Yeah, I like the concept, but it seems forced. Like Taste for Blood. They made that card FOR Bloodthist.
Keino
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(8 votes)
It isn't vampire nocturnus, but it is flavorful. Hopefully we see more vamps like these in the next set.
HairlessThoctar
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(5 votes)
I mean this guy's cool and all, but I miss nocturnus. ):
alucard311
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I don't like these lords that don't affect your existing mans. This is going to mess up some casuals in my playgroup who will hang on to every vampire in their deck until they get this guy out, by which time they will be dead. If you do topdeck vampires after drawing him, he will look like the greatest lord EVER.
Kyzar
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(6 votes)
bloodthirst=flavorful bloodthirst on vampires=vorthos wet dream
dirty card, holy crap
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Nocturnus & Vassgoth................VAMPIRE STANDARD Baby, Plus Mephidross Vampire. Say Good Bye Fairy Decks & Caw Go Lame-o. STANDARD VAMP Nocturnus & This Guy so ON
WateryMind
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Why.... For the lvoe of god, why?!
Vampire decks have enough gas as it is, WITHOUT Bloodthrist!
TheSwarm
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(4 votes)
first off, @Shadoflaam.. If not playing vampires makes you want to quit standard, you should probably quit standard.
This card seems reeeally gimmicky. I feel like people are going to be jumping through a lot of hopes to always get an activation, requiring players to be more aggresive than what might be appropriate at the time. On the flip side, vamps is a very aggressive deck that can oftentimes get damage in somewhat easily. I just feel that alot of times in close matches people are going to be wasting bolts and other red reomoval simply to get the bloodthirst trigger, and walk a bunch of creatures straight into a day of judgment.
Arachibutyrophobia
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
it's weird seeing bloodthirst on black...
EvilCartographer
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
As someone who plays vampires in tribal, this is an awesome alternative to Nocturnus. I cannot help but wonder, though, how useful he will actually be outside of standard. Unless you get him out early using a Dark Ritual, or your creatures have been nuked, how many other vamps are you going to cast after this getting a 6/6 flier out?
Still 5 stars.
Zielheim
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(3 votes)
You know, I've been wondering about this guy's ability. What if you have multiples of him out, or if you cast a Vampire with bloodthirst x already? Do they stack? If I play a Child of Night after I hit someone with two of these guys out on the field, does Child of Night show up with 6 counters or just 3? I'm just thinking that if they do stack, then you can have all kinds of shenanigans with him and any creature replicator (like Rite of Replication or Prototype Portal + Phyrexian Metamorph).
Jake1991
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.6/5.0)(5 votes)
A 5 mana lord that does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the Vampires already in play and other Vampires HAVE TO BE CAST in order to get the bonus.
Vampire Nocturnus >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This waste of cardboard.
Revelation666
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(6 votes)
This guy is a monster, he is pretty much a 6/6 flier for 5, the bloodthirst to other vamps is just icing. Don't compare him to Vampire Nocturnus, there's a reason they didn't reprint him, He's overpowered. If you have a couple of weenie vampires out like Pulse Tracker and Vampire Lacerator It's like turn 4 Nocturnus swing over your head for 12 or even more, It's kind of dumb.
ddong
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
Had a ball playing this card at the prerelease, but I still question how powerful it will be in standard. If the new Vamps will be anything like the current one, this might be a bit too high on the curve. Its a definite game ender though. I like it for its flavour, I like it in limited but I'm not sure how it will fare in standard.
and @Shadoflaam: calm down, Innistrad is gonna be big on vampires, its got a gothic inspired setting and the name itself is a reference to Strahd von Zarovich, one of the best known baddies in D&D, and he just so happens to be a vampire.
DeathDark
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
I really like the capabilities of this card. Especially if you have multiples out (splash green for Doubling Chant and Autumn's Veil perhaps). I plan on making use of him and seeing how far he goes. No, he's no Nocturnus, but at least he's not Captivating.
Gabriel422
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My guess is this will be lackluster, compared to Nocturnus or Malakir.
Nocturnus threatens a kill in a turn or two (if not outright). This opens you up for Day of Judgment, even more so if you plan to maximize the bloodthrist. And where this could win you the game, Malakir Bloodwitch does it just about as fast, with some additional protection against spot removal and DoJ (you get to drain their life).
