---
name: "Baleful Force"
mana_cost: "{5}{B}{B}{B}"
cmc: 8
type_line: "Creature — Elemental"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "VMA"
set_name: "Vintage Masters"
collector_number: "105"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Eytan Zana"
oracle_id: "f26fa9e4-f528-4e22-8f7c-329fc3b633e4"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/baleful-force-vma"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Baleful Force
- **Mana Cost:** `{5}{B}{B}{B}` (CMC: 8)
- **Type:** Creature — Elemental
- **Power/Toughness:** 7/7

## Oracle Text
At the beginning of each upkeep, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.

> *"As with any malevolent being, the trick is knowing how long you can afford to keep it in your service."
—Liliana Vess*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Phyrexian Arena](/printing/phyrexian-arena-fdn.md) — Enchantment
2. [The Keeper of Dark Pacts](/printing/the-keeper-of-dark-pacts-unk.md) — Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
3. [Baleful Mastery](/printing/baleful-mastery-pstx.md) — Instant
4. [Seizan, Perverter of Truth](/printing/seizan-perverter-of-truth-j22.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon Spirit
5. [Greed](/printing/greed-leg.md) — Enchantment
6. [Ambition's Cost](/printing/ambitions-cost-8ed.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Vintage Masters (VMA) #105
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Eytan Zana
- **Total Printings:** 8 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`