Blood PactHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Price of Power

When you cast Blood Pact, you select a target player who will perform the entire effect. That player draws exactly two cards and then loses exactly 2 life. Because the card specifies 'Target player,' you can use it on yourself to dig through your library or on an opponent if they are at 2 or less life to win the game.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, the spell is cast and put onto the stack, requiring a legal target player. Upon resolution, the target player draws the first card, then the second card. Immediately after drawing, that same player loses 2 life. Finally, Blood Pact is placed into its owner's graveyard.

Key Interactions and Timing

A common mistake is forgetting that Blood Pact is an instant, meaning it can be cast during an opponent's end step to keep your mana open for reactive spells. Additionally, the life loss is not a cost; if the spell is countered, you neither draw cards nor lose life. However, if the player has exactly 2 life, the loss of life occurs immediately after drawing, potentially ending the game before they can play the cards they just drew.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Dispute

Deadly Dispute

If you are low on resources, you can cast Blood Pact to draw two cards. If one of those cards is a creature, you can then cast Deadly Dispute, sacrificing that new creature as an additional cost to draw two more cards and create a Treasure token, effectively cycling through four cards in a single turn cycle.

Finding the Free Answer

Deadly Rollick

During an opponent's combat phase, you may realize you need to remove a blocker. You cast Blood Pact to draw two cards. If you draw Deadly Rollick and control your commander, you can immediately cast Deadly Rollick for its alternative cost of zero mana to exile the threatening creature before the turn ends.