Ximenez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
But they reprinted Cemetery Reaper ... and Call to the Grave ... and Zombie Infestation... Duel decks: Vampires vs Zombies anyone?
oblivion0110
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
and he's not a legendary creature. run four for bloodthirst 12 xD
HuntedWumpusMustDie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think he costs too much. His ability is dependant on still having Vamps in your hand. By the time you have five most of your other ones will be played :( His ability feels too little too late- but I guess we will see! Wicked flavor though.
Dr.Pingas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Nocturnus wasn't really that good guys. I'm sure it was great in really cheesy combos with Zendikar crap, but all he really was was a glorified Levitation because you didn't want to splash in blue. If you really want the hyperactive speed he granted, just play Goblins. Get out of Black.
I like this card, but I think bloodthirst 3 for ALL vamps is a bit much. 1 or 2 maybe. 3 is too much. And, @Jake1991, I'm sooo damn sorry MTG actually acknowledges the facts that some cards with powerful effects actually need to have some sort of downside or restriction. Chill dude. Games can last more than 5 turns, it's okay.
Joseph_Leito
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
And he still doesn't sparkle.
MarlinFlake
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
If you have this out, and you cast a vampire that already has bloodthirst (e.g. Bloodrage Vampire) does this replace the existing Bloodthirst 1 or add to it to become Bloodthirst 4? I would assume the latter, since this isn't an all-or-nothing ability like lifelink or first strike. A creature could conceivably have both Bloodthirst 1 and also Bloodthirst 3 at the same time, for a cumulative effect of Bloodthirst 4. But I was wondering if anyone knew the official rule on this.
netog121
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
does bloodthirst stack because lets say you cast Vampire Outcast with an opponent was delt damage and u have Bloodlord of Vaasgoth out on the battlefield does the Vampire Outcast get 2,3, or 5 +1/+1 counters on it?
That being said, if anyone wants to make a janky Vamp deck, this guy and Sangromancer can be the start of a new half decent Vampire tribe.
Bloodthirst is so wonderful on Vamps. The most important feature, and what makes him good, is that you cna just fill your deck with small vamps like Child of Night and after he hits, makes any vampire you draw a useful draw, much like Nocturnus did.
We'll see if he makes a splash...
4.5/5
Edit: @ Everyone asking about if Bloodthirst stacks:
From the official forums, yes, it does stack. Each bloodthirst stacks up seperately, so if you have two of these bad boys out, each Bloodlord will trigger, granting 3 +1/+1 counters a piece.
Rejoice.
Alsebra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@HuntedWumpusMustDie - Sure, you'd probably have played a few Vamps by the time this guy hits the board...but what about those that you may draw the turn(s) after he hits play? He can really ramp those up, should you need to replace your forces.
thor0625
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
this card is absolutely good in late game, vampire nighthawk + this = vampire steroids. im gonna use this card with blood tyrant to see if it fits... perfectly i think..
SirMalkin
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
After pulling this, a number of vamps, Tormented Soul, and Goblin Fireslinger, other bloodthirst creatures and burn spells, I must say I've turned around on this card (and bloodthirst in general). Definitely a lot of fun. I just wished I'd also pulled a Furyborn Hellkite.
Kryptnyt
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Good to see the Nosferatu in Magic again.
cseabock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Does his ability add +3 to vamps w/ bloodthirst, or make their bloodthirst=3?
Razbot
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(6 votes)
@Dr.Pingas Noturnus was really that good. a +2/+1 power boost and flying on all your creatures in a highly aggressive, creature based deck is a little more than glorified levitation; it's a game winner. The turn/turn after Nocturnus dropped, games were over.
As for Bloodlord, he's not quite as good. definitely changes the flow of games, but won't be causing nearly as many blowouts, if only because he only effects cast vampires. if he'd affected vampires entering the battlefield, he'd be great, since bloodghast could potentially be a 4/3 hasty guy after landfall, but since it's on cast, the bloodlord loses a lot of appeal. Maybe in a U/B vamps that would bounce some of it's own guys for a little utility/bloodthirst counters
UberMasterBeef.
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(7 votes)
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
ObsceneMartyr
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I give the whole vamp set 31/2 stars. Of all the cool vamps that could have been kept, they're going w/ child of the night and blood seeker? It's good to see sengir again, but still. Losing the dark ritual only for red to get 3 different versions of it is bad enough, but late game, nootered vampires is a little hard to take in. I hope the next block-set does this justice.
roguepariah
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
My only real complaint is that his lord(ish) ability only works when you cast a vampire. If it had been "All vampires that enter the battlefield under your control have bloodthirst 3" it would have opened the door for graveyard recursion. Now that would have been Mythic, and more flavorful to boot.
