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Following the Red Thread: Voldaren Thrillseeker and Its Family in March of the Machine
In the sprawling tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, some cards feel like quiet keystones—small in mana cost but big on how they thread together with a broader story. Voldaren Thrillseeker, a rare red creature from March of the Machine, is one of those moments. With a modest mana cost of 2R and a delicate 3-drop spot, this Vampire Warrior isn’t just a tempo-friendly beater; it’s a narrative lever that nudges the board into a story where inevitability and improvisation collide. 🧙♂️🔥
Its most defining trait is the Backup mechanic, a design signal that MTG’s writers used to narrate teamwork under pressure. Backup 2 means that when Voldaren Thrillseeker enters the battlefield, you place two +1/+1 counters on a target creature. If that targeted creature is another creature (i.e., not the Thrillseeker itself), the recipient gains an extra, one-turn power boost: an ability that lets it deal damage equal to its power by paying {1} and sacrificing itself. The flavor here is deliciously gobsmacking: a vampire not just lending strength but springing a sudden, sacrificial eruption of force. It’s the kind of line that feels like a page torn from a crimson-lit novella—the thrill of risk, the mercy of timing, and a dash of horror. ⚔️
From a lore perspective, the Voldaren name is long tied to vampiric intrigue on Innistrad’s orbit and beyond, a clan whose ambitions often blend personal hunger with grand designs. In MOM, that legacy resurfaces in a different battlefield—one where machines and magic collide. Voldaren Thrillseeker embodies that collision: a creature born of red’s speed and impulsivity, yet with a back-up plan (literally) that allies can execute in a pinch. The line “The end is always nigh. Let’s have some fun!” isn’t just flavor; it signals a recurring theme in vampire stories across MTG—capitalizing on the moment when a plan seems to spiral into chaos and turning it into a weapon. 💎
Strategically, Thrillseeker shines in decks built to leverage sudden board swings. On the battlefield, you want to pressure your opponent with a fast, aggressive line, then pivot into a moment where a single seasoned target creature suddenly gains a combustion boost. The synergy is clean: Backups are about targeted collaboration—two counters on one creature can turn a modest 2/2 into a threat that demands immediate removal, while the “if that’s another creature” clause opens up the possibility of granting temporary, high-impact utility. For example, buffing a companion creature and granting it the ability to sap life or deal a spike of damage can propel a late-game plan that would have collapsed on the next turn. The Thrillseeker doesn’t just hit—it educates your opponent on the tempo you’re chasing. 🧙♂️🔥
In terms of storytelling continuity, Voldaren Thrillseeker sits at a crossroads between raw aggression and vampiric cunning—themes that recur in related cards across MOM and the Voldaren-associated flavor. The card’s flavor text and the BackUp mechanic together hint at a world where alliances pivot in the blink of an eye, where a single bevy of counters can spark a larger chain reaction, and where a hunter’s patience is as sharp as their fangs. The result is a narrative thread that makes you feel like you’re watching a larger drama unfold, even as you’re just casting a spell and watching two +1/+1 counters land. 🧩🎲
- Backup’s dual nature makes it a storytelling device, shaping how you reveal the next moves of your plan.
- Voldaren Thrillseeker’s mana cost and power/toughness give it immediate on-curve relevance in red decks.
- The “another creature” clause creates opportunities for clever timing—granting extra abilities can turn a simple buff into a turn-ending play.
- The flavor of the Voldaren name resonates with the nocturnal, hunt-focused motifs that permeate red vampire lore in MTG.
- As a rare in MOM, Thrillseeker representing a tactical crossroads makes it a card that invites both casual play and deck-building curiosity.
For players who enjoy the ongoing saga of the red undead and the broader machine-driven arc of March of the Machine, Thrillseeker provides a microcosm of the set’s design ethos: speed, synergy, and a little mechanical misdirection that rewards careful planning. It’s also a reminder that the best flavor often hides in the details. That backup ability—two counters plus a conditional grant—invites you to imagine the battlefield as a stage where a pair of attackers can turn into a murderously efficient duo, especially when you have a second creature waiting in the wings to receive power and a momentary weapon. The Thrillseeker’s companionship with your other red creatures invites bold plays that feel cinematic in their execution. ⚡
And let’s not ignore the collector’s whisper: Voldaren Thrillseeker is a rare from MOM, with foil and nonfoil printings that show up in various markets. Its price points are accessible enough for experimental builds, and the card’s striking flavor and flexible play pattern make it a satisfying addition to any red mage’s arsenal. If you’re chasing a thematic thread that ties a creature’s entry onto the battlefield to a temporary, board-wide flash of violence, this is a card that rewards repeated playtests and thoughtful sequencing. The joy of BackUp lies in the anticipation—the knowledge that your next turn might be the turning point you’ve been drafting toward all game. 💎
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Voldaren Thrillseeker
Backup 2 (When this creature enters, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.)
{1}, Sacrifice this creature: It deals damage equal to its power to any target.
ID: 1dbcd466-fb99-4388-a118-4534b85544f0
Oracle ID: b3cc2ed9-1da3-4ad2-a9a7-de7665d800ff
Multiverse IDs: 607219
TCGPlayer ID: 490494
Cardmarket ID: 703494
Colors: R
Color Identity: R
Keywords: Backup
Rarity: Rare
Released: 2023-04-21
Artist: Viko Menezes
Frame: 2015
Border: black
EDHRec Rank: 10714
Penny Rank: 5289
Set: March of the Machine (mom)
Collector #: 171
Legalities
- Standard — not_legal
- Future — not_legal
- Historic — legal
- Timeless — legal
- Gladiator — legal
- Pioneer — legal
- Modern — legal
- Legacy — legal
- Pauper — not_legal
- Vintage — legal
- Penny — legal
- Commander — legal
- Oathbreaker — legal
- Standardbrawl — not_legal
- Brawl — legal
- Alchemy — not_legal
- Paupercommander — not_legal
- Duel — legal
- Oldschool — not_legal
- Premodern — not_legal
- Predh — not_legal
Prices
- USD: 0.15
- USD_FOIL: 0.28
- EUR: 0.34
- EUR_FOIL: 0.45
- TIX: 0.02
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