Versions
Dreaded Bat-Cloud
AI draftAI-generated draft analysis — not yet human-reviewed. Treat with healthy skepticism.Limited summary
Dreaded Bat-Cloud is a premium evasive threat that becomes an exceptional tempo play when a trade, sacrifice, or removal spell lets you cast it for {1}{B}. At five mana its 4/2 body is fragile, but flying and deathtouch ensure it attacks well and can trade with almost anything.
Roles
Archetypes
Gameplay notes
Look for profitable combat trades before your second main phase, then cast Dreaded Bat-Cloud for {1}{B}. Avoid spending removal before combat when attacking or blocking could generate the required death naturally; if no death is available, cast it for five only when the evasive clock or deathtouch blocker is worth the inefficient rate.
Key synergies
Crude Bent Blade forces a creature to die, reducing Dreaded Bat-Cloud's cost by three and potentially letting you cast the Bat for two mana in the same turn.
Bolg's Company can sacrifice another Goblin to both enable Dreaded Bat-Cloud's discount and produce {B}{R}; that mana pays most of the Bat-Cloud's reduced {1}{B} cost.
Gnashing of Teeth can kill a creature for three mana, immediately reducing Dreaded Bat-Cloud to {1}{B}; together they provide removal plus a 4/2 flying deathtouch threat for only five mana.
Bilbo's Deadly Slice can kill a creature during the opponent's turn or before combat on your turn, allowing Dreaded Bat-Cloud to be cast for only {1}{B} after that creature dies.
If the targeted creature dies, Pinecone Strike enables Bat-Cloud's cost reduction, letting you cast the removal for two mana and follow it with the Bat for one mana in the same turn.
The creature sacrificed to Stir Up Trouble dies before the spell resolves, enabling Dreaded Bat-Cloud's discount; with two black mana, you can cast the removal for one mana and follow it with the Bat for one mana.
Dreaded Bat-Cloud's 4 power turns on Ravening Warg's Ferocious attack trigger, and its discounted cost can establish that 4-power creature much earlier than a normal five-drop.
Head of the Hunt exiles opposing creatures instead of letting them die, so those opposing creatures do not enable Dreaded Bat-Cloud's cost reduction; deaths among your own creatures still work normally.
Trading or sacrificing Fearsome Goblin Pair enables Dreaded Bat-Cloud's cost reduction while the Pair's death trigger leaves behind a 4-power Army, allowing a one-mana 4/2 flying deathtouch threat without sacrificing board development.
If Easy Pickings kills a creature, Dreaded Bat-Cloud costs only {1}{B}; with five mana, both spells can be cast in the same turn for a one-sided cleanup followed by a 4/2 flying deathtouch threat.
Sacrificing a creature to return Gollum from the graveyard causes a creature to die, reducing Dreaded Bat-Cloud to a one-mana 4/2 flying deathtouch threat while also setting up another Gollum cast.
Destroying a power-4-or-greater creature with Stone by Sunlight enables Dreaded Bat-Cloud's death discount, letting you follow the removal with a one-mana 4/2 flying deathtoucher.
Azog reliably causes a creature to die with its enters ability, reducing Dreaded Bat-Cloud to just {1}{B} and letting you add a 4/2 flying deathtouch threat in the same turn.
Allure of Power guarantees that a creature dies as part of its cost, reducing Dreaded Bat-Cloud to {1}{B}; this enables a compact turn where you cash in a creature, draw two cards, and deploy a 4/2 flying deathtoucher.
Tom, Bert, and William can sacrifice a creature before casting Dreaded Bat-Cloud, reliably reducing the Bat's cost from five mana to two while also turning the sacrificed creature into cards.