WiggleWurm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Unless something drastic comes along in Innistrad this guy probably isn't gonna see any real play in Standard. 5 mana is just a little steep a cost for most Vamp decks. Vampire Nocturnus might have been too powerful of a reprint for R&D to give up with Innistrad on deck, so we get this guy.
Laguz
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Absolutely amazing art on the promo card...warriors are so cool.
I think people are focusing too much on the fact that he's a vampire and they think he needs to go into a vampire deck or something. If you just ignore that entire ability, you're left with a 6/6 flyer for 5 mana and that's not bad at all.
TwoStars
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
I know that nobody would care about this, but as of the date posted on this comment, this card is my 5000th total rate.
I need to keep track, yay.
Nephilim55
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Question. If I have 2 of these guys out does that mean that my vampires get bloodthirst 6? My guess would be no.
Durtywop
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I drafted this guy today and he did wonders. Nobody (luckily) was drafting up the vampires or vampire/bloodthirst dudes. BUT -- I played against a green guy that was running dual dungrove elders and such. He happened to main deck 3 plumimit! There goes my sengir and bloodlord. So you get 4
Paleopaladin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Once upon a time a 6/6 flier for 5 would have been 4 stars on its own, no doubt. And giving it a bonus rather than a drawback would have been gravy. Easily 4.5 or 5.
That being said, he's a sort of meh mythic now--3.5-4.0. What he needs is a buddy in terms of some vampire lord who makes him cheaper to cast if wizards ever prints such a thing. If you're playing extended or modern vamps, most of your best Zendikar-block vamps are too cheap, quick-hitting/beatdown oriented to work with this guy. If you want to play him in extended Vamps, then he goes with higher CMC vamps like Anowon, the Ruin Sage and Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief and maybe Butcher of Malakir in some sort of vamp/control deck. IS there such a thing as a "Vampire Control Deck"???
EDIT: For the endless "Does bloodthirst stack or is it redundant?" questions, the answer is it stacks. It was settled in the rules Q&A here: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/28206341/Bloodlord_of_Vaasgoth?post_id=505368829#505368829
Read the ruling on bloodthirst again. it says "If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it."
You don't have to cast the vampires. Tokens work just fine with this. Now all you need is a good vampire token generator.
DacenOctavio
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Nocturnus was good because he was a 4-drop that gave your other vamps a significant boost when he was turned on. Captivating Vampire was useful because you could play him after your other vamps for a bonus, the bonus was always active, and he turned clogged board states to your favor. This guy. . . he's garbage. He's gonna eat a lot of Galvanic Blasts, Dispatches, and Dismembers before he even proves useful.
For those asking, like Nephilim55, Bloodthirsts effects do stack.
Basically, it gives all your vampires Bloodthirst 3, and if you're already casting a Vampire with Bloodthirst 2 (like Vampire Outcasts) the newly casted Vampire would have Bloodthirst 2 AND Bloodthirst 3, so it gets 5 counters. Basically, it doesn't override the card.
If you have two lords, your other vampires have Bloodthirst 3 and another Bloodthirst 3.
Zokorad
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Good Card.
3/5 Because Innistrad Rotated Out a Lot of Good Vampires
Misterbiggs
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Fantastic card.
I've got a question about this card. It adds bloodlust 3 to any vampires I cast. Now, does this mean the next vampire spell card I cast instantly gets +3/+3, regardless if I dealt combat damage to a player? Or does it just add the option for Bloodlust 3, in which I'd have to deal combat damage to a player in order for this card's ability to take effect?
Kirbster
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
So this guy is the only reason vampires need to drink blood! Interesting.
Shadoflaam
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Okay, I can't sit by and watch this. Why would they put a simply amazing Vampire lord in a set, right before most of the vampires in constructed rotate, and not give us ANY OTHER GOOD VAMPIRES IN THE CORE SET AT ALL? It just annoys me that with the exception of some sort of fish deck, I can't make my vamps standard deck any better without drastically increasing the curve! I'm fine with adding Lashwrithes and this beast, but I draw the line at Sengir Vampires. If Innistrad doesn't have any vampires, I may quit standard. Rant over. THIS CARD IS BAWWSSS! EDIT: Wait, no it's not. It's awful. I'm an idiot. Of course Innistrad has vamps. EDIT 2: But they are all either shitty or Stromkirk Noble. I didn't quit standard, I just built a Delver of Secrets counterburn deck. This is a trash mythic, why did I get 3?
joker53
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
One of the worst mythic cards on M12 and certainly much worse than nocturnus or Bloodline Keeper. At mana costing FIVE, it should affect vampires you have Already played, not the ones you have waited (six) turns to cast. At that point of the game you're either lost or on your way to winning. In neither of the scenarios does Bloodlord of Vaasgoth makes much of a difference.
