Balloon Stand MTG Card
Text of card
Visit — Choose one. • Create a 1/1 red Balloon creature token with flying. • Sacrifice a Balloon. If you do, target creature gains flying until end of turn.
"INPUT ACCEPTED: SHIVAN DRAGON. INITIATING . . . ERROR! GIRAFFE. GIRAFFE. GIRAFFE."
Cards like Balloon Stand
Balloon Stand joins the creative suite of utility artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a common ground with cards such as Ghirapur Orrery which allows players an additional land drop on their turns, yet Balloon Stand offers a distinct directional strategy. It enhances creature abilities, encouraging a different gameplay approach by emphasizing aerial advantage.
Likewise, there’s a notable parallel with Skysovereign, Consul Flagship. Both cards exemplify the infusion of flight-related mechanics, though Skysovereign powers up through its impressive offensive presence. Even though Balloon Stand doesn’t pack the same direct punch, it compensates by providing an ongoing effect that could elevate a variety of creatures on your battlefield. Comparatively, Aeronaut Admiral has a more limited scope, granting flying only to Vehicles, yet Balloon Stand extends this capability widely, making even your ground forces into formidable flyers.
Analyzing side by side, it’s clear that Balloon Stand has its own niche within the MTG artifact realm. Its versatility in boosting creatures provides an undeniable tactical edge that could be just what a skyward strategy needs to dominate the game.
Cards similar to Balloon Stand by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Balloon Stand card plays a pivotal role by providing you with the facility to replace itself in your hand. This is crucial as it allows for a smoother flow in your deck cycling, thus maintaining a steady grip on the game.
Resource Acceleration: Its clever design can potentially ramp up your resources. The card lets you create a stream of mana, which can be a game-changer by allowing you to cast more significant spells ahead of schedule, effectively giving you a leg up on the competition.
Instant Speed: The versatility of Balloon Stand shines through its instant speed functionality. This gives you the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game, utilizing your mana efficiently and reacting to your opponents’ moves at the most opportune moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Balloon Stand demands a card from your hand to be discarded to activate its abilities. During tight gameplay, this prerequisite can lead to a diminished hand size, impacting your ability to respond to opponents’ moves or diminishing your strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Balloon Stand involves an exact mana allotment which can be restrictive. Decks running multiple colors might find it challenging to consistently meet the color-specific mana demand, reducing the card’s flexibility and potentially leaving you mana-locked at critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Balloon Stand offers unique abilities, the mana investment is considerable. There are alternative cards available with lower mana requirements offering similar or better benefits. This can make Balloon Stand a less attractive option in a fast-paced game where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Balloon Stand in Your Collection
Versatility: Balloon Stand is a unique addition that adapts to various deck themes, providing creative ways to manipulate the board.
Combo Potential: This card holds the ability to synergize with strategies that revolve around artifact use or those that capitalize on altering creature statistics.
Meta-Relevance: It can play a significant role depending on the current competitive scene, particularly if decks that benefit from flexible utility artifacts are thriving.
How to Beat
Balloon Stand can be a quirky yet potent tool in an MTG player’s arsenal, particularly in environments where tokens or counters are bountiful. It works ingeniously in decks that want to maximize the value of each creature they play, providing not just aerial capability but also a defensive buffer that could turn the tide of a match.
Overcoming this card’s advantage is a matter of precision and timing. One effective strategy is to utilize removals or damage spells that don’t target, since targeted removal will be less effective due to the hexproof provided by the Stand. Board wipes, especially those that don’t discriminate based on creature size, such as “Wrath of God,” can bypass the Stand’s protection entirely, as can “Languish,” which can weaken a team of creatures before they’re out of range. It’s also wise to limit the number of tokens and counters your opponent can accumulate, thus minimizing the Stand’s benefit. Consider incorporating cards like “Illness in the Ranks” or “Virulent Plague” to keep token strategies in check. Lastly, don’t overlook the power of enchantment destruction. Cards like “Disenchant” or “Nature’s Claim” can be game-changers when Balloon Stand becomes problematic.
In essence, countering Balloon Stand involves a multifaceted approach that anticipates this card’s strengths and offers systematic answers that ensure it never inflates your opponent’s chances of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Balloon Stand MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, 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 Balloon Stand 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
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Printings
The Balloon Stand Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Jakub Kasper.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Balloon Stand has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |