he doesn't trigger each upkeep like Call to the Grave does, but he's on a good beating body, so that's got to count for something.
DritzD27
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@supershawn
Uh, because lots of decks function without many creatures, find me very many that can do so without lands, artifacts or creatures. She is also cheaper.
wholelottalove
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
This card just leads to boring tribal vampire commander decks.
Ferlord
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
T'is a shame he isn't a 3/4, but you gotta work with what you're got.
It's great that they refer to the web comic in the flavour, because most cards don't. I haven't really seen a card when Liliana vents out her hatred for angels and how righteous they are, not knowing the irony. I really wish they had.
Regardless, one way or another, don't consider playing this outside of Vampires. As Magus of the Abyss was a timeshifted version of The Abyss, this is the "timeshifted" version of Call to the Grave... sort of.
Osprey_93
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Anowon bites the dust..
Antares2
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Drana flies, this guy doesn't. Logic?
Villainous1
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
He only hates Chandra 'cause she's the one with the lightning bolts.
SirZapdos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That arrogant child can kill you without breaking a sweat, pal.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Magus of the Vampire Abyss.
Manite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play with Xenograft naming Vampire, because BEING AN ASS IS FUN.
TheMonsterClips
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ah, I see the uses this card has. I think I will make a Goblin deck with this.
Comments (54)
i could see this being useful, especially if you want your opponent to have a creature-heavy graveyard for something such as cemetery reaper.
i'd like it if it wasn't legendary, then you could really clear the board fast.
Is he a bad card? No. Just...he's not the best Vampire out there. Perhaps EDH will be kinder to him; I can see him being played there as a great general to stop your opponent from ever casting creatures until he's removed from the board somehow.
:)
Might have potential in a far more controlling version of a vampire build, maybe with blue to protect him with counterspells? Haven't really thought of him as that competitive to be honest.
3.5/5
In Standard, once you reach 5 mana, what would you prefer to drop? a 4/4 flying protection from white that drain life from the opponent? or a slow board cleaner 4/3? Personally in my vampire deck, once I reach 5 mana, Malakir Bloodwitch will kill my opponent simply with it's draining ability, or next turn when it's going to swing with nothing able to block it.
If I take out Malakir to put Anowon, well I'm going to slowly clear my opponent field to open the way to my flying vampire army??? with my weaker vampire getting blocked by Baneslayer giving back 5 life to my opponent MAYBE if I could choose what creature to sacrifice it would become useful since I could kill Baneslayer, but since it's my opponent who choose I doubt he's going to sacrifice baneslayer if he still have some ground soldier unable to block my flying army.
He's not bad at all, it's just that Bloodwitch is better.
Good times.
I would absolutely put this guy in a vampire deck, especially since he is a potential fixer for creatures that may be really getting in the way of your all-out assault (ie, anything with Protection Black, etc)
As I said above, a brutal addition to any multi-player deck.
4.5/5
fairly exciting card for control deck sideboards.
is good vs polymorph, eldrazi, baneslayer the 1/4 switch turtle, wall of omens
if he was 4/4 he would be in a LOT of decks, i think its a better card than consuming vapors when its in the sideboard.
Its almost good...but not that much its a typical black, more power over toughness..
I'd love this card if it has a 2/4 or even a 1/5 (too weak to attack at this point so add flying i guess...)
Uh, because lots of decks function without many creatures, find me very many that can do so without lands, artifacts or creatures. She is also cheaper.
It's great that they refer to the web comic in the flavour, because most cards don't. I haven't really seen a card when Liliana vents out her hatred for angels and how righteous they are, not knowing the irony. I really wish they had.
Regardless, one way or another, don't consider playing this outside of Vampires. As Magus of the Abyss was a timeshifted version of The Abyss, this is the "timeshifted" version of Call to the Grave... sort of.