Yes, I hate him. He's the only mythic I have opened twice.
Jannissary
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I never liked the idea that now black get another tribe of boring weenies. Zombies were cool because you could kill them and it made sense- zombies are lame because they're all so straightforward. They just have bloodlust, sometimes flying. They don't even have any cool cards unless Wizards keeps trying to force the Vampire tribal theme with things like Feast of Blood.
This guy makes a boring tribal even more boring.
Nexath_of_Kalastria
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i tried this guy in legacy. complete garbage, and i was really eager to use him too. why does he suck? vampires that run black shouldn't be running anything over 4 mana that isn't malakir bloodwitch. other than her, 5 mana = unplayable.
j_mindfingerpainter
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Dammit Wizards. DAMN IT. Had the bloodthirst clause included "may", my dreams of a creature with Bloodthirst and Undying would be possible. Having a creature reenter the battlefield with extra +1/+1 counters on it sounds awesome. Oh well, Geralf's Messenger, I guess you're awesome enough as you are.
TherealphatMatt
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Too many people forget that this is a 6/6 flier for 5. The sheer efficiency of that alone makes him worth it in my book.
It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how this could have been another awesome mythic demon. Ugh.
Fryste
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
This guy makes tokens from bloodline keeper very, very scary!
LordRandomness
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
j_mindfingerpainter: You COULD just play the undying+bloodthirst creature BEFORE combat, y'know.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is further proof Bloodthirst was never meant to be the Gruul mechanic. It was too Vampire-themed and burn dependent.
blackaggro
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card has allowed me to overwhelm opponents of multiple occasions. The best I can remember when he forced a Rakdos, Lord of Riots to block him. Yeah his is a tough tough vampire and makes everything else even stronger.
clockword44
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Am I the only one who notices this is the MTG equivalent of Kain of Nosgoth?
psychichobo
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Hey, he gives Vamps a boost in EDH. And if you're capable of fending off an aggressive Vampire deck (Soldier decks can manage that very easily) then this guy gives them a very brutal edge. He's no Nocturnus, but I've seen both on the board and really could've done without them. Plus, his death doesn't render everything useless again.
One of those cards that seems powerful but in reality the ability has terrible synergy with the mana cost and doesn't work well.
5 mana is right at the end of the curve for a decent vampire deck and, provided all is going well, it will be one of the last cards played from a hand. To be a good card at this cost it needs to be a bomb, like Malakir Bloodwitch or Vampire Nocturnus. Unfortunately this card is a support card where the ability can't be applied retroactively and because you will have emptied your hand by the time it is played, there will be nothing left to cast and benefit from the Bloodthirst 3. A conditional 6/6 flyer for 5 mana is okay but nothing special.
In my opinion it should have been something like a BB 2/1 flier with Bloodthirst 1 that gives Bloodthirst 1 in the same way, then it would be practical. In fact, I think it would have been an appropriately flavourful take on the typical 2 or 3 mana "tribal lord" and would have been a much better card (in terms of design) than Captivating Vampire, which frankly is rather uninspiring.
As it is, the card is only playable in EDH or slow / casual formats and excepting singleton you really should be thinking why when there are several better options for vampire tribal.
@ Fryste
Doesn't affect Bloodline Keeper tokens, only Vampire spells that have been cast.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You know what's funny? I find this a REALLY good top-down Vampire Lord that's not too strong and doesn't win the game too quickly, like Vampire Nocturnus. I would like to see it return.
But, I don't think Exalted, Bloodthirst, or Scry need to be supported themes EVERY Core Set.
Idea: Could Mythic Rares that have Keywords, especially Mythic Rare Creatures, get exemption from normal conventions, and end up in Core Sets even if no other cards with their mechanics return?
Like, Bloodlord of Vaasgoth is a good example of a card this could apply to.
Past in Flames I think is a great Core card too.
But just sticking a bunch of these cards in...it's basically against MaRo's maxim 'if it's not in Common, it's not your Theme'. I think it is good and appropriate that Mythics and Legends regularly Defy This in Core Set appearances. A Keyword shouldn't disqualify well-Designed Rares and Mythics.
