Amazing stats and ability, and look how happy he is.
faisjdas
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
5/4 arena on a stick for 5?
I'll take it.
Hayw00d0909
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Oh wow, a Reanimatable Phyrexian Arena. This year Wizards has brewed up some incredible demons!
Love it 4.5/5
Cyberium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In most cases one would draw from this demon, but the text reads 'target player loses 1 life', which means it could potentially kill off your opponent also. Underworld Dream only make it even more deadly on that regard.
.Blaze.
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Amazing card. Solid stats, evasion, and a strong ability. Now if only we could do something about Dismember sigh. Still, should be a solid card in EDH.
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Efficient, provides card draw, shoots for last points of damage, and is not a mythic. 5/5
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wonder if this will see constructed play...
dudecow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think the 5 power is what makes this good in Constructed. B/U control will have all kinds of fun with t5 this, t6 Consecrated Sphinx.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh wow, this is great!!! It's like Dark Confidant, except you can kill your opponent! I wanna stick him into my discard deck with Underworld Dreams, so that I can damage them and give them late game targets for my discard
Incredibly powerful, Phyrexian Arena on a 5/4 flyer for 5 mana is almost TOO well costed.
Faralay
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Had a very new player targeting me with the draw ability so I'd lose the life.
I think you can guess the rest.
Raszero
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Its a shame it can't stand up to dismember or it'd have potential in standard :(
tcollins
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
"Tonight we drink, to card advantage!"
Fantastic ability, you'll be targetting yourself more often than not, as others have mentioned similar to Phyrexian Arena or Dark Confidant, although Bob will never truly be replaced, this is about as good as it is going to get. Fact that he can beat face helps alot too and if REALLY need that one last point of damage you can target opponents with the ability. Not too shabby for {3}{B}{B}
BastianQoU
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
The one time i went up against this card, my opponent decided to swing. All I had was a tapped Darkthicket Wolf on the field, so why not? He didn't like my Spidery Grasp too much.
TheDonMega
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Cheers Bro!
majinara
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Great card. Of course, Phyrexian Arena is much better, because it costs only three mana and is much harder to get rid of. Still this demon is awesome and even better in 2HG games where you can make your teammate draw cards.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I forgot that you could target ANY player, and I milled myself to death during the prerelease. (wish I had laboratory maniac)
remember, if you are at low life or if your deck is thinning, just target your opponent. the 5/4 body is always worth it.
Goatllama
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Drink up, me hearties, yoho~!
Itten
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Shame the ability isn't optional, but with black it rarely is!
Also, dies to four Storm Crow. Scary!
JoshMagic
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
very well-costed. too much so? it's possible. but this card is definetly awesome, and if i don't start seeing it at FNM, i'll be baffled.
SeiberTross
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Amazingly costed 5/4 flyer for five.
Compared to phyrexian arena, this is arguably better because, it can be put into all sorts of reanimate decks. And don't forget the key feature of this card...
"target player loses 1 life and draws a card"
Pretty darn important difference if you have an opponent down to 4 life, and you have a burn spell in hand...
nickfifteen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
L'chell!
Avenged7fold
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Just pulled this in a booster today and then Sorin's Vengeance in another booster, I was delighted :D
zombiewalrus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Ferlord
Kothophed is dead, the Innistrad demon she is after is Griselbrand.
marlaeden
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Party demon knows how to party.
tantallum99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
easily one of my favorite cards in this set
AncientTimer
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Demonic rituals must be going on at the WotC HQ as the demons are getting more and more powerful all the time. This is ridiculous and makes many creature cards from the past useless in comparison. Too powerful creature for Black, 3/5
For the absolute overkill in card advantage, combine with Consecrated Sphinx.
SkaerKrow
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Ran this card in a sealed event last night. It was pivotal in a couple of my wins (including a game where I actually finished my opponent off with the card draw/life loss ability), but it also cost me a game where I foolishly dinged myself down enough to let a Brimstone Volley kill me. Still, there seems to be something particularly appropriate about a Demon's ability coming back to bite you in the arse.
