Magic: The Gathering’s new Odric is a vampire that will get your blood pumping

An exclusive reveal of Odric, Blood-Cursed from Innistrad: Crimson Vow

By Charlie Hall Nov 4, 2021, 3:51pm EDT

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Charlie Hall is Polygon’s tabletop editor. In 10-plus years as a journalist & photographer, he has covered simulation, strategy, and spacefaring games, as well as public policy.

Magic: The Gathering concludes its horror-themed double feature with Innistrad: Crimson Vow, which arrives digitally on Nov. 11 and at retail on Nov. 19. Polygon has an exclusive new card to share, along with spectacular high resolution art. It’s likely to be a favorite of anyone putting vampires onto the battlefield.

The centerpiece of Crimson Vow will be the wedding of vampires Olivia Voldaren and Edgar Markov. Somehow she’s ensorcelled the plane’s original vampire, and their union could upset the balance of power for all time. Crashing the party — or at least a deck of cards near you — will be none other than Odric, Blood-Cursed. The legendary creature and vampire soldier was once a human warrior serving to protect the mortals of Innistrad. But now he’s cursed, and it’s never been made clear exactly how.

When fans last heard from Odric he was helping to bust Thalia, the Guardian of Thraben, out of jail where she was being held by the forces of the Lunarch inquisition. That short story was written by Wizards of the Coast writer James Wyatt.

Odric strides out of the frame amidst a cloud of rose petals, his sword drawn. “When Odric, Blood-Cursed enters the battlefield, create X Blood tokens, where X is the number of abilities from among flying, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance found among creatrues you control. (Count each ability only once.)

A vial of blood resting on a satin pillow. “Pay one mana, tap, discard a card, sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card”

Right now K. Arsenault Rivera is at the helm of Magic Story. Seven issues into a series that began during Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, she’s still got a few more to go. Here’s hoping Odric turns up in there somewhere with an answer to his own personal mystery.

Odric, Blood-Cursed on his special fang border. He’s much more angry, his arm raised to strike with clawed hands.

A shadow of a melee on the wall, Odric’s hand is outstretched. His sword goes flying. The title of the card is “Hero’s Downfall” and the instant destroys a target creature of planeswalker.

Odric promises to be an exciting addition to any deck this time around thanks to his special ability to generate blood tokens. These artifacts act a bit like treasure and food tokens have in past sets, but with an added twist. Many cards in Crimson Vow use blood tokens to supercharge their abilities, including transitioning from their normal day to the more powerful night side of certain double-sided cards. Like all vampires in this set, Odric is also available in a more rare “fang” framed treatment — a special border that shows off his vampiric bite.

Art for Odric is being handled by Chris Rallis, while Anna Pavleeva took care of the fang version.