We want to avoid an overload of keywords? that's fine. keeping some of them out of common, reserving a few here and there for special appearances as Uncommons, Rares, and Mythics, is a -good- way to do that. And a LOT of Top Down Uncommons, Rares, and Mythics have been made that would otherwise be shoe-ins for Core Sets, if it weren't:
that Modern Core Sets have to be 'about' the New/Returning Mechanic now. :/ The Returning Mechanic + whichever Planeswalker they're Spotlighting. Chandra is to M14 as Bolas is to M13, for example. Jace is next, I'm sure of it.
MortisAngelus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Fryste:
This guy does not affect tokens at all, as its triggered ability is triggered when casting a vampire spell, not creating a vampire (due to activated abilities or populate or somilar effects). Bloodline keeper's tokens are created by and activated ability, not by casting a creature spell.
Comments (64)
bloodthirst on vampires=vorthos wet dream
dirty card, holy crap
Vampire decks have enough gas as it is, WITHOUT Bloodthrist!
This card seems reeeally gimmicky. I feel like people are going to be jumping through a lot of hopes to always get an activation, requiring players to be more aggresive than what might be appropriate at the time. On the flip side, vamps is a very aggressive deck that can oftentimes get damage in somewhat easily. I just feel that alot of times in close matches people are going to be wasting bolts and other red reomoval simply to get the bloodthirst trigger, and walk a bunch of creatures straight into a day of judgment.
Still 5 stars.
Vampire Nocturnus >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This waste of cardboard.
and @Shadoflaam: calm down, Innistrad is gonna be big on vampires, its got a gothic inspired setting and the name itself is a reference to Strahd von Zarovich, one of the best known baddies in D&D, and he just so happens to be a vampire.
Nocturnus threatens a kill in a turn or two (if not outright). This opens you up for Day of Judgment, even more so if you plan to maximize the bloodthrist. And where this could win you the game, Malakir Bloodwitch does it just about as fast, with some additional protection against spot removal and DoJ (you get to drain their life).
I like this card, but I think bloodthirst 3 for ALL vamps is a bit much. 1 or 2 maybe. 3 is too much.
And, @Jake1991, I'm sooo damn sorry MTG actually acknowledges the facts that some cards with powerful effects actually need to have some sort of downside or restriction. Chill dude. Games can last more than 5 turns, it's okay.
That being said, if anyone wants to make a janky Vamp deck, this guy and Sangromancer can be the start of a new half decent Vampire tribe.
Bloodthirst is so wonderful on Vamps. The most important feature, and what makes him good, is that you cna just fill your deck with small vamps like Child of Night and after he hits, makes any vampire you draw a useful draw, much like Nocturnus did.
We'll see if he makes a splash...
4.5/5
Edit: @ Everyone asking about if Bloodthirst stacks:
From the official forums, yes, it does stack. Each bloodthirst stacks up seperately, so if you have two of these bad boys out, each Bloodlord will trigger, granting 3 +1/+1 counters a piece.
Rejoice.
As for Bloodlord, he's not quite as good. definitely changes the flow of games, but won't be causing nearly as many blowouts, if only because he only effects cast vampires. if he'd affected vampires entering the battlefield, he'd be great, since bloodghast could potentially be a 4/3 hasty guy after landfall, but since it's on cast, the bloodlord loses a lot of appeal. Maybe in a U/B vamps that would bounce some of it's own guys for a little utility/bloodthirst counters
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
WE WANT NOCTORNUS!
I think people are focusing too much on the fact that he's a vampire and they think he needs to go into a vampire deck or something. If you just ignore that entire ability, you're left with a 6/6 flyer for 5 mana and that's not bad at all.
I need to keep track, yay.
That being said, he's a sort of meh mythic now--3.5-4.0. What he needs is a buddy in terms of some vampire lord who makes him cheaper to cast if wizards ever prints such a thing. If you're playing extended or modern vamps, most of your best Zendikar-block vamps are too cheap, quick-hitting/beatdown oriented to work with this guy. If you want to play him in extended Vamps, then he goes with higher CMC vamps like Anowon, the Ruin Sage and Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief and maybe Butcher of Malakir in some sort of vamp/control deck. IS there such a thing as a "Vampire Control Deck"???
EDIT: For the endless "Does bloodthirst stack or is it redundant?" questions, the answer is it stacks. It was settled in the rules Q&A here: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/28206341/Bloodlord_of_Vaasgoth?post_id=505368829#505368829
He'd also be good in a Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter EDH deck.
