Balance MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 3
1993-10-04 - Number 3
1993-12-01 - Number 3
1993-12-10 - Number 3
1993-12-10 - Number 3
1994-04-01 - Number 3
1994-04-01 - Number 3
1994-06-21 - Number 3
1995-04-01 - Number 6
1995-04-01 - Number 6
1996-05-02 - Number shr6
1996-05-02 - Number mj6
1996-05-02 - Number et6
1996-05-02 - Number bl6
1996-05-02 - Number ml6
1996-05-02 - Number pp6
2004-01-01 - Number 2
2009-08-28 - Number 1
2011-01-10 - Number 6
2014-06-16 - Number 14
2016-06-10 - Number 2
2022-11-28 - Number 3
2022-11-28 - Number 300
2002-06-24 - Number 36278
2019-12-02 - Number 173
| Card sets | Released in 25 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Whichever player has more lands in play must discard enough lands of his or her choice to equalize the number of lands both players have in play. Cards in hand and creatures in play must be equalized the same way. Creatures lost in this manner may not be regenerated.
Cards like Balance
Balance stands as a unique concept in the realm of MTG with its equalizing effects on the board state. Its comparison is drawn to cards like Cataclysm which also forces players to sacrifice creatures, lands, and artifacts but allows them to retain one of each. Where Cataclysm offers a semblance of choice, Balance does not discriminate and levels the field based on the player with the least of each type. Another card in the same conversation is Restore Balance, a newer incarnation that mirrors the original’s intent but utilizes the suspend mechanic for a delayed but inevitable effect.
Looking at creatures, Magus of the Balance brings a fresh twist to the spell on legs, allowing the use of Balance’s effect repeatedly, albeit at a higher cost and speed. The symmetrical reduction strategy of these cards can be both devastating and game-shifting, particularly in formats where building a considerable presence on the board is crucial. However, Balance’s ability to act immediately and its capacity to interact with not just creatures but also hand size sets it apart in strategic deck building and execution.
In the broad scope of MTG strategies, cards like Balance underscore a unique niche of equilibrium and resource denial, cementing its status as a powerful and often contentious tool in the hands of a skilled player.
Cards similar to Balance by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Balance. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lurrus Saga | Vintage | Lurrus Saga | Vintage Showcase Challenge 2024-03-16 |
| Turbo Vault | Vintage | Turbo Vault | Vintage Showcase Challenge 2024-03-16 |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Jeskai Tempo | Vintage | Blue Tempo | Vintage League 2024-03-22 |
| Five-color Combo | Vintage | Turbo Vault | HBMO24 - Dave & Adams Vintage 1k |
| Esper Tinker | Vintage | Blue Tinker | Vintage Showcase Challenge 2024-03-16 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Balance card is a powerful tool for leveling the playing field, often resulting in a significant card advantage. By forcing each player to draw or discard until they have the same number of cards, Balance can swing the momentum in your favor if you time its casting strategically.
Resource Acceleration: While Balance doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, it can effectively serve as resource acceleration by equalizing the number of lands and creatures each player controls. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re behind on the board, allowing you to catch up quickly and even surpass your opponent’s resource presence.
Instant Speed: While Balance itself is a sorcery, it can be combined with instant-speed spells and abilities that adjust your own board just before casting it, enabling you to craft the board state to your advantage. This interaction creates dynamic and strategic gameplay decisions, often providing the critical edge needed to control the game’s outcome.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Balance requires players to have the same number of lands and creatures, compelling you to possibly discard your own assets to equalize with your opponent. This stipulation can backfire if you’re ahead in the game, leading to a self-inflicted detrimental board state.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Balance is one white and one generic mana, which may not appear restrictive at first glance. However, it does mean that decks not running white mana may not be able to capitalize on this card, limiting its inclusion to only certain types of decks and strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana is generally considered low, in a high-velocity game where each mana spent could determine the game’s outcome, spending two mana to potentially lose your current advantage may not be the most mana-efficient play. This is particularly true when other cards could stabilize or advance your board state without the risk of setting you back.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Balance offers a unique, sweeping effect that can level the playing field against various deck archetypes. This card can fit into control strategies or decks that look to manipulate hand and board states to their advantage.
Combo Potential: This card can be a critical piece in combos centered around asymmetrical board states. It’s particularly potent in setups where you can minimize the negative impact on your own game while maximizing its effect on opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-heavy decks or strategies that quickly amass board presence are dominant, Balance can serve as an effective reset button, swinging games back into your favor by disrupting the careful setup of your opponent’s side of the board.
How to beat
Overcoming Balance, a classic Magic: The Gathering card, involves strategic planning due to its powerful effect of equalizing the playing field. The key to beating Balance lies in maintaining asymmetrical resources. Players should aim to minimize the card’s impact by carefully managing the number of creatures, lands, and cards in hand.
Ideally, players would leverage cards that generate tokens or have abilities to sacrifice creatures to ensure they have less permanents than the opponent when Balance resolves. Additionally, instant-speed spells that allow for drawing or discarding cards can adjust hand sizes just before Balance hits the board. Employing land destruction or ramping strategies can also tip the scales, quite literally, in your favor.
Finally, proactive measures like card advantage engines or having creatures with undying or persist will maintain board presence post-Balance. Understanding and anticipating the timing of this card is critical, as proper preparation can turn Balance from a devastating reset to a mere bump in the road towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Balance MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Balance and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Balance Magic the Gathering card was released in 19 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 3 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 3 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 3 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 3 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 3 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 3 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 3 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 3 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 6 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 6 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 11 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | shr6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 12 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 13 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | et6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 14 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | bl6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 15 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ml6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 16 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | pp6 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 17 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36278 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | ||
| 18 | 2004-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2004 | G04 | 2 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 19 | 2009-08-28 | From the Vault: Exiled | V09 | 1 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
| 20 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 6 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 21 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 14 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 22 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 23 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 173 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | ||
| 24 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 25 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 300 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Balance has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Restricted |
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Premodern | Banned |
| Vintage | Restricted |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Banned |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Balance card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | Balance doesn’t have targets, so permanents that can’t be targeted, such as a creature with shroud or protection from white, are valid choices to be sacrificed. |
| 2016-06-08 | Each type of object is counted during the corresponding part of the process. Cards in hand are counted after lands have been sacrificed, and creatures on the battlefield are counted after cards have been discarded. Thus, a land creature sacrificed to the first part of the spell would not be counted when determining how many creatures are on the battlefield for the last part. |
| 2016-06-08 | First the player whose turn it is chooses which lands (if any) to keep, then each other player in turn order does the same. Each player will know the choices made by the players who chose before them. All of the unchosen lands are then sacrificed simultaneously. Then the process is repeated for cards in hand, except that no cards are revealed until all players have chosen what to discard, at which point those cards are all discarded simultaneously. Lastly, the process is repeated for creatures, and players will again know earlier choices made when deciding what to sacrifice. All of the unchosen creatures are then sacrificed simultaneously. |