Brastus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@AncientTimer
you're missing the point of black, and the point of Wizards being the ones who say what goes. 'too' anything, is there, so they can torture anyone not abusing it.
looks like a deliciously fun card... in a bad way.
Radagast
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So, you get a 5/4 black flyer for 3BB with the "drawback" of paying 1 life to gain an extra card. Um, yeah - that's more than slightly good!
Wow. I'd pay 3BB for a 5/4 flying. His draw ability makes him golden.
MasterOfEtherium
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(7 votes)
Cheers B I T C H E S !
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Seldom does black get a 5 flyer for 5 mana. Let alone having a 3 cmc enchantment glued to his face.. 4.5/5!
1qazxsw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ok, great idea. Given that, although this has flavor, it isn't necessarily to the set, it should have been given 1 more toughness, and put into M12 in place of Bloodlord of Vaasgoth, who I at least, wasn't satisfied with. Then put the Bloodlord in here as a rare, and switch it's name to Bloodlord of Stensia. This has a great core set simple vibe to me, while Vaasgoth fits the tribal of Innistrad well, especially the red +1/+1 counters. Flavorwise, I loved him because after I heard the story of Sorin's grandfather, I thought this was a reference to the demon who convinced him to father the vampires. But that turned out to be Griselbrand, so I guess this guy is sort of just a regular demon. Once again, a reason I think he was core-set material. Also, love this guy with Heartless Summoning. But the worst for me was facing a guy at the prerelease with this and Lord of Lineage. But, great card... just the sheer fact of it being a 5/4 flying for 5, with an arena to power right through the rest of the game.
Justin133Nivmizzet1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This should be 8 mana! Wow a 5/4 flier that has Phyrexian arena glued on it why doesn't this see play in standard nobody plays dismember any more. Seriously undercosted
Ferlord
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
There really isn't much to say: Bloodgift is, and has become, one of the most favoured demons in the game, and rightfully so.
1. It is a creature with a moderately large body, which is good for attacking. 2. It has flying, which, although makes it vulnerable to such cards asPlummet, there rarely is a time when flying makes a creature worse. It also is a more efficient blocker as well. 3. You may choose who draws that card: Low on life? Going to mill yourself? Or is your opponent going to lose soon? Have no fear, for this demon can determine who draws that extra card! 4. He is reanimate-able. Once the Arena is destroyed, it's hard to get back (minus Yawgmoth's Will and other shenanigans) 5. Although minor, he is playable in standard. The Arena is not.
CONS:
1. His cost is more than the Arena, which makes him a lot more difficult to get out. He also can't be played on your first turn with Dark Ritual (unless resurrected). 2. He is a creature, which is easier to destroy than an enchantment. 3. He can be cloned or controlled by your opponent much easier than the Arena. 4. His art doesn't include Gerrard Capashen trying to kill Urza.
I suppose this list was unnecessary, but it really puts into light the argument: which is better? I'd go with the Demon, but as long as I have a copy of both, I'm throwing them in any black deck I can find.
HowardTreesong
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very flavoursome black demon. Drew this in draft and was initially reticent about putting him in the deck. Silly me, once on the table he's great, a strong creature with flying and his ability gives a real edge allowing you to draw extra cards each turn. The card advantage was easily worth paying the life for and made a real difference in all games when I got to play him.
LordOfTheFlies87
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sweet berry wine!!!
jldm777
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The fact that this is a black 5/4 flying for 5 mana is already decent, but the fact that this has a phryexian arena attached to it makes this thing extremely powerful. I am shocked at the fact that so many people underestimate this guy. 5/5
Dustylou_2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Opened one of these beauties at a draft and proceeded to tear through everyone. Very efficiently costed for its body, and it has an excellent ability as well. Just barely on the wrong side of the power curve to see much play in formal constructed, but I know for sure that I'll put him in any black deck I make. 4.25/5.
