Bag of Holding MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Bag of Holding provides card advantage by storing discarded cards for later retrieval.
  2. Its activation at any time offers strategic flexibility and resource planning.
  3. Consider casting and activation costs when integrating it into your MTG deck.

Text of card

Whenever you discard a card, exile that card from your graveyard. , : Draw a card, then discard a card. , , Sacrifice Bag of Holding: Return all cards exiled with Bag of Holding to their owner's hand.

There's no prepared like overprepared.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bag of Holding offers a steady flow of card advantage. Every time you discard a card, it’s exiled underneath the Bag, effectively stashing it away for later use. During a longer game, this can translate into a substantial lead by providing access to multiple cards that can be retrieved when needed.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in the manner of producing mana, Bag of Holding facilitates a kind of resource flexibility that can be crucial. By safeguarding cards for the future, it essentially accelerates your access to a wider array of options. You’ll have more tools at your disposal when strategizing ways to outmaneuver opponents.

Instant Speed: Although Bag of Holding does not operate at instant speed itself, its second ability allows you to use it whenever you have the mana available. This makes it versatile as you can choose to activate it during your opponent’s end step, keeping your mana open during their turn for other instant speed interactions. This tactical flexibility is invaluable in games where timing can be the key to victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bag of Holding allows you to save cards for later use, its activation requires you to discard a card. This mechanic can be a setback for players who are already struggling with card availability, making it potentially detrimental during critical moments in a game where each card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Bag of Holding comes with a one generic and one colorless mana cost for both its casting and its abilities. This requirement can be a hurdle in mana-tight situations or in decks that need to prioritize other plays on their curve, therefore limiting its flexibility in certain strategic scenarios.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To fully utilize Bag of Holding, a player must invest not just in its initial casting cost but also in the activation cost to retrieve previously discarded cards. Totaling at four mana to release all the cards from the bag can be considered quite steep compared to other options in the game that offer more immediate or cost-effective card advantage or retrieval benefits.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bag of Holding offers flexibility in commander and other formats. It’s an asset for decks that cycle through many cards, allowing players to store away non-essential cards for later use.

Combo Potential: This item synergizes well with discard strategies, becoming a powerhouse in decks designed around discarding and drawing new cards, potentially unlocking tremendous value from discarded cards.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where hand disruption is prevalent, Bag of Holding ensures that your strategic resources are not lost forever, maintaining your edge against opponents trying to undermine your hand.


How to beat

The Bag of Holding stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique artifact that offers card storage and retrieval strategies. This unassuming one-mana artifact can slowly amass value over time, saving cards from being discarded while providing you with future card advantage. To effectively counter this artifact, subtle yet impactful tactics must be employed.

An immediate response is essential to keep the Bag of Holding from becoming a problem. Artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Abrade can be timely solutions to this lingering threat. Keeping a watchful eye on your opponent’s mana is also crucial, disrupting their strategic setup before they reap the benefits of accessing their stashed away cards.

Diversification of your deck with various types of hate pieces or incorporating consistent artifact disruption can impede the Bag’s effectiveness. Engendering a faster-paced game plan or pressuring the board can force your opponent to make difficult decisions before they fully benefit from the Bag of Holding’s potential, ensuring you stay ahead in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is akin to unlocking an intricate puzzle, with each piece providing new strategic avenues. Bag of Holding exemplifies a creative artifact that enhances your game through nuanced resource management. It’s a versatile pick for decks leveraging discard mechanics, safeguarding valuable resources against hand disruption. With its unique ability to store away cards, Bag of Holding can be a game-changer in matches that stretch into the long game. Ready to refine your strategic approach and make the most of every card in your hand? Explore more insights and elevate your MTG tactics — let your next play be as rewarding as unearthing a hidden treasure.


Cards like Bag of Holding

The Bag of Holding stands out in MTG as a versatile tool for managing hand resources, akin to cards like Spellbook and Reliquary Tower. Spellbook permits an unrestricted hand size, much like the latter, which also provides a land to tap for mana. Yet, the Bag of Holding offers a unique twist by allowing storage of discarded cards, later retrievable for a cost, marrying both hand size management and card advantage.

Comparably, Library of Leng presents a selective approach by letting players discard to the top of their library, essentially manipulating draw quality. Though it doesn’t hold the same capacity for broad card retrieval, the tactical edge of sculpting draw steps can be invaluable. The Bag of Holding hones in on a broader strategy, stashing away cards for future use without the instant gratification that Library of Leng’s ability can provide in specific scenarios.

The artifact Conqueror’s Galleon, which transforms into Conqueror’s Foothold, also dabbles in card return mechanics but requires a more complex board presence and transformation to access its benefits. The Bag of Holding requires less setup, offering a simpler yet effective solution for recapturing cards lost during the game.

Spellbook - MTG Card versions
Reliquary Tower - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Spellbook - Exodus (EXO)
Reliquary Tower - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Library of Leng - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bag of Holding MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Bag of Holding and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bag of Holding Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 2222015normalblackDmitry Burmak
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 2402015normalblackEvyn Fong
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2992015normalblackEvyn Fong
42022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 2522015normalblackEvyn Fong
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 7562015normalblackDmitry Burmak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bag of Holding has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bag of Holding card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-07-12 If Bag of Holding is moved to exile when you sacrifice it (most likely due to Leyline of the Void's effect), it remains in exile. It won't be returned to your hand.
2019-07-12 If Bag of Holding leaves the battlefield, the items it contained are exiled forever (and, perhaps, scattered throughout the Astral Plane). If the same Bag of Holding card returns to the battlefield, it's considered a new object without access to the cards stored by the old object.
2019-07-12 If you control more than one Bag of Holding, you choose which one will hold the discarded card. Other Bags of Holding can't return that card.
2019-07-12 If you discard a card but that card is not in your graveyard as Bag of Holding's first ability resolves, that card remains wherever it has moved.
2019-07-12 You both draw and discard while Bag of Holding's second ability is resolving. No player may take any action—nor can anything else happen—until you've both drawn and discarded.

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