Bloodthirsty Adversary is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Haste When this creature enters, you may payany number of times. When you pay this cost one or more times, put that many +1/+1 counters on this creature, then exile up to that many target instant and/or sorcery cards with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard and copy them. You may cast any number of the copies without paying their mana costs.
Complete guide
Bloodthirsty Adversary is a versatile Vampire that scales late into the game, acting as both an aggressive threat and a source of card advantage. By paying a recurring kicker-style cost, you can rebuy your best spells while permanently boosting its power on the battlefield. Whether played early as a simple attacker or late as a game-finisher, this card demands respect.
Scaling Power and Spells
When Bloodthirsty Adversary enters the battlefield, you have the option to pay {2}{R} as many times as you can afford. This is a special 'enters' trigger that spawns a second triggered ability if you pay at least once. For every time you paid the cost, the Adversary receives one +1/+1 counter and you may select one target instant or sorcery from your graveyard with mana value 3 or less to exile and copy.
Resolution and Timing
The mechanics of this card involve two distinct steps. First, the initial trigger asks if you want to pay mana. Once you finish paying, a second 'reflexive' trigger goes on the stack, which is when you choose your targets. If you paid twice, you target two cards. As this second ability resolves, the counters are placed, the cards are exiled, and you cast the copies immediately. You must cast them now; you cannot save the copies for later in the turn.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking you can wait to cast the copied spells until your main phase or a later turn. Because the effect happens during the resolution of the ability, you ignore normal timing rules (allowing you to cast sorceries on an opponent's turn), but you must act right then. Additionally, remember that the original cards remain in exile regardless of whether you choose to cast the copies or not.
Strategic Deployment
Bloodthirsty Adversary is best utilized when you have specific low-cost utility spells in your graveyard that can swing the board state. Because it has Haste, it is an excellent follow-up after a board wipe or as a way to push the final points of damage by recasting burn spells or removal.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseWith Ornithopter of Paradise on the battlefield, you can tap it for Red mana to help pay the {2}{R} cost when Bloodthirsty Adversary enters. This allows you to reach the five mana required to trigger the spell-copying ability sooner than usual, resulting in a 3/3 Haste creature and a free spell early in the game.
Professional Face-BreakerIf you attack with Professional Face-Breaker and create Treasure tokens, you can sacrifice those Treasures to pay the {2}{R} cost multiple times. If you pay twice ({4}{RR}), the Adversary enters as a 4/4 and allows you to exile two spells from your graveyard to cast for free, providing a massive swing in tempo.
On turn two, you can play Bloodthirsty Adversary simply as a 2/2 with Haste to apply early pressure. Even without paying the additional cost, it remains a relevant threat that can be followed up by other aggressive plays, though you forgo the ability to copy spells later from this specific permanent's entry.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Bloodthirsty Adversary
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Whether or not you cast the copies this way, the original cards will remain in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Copies cast this way are cast during the resolution of the ability. You don't have to follow normal timing requirements and you can't wait and cast them later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
After you pay the
cost one or more times, a second ability triggers and you choose the targets for it. Players may respond to the new ability at that point. As that ability resolves, Bloodthirsty Adversary gets its counters and the target cards are exiled.No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Bloodthirsty Adversary
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.