Lash_of_Dragonbreath
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@Darthparralax: shut up. This and Griselbrand fill up very different niches, you know? You're comparing apples to oranges here. Even in Kaalia or reanimator, Gris isn't strictly better than this. If for some reason you fail to cheat it into play, try getting 8 mana (4 of it color-specific) with the amount of accel and fixing Kaalia decks usually run. I dare you.
I have to add that he seems basically like a less hardcore version of Seizan, Perverter of Truth, but with more wings and less individual uniqueness.
atemu1234
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I love seeing a noob target his opponent with this. I saw a kid the other day, and I was playing him, I played this, and he said, "Oh, that's not a good card. Your opponent would only lose one life." I just looked at him, waited a second to see if he was joking (he wasn't) and busted down laughing.
heartless summoning+this= a 4/3 phyrexian arena...sound good to me
Lifegainwithbite
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
One of my favourite black cards... I have a hard time not running this amount of card advantage in every black deck. It's hilarious when you kill somebody with his effect - like playing a Sign in Blood on an opponent.
A:Because as great as Innistrad set is, it has nothing on Avacyn Restored set. I can't remotely imagine a Kaalia deck that doesn't run a huge percentage of its cards straight from this Block though.
There MIGHT be room for this card in Kaalia still. Wow. That sentence wouldn't have made sense a year ago. Wow. Kaalia is the stupidzonkersbrokenest General in the game xD
LashofDragonbreath: Of the quality Dragons, Demons, and Angels that are out there? There are so many Angels. Unless you disregard Deck Synergisms and play a kind of TimmyForever-style Kaalia Deck, looking for all of the cards that look most like Akroma, Angel of Wrath.
Your insight about Demons and Epic Spells stapled to them is true, and in the months since, it's become ludicrously pushed with Angels as well. We have Gisela for Furnace of Wrath, Avacyn who lets Kaalia use LICH AND WORLDSLAYER of all the godforsaken combos playing Darksteel Forge, and now Aurelia is Every World at War ever. We ALSO had a Congregate Angel in AVR, a Lightning Helix Angel in Gatecrash, and also in Gatecrash, a Concerted Effort-like Angel.
WOTC appears to be trying to obsolete non-creature non-lands in Kaalia, and it's a fair question to ask "Do I have room for Bloodgift"? if you are Spiking it up. (looking for all those Lich + Worldslayer + Solitary Confinement type combos, and cramming fifty bajillion of them in there if you can.)
And RolfMao, your counterargument sorta rested on "If you didn't cheat him into play, 8 mana is rough"....well, I would argue even the mana wouldn't be too rough because of Urborg + Cabal Coffers, but more importantly you suggested Griselbrand would somehow not be getting cheated.
DUDE. The color "Black" cheats things into play in EDH. That's what it does.
And. Kaalia herself reads "I am About Cheating Dumb Sht into Play"
AND: Griselbrand got Banned. I rest my case about Griselbrand 'obsoleting Bloodgift Demon. When you can run Gris, Necropotence itself, Bob, and Phyrexian Arena, you don't need another Draw-Cards Demon.
As to whether 'there is room' for Bloodgift Demon naow? Depends on if you want your Kaalia Decks more Rakdos-flavored, more Orzhov-flavored, or more Boros-flavored. He is a strong, high-pickable card but there is a legitimate agrument with legitimate different answers based on what you are looking for, since if you go heavy on the Angels as your creatures but still need card draw, Necropotence and Phyrexian Arena and Dark Tutelage can provide quite a lot of it. The main way to counter THIS argument is to say "Because Kaalia's effect is so dumb, I choose Bloodgift over Necropotence because it has 5 more power". Which, actually, seems to be an argument WoTC is trying to give merit too xD
Kaalia remains deliciously retarded as ever :D
igniteice
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Brought this out in a game when I was getting quite low on health as it was. Probably drew three cards from it before I started targeting my opponent with it, pinging him for damage. I had enough answers in my hand to handle any card advantage he would drop, but I did end up winning with 1 life. Definitely going to be using it to draw cards for yourself 90% of the time, but turning it into a 6/4 every now and against isn't terribly ineffective.