Read the ruling on bloodthirst again. it says "If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it."
You don't have to cast the vampires. Tokens work just fine with this. Now all you need is a good vampire token generator.
Basically, it gives all your vampires Bloodthirst 3, and if you're already casting a Vampire with Bloodthirst 2 (like Vampire Outcasts) the newly casted Vampire would have Bloodthirst 2 AND Bloodthirst 3, so it gets 5 counters. Basically, it doesn't override the card.
If you have two lords, your other vampires have Bloodthirst 3 and another Bloodthirst 3.
3/5 Because Innistrad Rotated Out a Lot of Good Vampires
I've got a question about this card.
It adds bloodlust 3 to any vampires I cast. Now, does this mean the next vampire spell card I cast instantly gets +3/+3, regardless if I dealt combat damage to a player? Or does it just add the option for Bloodlust 3, in which I'd have to deal combat damage to a player in order for this card's ability to take effect?
Why would they put a simply amazing Vampire lord in a set, right before most of the vampires in constructed rotate, and not give us ANY OTHER GOOD VAMPIRES IN THE CORE SET AT ALL? It just annoys me that with the exception of some sort of fish deck, I can't make my vamps standard deck any better without drastically increasing the curve! I'm fine with adding Lashwrithes and this beast, but I draw the line at Sengir Vampires. If Innistrad doesn't have any vampires, I may quit standard.
Rant over.
THIS CARD IS BAWWSSS!
EDIT: Wait, no it's not. It's awful. I'm an idiot. Of course Innistrad has vamps.
EDIT 2: But they are all either shitty or Stromkirk Noble. I didn't quit standard, I just built a Delver of Secrets counterburn deck. This is a trash mythic, why did I get 3?
Yes, I hate him. He's the only mythic I have opened twice.
This guy makes a boring tribal even more boring.
It stacks!
Sooooo in that case infinite reflection
It was too
5 mana is right at the end of the curve for a decent vampire deck and, provided all is going well, it will be one of the last cards played from a hand. To be a good card at this cost it needs to be a bomb, like Malakir Bloodwitch or Vampire Nocturnus. Unfortunately this card is a support card where the ability can't be applied retroactively and because you will have emptied your hand by the time it is played, there will be nothing left to cast and benefit from the Bloodthirst 3. A conditional 6/6 flyer for 5 mana is okay but nothing special.
In my opinion it should have been something like a BB 2/1 flier with Bloodthirst 1 that gives Bloodthirst 1 in the same way, then it would be practical. In fact, I think it would have been an appropriately flavourful take on the typical 2 or 3 mana "tribal lord" and would have been a much better card (in terms of design) than Captivating Vampire, which frankly is rather uninspiring.
As it is, the card is only playable in EDH or slow / casual formats and excepting singleton you really should be thinking why when there are several better options for vampire tribal.
@ Fryste
Doesn't affect Bloodline Keeper tokens, only Vampire spells that have been cast.
But, I don't think Exalted, Bloodthirst, or Scry need to be supported themes EVERY Core Set.
Idea: Could Mythic Rares that have Keywords, especially Mythic Rare Creatures, get exemption from normal conventions, and end up in Core Sets even if no other cards with their mechanics return?
Like, Bloodlord of Vaasgoth is a good example of a card this could apply to.
Past in Flames I think is a great Core card too.
But just sticking a bunch of these cards in...it's basically against MaRo's maxim 'if it's not in Common, it's not your Theme'. I think it is good and appropriate that Mythics and Legends regularly Defy This in Core Set appearances. A Keyword shouldn't disqualify well-Designed Rares and Mythics.
We want to avoid an overload of keywords? that's fine. keeping some of them out of common, reserving a few here and there for special appearances as Uncommons, Rares, and Mythics, is a -good- way to do that. And a LOT of Top Down Uncommons, Rares, and Mythics have been made that would otherwise be shoe-ins for Core Sets, if it weren't:
that Modern Core Sets have to be 'about' the New/Returning Mechanic now. :/ The Returning Mechanic + whichever Planeswalker they're Spotlighting. Chandra is to M14 as Bolas is to M13, for example. Jace is next, I'm sure of it.
This guy does not affect tokens at all, as its triggered ability is triggered when casting a vampire spell, not creating a vampire (due to activated abilities or populate or somilar effects). Bloodline keeper's tokens are created by and activated ability, not by casting a creature spell.