Balefang the Unslayable

{3}{R}{R} · Legendary Creature — Demon Dragon
Rare · Mystery Booster Commander Edition · Art by Even Amundsen

Flying, trample, protection from Angels and from Archons Players can't gain life. When Balefang enters, target opponent creates a tapped Baneslayer Angel token. The token is goaded for the rest of the game. (It's a {3}{W}{W} 5/5 Angel creature with flying, first strike, lifelink, and protection from Demons and from Dragons.)

Predicted power

Standard — Eng.NLUsr.—

Pioneer — Eng.NLUsr.—

Modern 15 Eng.FUsr.—

Five mana is too slow, and unlike Obsidian Charmaw (52), it lacks a reliable disruptive ETB; gifting a 5/5 makes a red threat slot untenable.

Band speculativeConfidence 68%

Could be wrong if Unseen acceleration or token-goad synergies could make the body more deployable than expected.

Legacy 16 Eng.FUsr.—

Even fast-mana decks need stronger immediate payoffs; it is much less compelling than Reality Smasher (65), with RR and the opposing token major liabilities.

Band speculativeConfidence 65%

Could be wrong if A fast red prison shell could value the unusual no-life-gain effect and evasive pressure.

Pauper — Eng.NLUsr.—

Commander 43 Eng.D+Usr.—

It can give goad decks a permanent attacker aimed at other players plus lifegain denial, but five mana and gifting a protected 5/5 are substantial costs.

Best home Goad and forced-combat decksBand fringeConfidence 56%

Could be wrong if More plentiful goad payoffs could make the donated Angel a more reliable asset than liability.

Limited 42 Eng.D+Usr.—

Its 5/5 evasive body is heavily offset by giving up a 5/5 flying first-striker that attacks you in duels; it is situational race-oriented filler.

Best home Red aggressive decksBand fillerConfidence 33%

Could be wrong if Sparse removal could make its token-unblockable five-power clock substantially better than the Angel drawback.

Goaded-token race threat

“A five-mana aerial threat whose Baneslayer gift is a major duel liability but can serve as niche multiplayer pressure.”

AI prediction made before release — not a measured result. Real performance data replaces this once the set is legal and tournament results come in.

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