TastetheJace
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'll drink to that!
Pipikako
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Card advantage, 5/4 flying, cool art, 4 swings for win,... ? Ill play that.
blurrymadness
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Quite good. A finisher that tries to make sure he's a finisher (by drawing you more stuff to finish. Or something.) Very good.
GhostCounselor
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Now that Orzhov has a mechanic that will generate you a lot of life per turn and Crypt Ghast, Bloodgift Demon has found a happy home in my extort deck. So with that, I say cheers and drink to card advantage and for me, creature hate!
psychichobo
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
My demon deck has all sorts in it. Halo Hunter, Ob Nixilis, Lord of the Void, Reiver Demon... - basically any demon that I can get my hands on without resorting to spending millions on one card. I can't even remember what I stuffed in there.
But no demon ever saves my ass as much as this guy. When I need something to chump a flyer, he's there. Card advantage too? Don't mind if I do. Flying aggro? Yeah, he can do that.
Blood Speaker has the option of tutoring up any of the nightmares available to me. And yet there's almost always one name on his lips - Bloodgift Demon.
Aquillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The option to target your opponent is also nice to avoid killing yourself with him -- obviously it's not the ideal solution, but it's better than dying to your own life-for-cards engine, which does sometimes happen with Phyrexian Arena.
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is ridiculous in any edh deck, especially ones that can gain life.
Comments (67)
I'll take it.
Love it 4.5/5
I think you can guess the rest.
Fantastic ability, you'll be targetting yourself more often than not, as others have mentioned similar to Phyrexian Arena or Dark Confidant, although Bob will never truly be replaced, this is about as good as it is going to get. Fact that he can beat face helps alot too and if REALLY need that one last point of damage you can target opponents with the ability. Not too shabby for {3}{B}{B}
Of course, Phyrexian Arena is much better, because it costs only three mana and is much harder to get rid of. Still this demon is awesome and even better in 2HG games where you can make your teammate draw cards.
remember, if you are at low life or if your deck is thinning, just target your opponent. the 5/4 body is always worth it.
Also, dies to four Storm Crow. Scary!
Compared to phyrexian arena, this is arguably better because, it can be put into all sorts of reanimate decks. And don't forget the key feature of this card...
"target player loses 1 life and draws a card"
Pretty darn important difference if you have an opponent down to 4 life, and you have a burn spell in hand...
Kothophed is dead, the Innistrad demon she is after is Griselbrand.
you're missing the point of black, and the point of Wizards being the ones who say what goes.
'too' anything, is there, so they can torture anyone not abusing it.
looks like a deliciously fun card... in a bad way.
turn 3: bloodgift demon
can't top that.
Flavorwise, I loved him because after I heard the story of Sorin's grandfather, I thought this was a reference to the demon who convinced him to father the vampires. But that turned out to be Griselbrand, so I guess this guy is sort of just a regular demon. Once again, a reason I think he was core-set material.
Also, love this guy with Heartless Summoning. But the worst for me was facing a guy at the prerelease with this and Lord of Lineage.
But, great card... just the sheer fact of it being a 5/4 flying for 5, with an arena to power right through the rest of the game.
I made a Pros and Cons chart between Putrid Imp and Zombie Infestation, so I believe I'll compare Bloodgift toPhyrexian Arena, it's closest counterpart:
PROS:
1. It is a creature with a moderately large body, which is good for attacking.
2. It has flying, which, although makes it vulnerable to such cards asPlummet, there rarely is a time when flying makes a creature worse. It also is a more efficient blocker as well.
3. You may choose who draws that card: Low on life? Going to mill yourself? Or is your opponent going to lose soon? Have no fear, for this demon can determine who draws that extra card!
4. He is reanimate-able. Once the Arena is destroyed, it's hard to get back (minus Yawgmoth's Will and other shenanigans)
5. Although minor, he is playable in standard. The Arena is not.
CONS:
1. His cost is
2. He is a creature, which is easier to destroy than an enchantment.
3. He can be cloned or controlled by your opponent much easier than the Arena.
4. His art doesn't include Gerrard Capashen trying to kill Urza.
I suppose this list was unnecessary, but it really puts into light the argument: which is better? I'd go with the Demon, but as long as I have a copy of both, I'm throwing them in any black deck I can find.
Even in Kaalia or reanimator, Gris isn't strictly better than this. If for some reason you fail to cheat it into play, try getting 8 mana (4 of it color-specific) with the amount of accel and fixing Kaalia decks usually run. I dare you.
That said, I love this card to death. Both artwork and mechanics. Wizards seem to be hellbent on printing powerful black spells attached to demons lately, don't they? This and Phyrexian Arena, Reaper from the Abyss and The Abyss, Griselbrand and Necropotence, Rune-scarred Demon and Demonic Tutor...
This might already be replaced...
Kaalia of the Vast can now play GRISELBRAND
Q:Umm why wouldn't I play both of these cards?
A:Because as great as Innistrad set is, it has nothing on Avacyn Restored set. I can't remotely imagine a Kaalia deck that doesn't run a huge percentage of its cards straight from this Block though.
There MIGHT be room for this card in Kaalia still. Wow. That sentence wouldn't have made sense a year ago. Wow. Kaalia is the stupidzonkersbrokenest General in the game xD
LashofDragonbreath: Of the quality Dragons, Demons, and Angels that are out there? There are so many Angels. Unless you disregard Deck Synergisms and play a kind of TimmyForever-style Kaalia Deck, looking for all of the cards that look most like Akroma, Angel of Wrath.
Your insight about Demons and Epic Spells stapled to them is true, and in the months since, it's become ludicrously pushed with Angels as well. We have Gisela for Furnace of Wrath, Avacyn who lets Kaalia use LICH AND WORLDSLAYER of all the godforsaken combos playing Darksteel Forge, and now Aurelia is Every World at War ever. We ALSO had a Congregate Angel in AVR, a Lightning Helix Angel in Gatecrash, and also in Gatecrash, a Concerted Effort-like Angel.
WOTC appears to be trying to obsolete non-creature non-lands in Kaalia, and it's a fair question to ask "Do I have room for Bloodgift"? if you are Spiking it up. (looking for all those Lich + Worldslayer + Solitary Confinement type combos, and cramming fifty bajillion of them in there if you can.)
And RolfMao, your counterargument sorta rested on "If you didn't cheat him into play, 8 mana is rough"....well, I would argue even the mana wouldn't be too rough because of Urborg + Cabal Coffers, but more importantly you suggested Griselbrand would somehow not be getting cheated.
DUDE.
The color "Black" cheats things into play in EDH. That's what it does.
And.
Kaalia herself reads "I am About Cheating Dumb Sht into Play"
AND:
Griselbrand got Banned. I rest my case about Griselbrand 'obsoleting Bloodgift Demon. When you can run Gris, Necropotence itself, Bob, and Phyrexian Arena, you don't need another Draw-Cards Demon.
As to whether 'there is room' for Bloodgift Demon naow? Depends on if you want your Kaalia Decks more Rakdos-flavored, more Orzhov-flavored, or more Boros-flavored. He is a strong, high-pickable card but there is a legitimate agrument with legitimate different answers based on what you are looking for, since if you go heavy on the Angels as your creatures but still need card draw, Necropotence and Phyrexian Arena and Dark Tutelage can provide quite a lot of it. The main way to counter THIS argument is to say "Because Kaalia's effect is so dumb, I choose Bloodgift over Necropotence because it has 5 more power". Which, actually, seems to be an argument WoTC is trying to give merit too xD
Kaalia remains deliciously retarded as ever :D
But no demon ever saves my ass as much as this guy. When I need something to chump a flyer, he's there. Card advantage too? Don't mind if I do. Flying aggro? Yeah, he can do that.
Blood Speaker has the option of tutoring up any of the nightmares available to me. And yet there's almost always one name on his lips - Bloodgift Demon.
Fun to give lifelink to.