Banewasp Affliction MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2008-10-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shards of Alara |
| Set code | ALA |
| Number | 65 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Allsop |
Text of card
Enchant creature When enchanted creature is put into a graveyard, that creature's controller loses life equal to its toughness.
The consuming undeath of Grixis terrifies the survivors of Vithia, but its fauna is just as fearsome.
Cards like Banewasp Affliction
Banewasp Affliction is an intriguing entry into the realm of aura spells in Magic: The Gathering that specializes in diminishing opponents’ creatures. If we look at other cards with a related effect, Dead Weight immediately comes to mind. Dead Weight is another aura that also weakens the targeted creature, but it provides a consistent debuff without an additional effect upon the creature’s death.
Contemplating other auras, we consider Stab Wound. This card not only imposes a severe penalty to a creature’s power but also drains the life of the creature’s controller each turn. However, the mana cost is notably higher than Banewasp Affliction’s. There are also enchantments like Pillory of the Sleepless, challenging opponents further by also preventing the creature from attacking or blocking, and additionally chipping away at their life total each turn.
While assessing these options, Banewasp Affliction holds its unique appeal for its lower mana cost and the potential to deal direct damage, fitting well within strategies that benefit from both killing creatures and draining opponents’ health, thus carving its niche in the Magic: The Gathering aura repertoire.
Cards similar to Banewasp Affliction by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Banewasp Affliction is ideal for disrupting your opponent’s game plan by forcing them to lose a creature upon death, potentially giving you a one-for-one or better trade and indirectly leading to card advantage if used tactically.
Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, it serves as a low-cost removal option, preserving your mana reserves for other strategies and plays within your turn.
Instant Speed: Applied at the speed of an instant, Banewasp Affliction offers the flexibility to respond to threats at a moment’s notice, allowing for strategic play and surprise tactics during your opponent’s turn without interfering with your own plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Banewasp Affliction demands that a creature be in play to target, which can be restricting when you’re behind on the board or facing an opponent with no creatures to target.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s mana cost is locked into black, which poses a challenge for decks that rely on a more diversified mana base or for players who face color-screw situations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not excessively costly, Banewasp Affliction’s mana cost for its effect may not line up favorably against other removal options available in the game, which can remove threats at lower or at more flexible casting costs.
Reasons to Include Banewasp Affliction in Your Collection
Versatility: Banewasp Affliction offers the potential for strategic removal in decks that focus on weakening or managing opponent creatures. Its ability to debuff an opponent’s threat before it becomes a casualty ensures it can serve multiple roles in your gameplay.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that exploit -1/-1 counters or benefit from the death of creatures, either yours or your opponent’s. This added layer of interaction can lead to powerful combos and board advantages.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive environment, cards that offer creature control at a low cost remain relevant. Banewasp Affliction can be particularly effective against decks that rely heavily on key creatures, disrupting their game plan.
How to Beat Banewasp Affliction
Banewasp Affliction may not be the most formidable card you’ll encounter in a game of MTG, but it does have the potential to disrupt your strategy by shrinking a key creature’s strength. This enchantment attaches to a creature and gives it a negative modifier, which can often be just enough to turn the tide of battle. It’s important to recognize the viability of enchantment removal in such situations.
Targeted removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize are crucial for dealing swiftly with pesky auras like Banewasp Affliction. These cards eliminate the immediate threat at a low cost and with minimal fuss, preserving the integrity of your creature-based strategy. Think of it as a strategic pruning to maintain the health of your deck’s ecosystem.
Moreover, counterspells also serve as a preemptive measure. By keeping blue mana untapped, you signal the possibility of countering key spells, dissuading opponents from casting their Banewasp Affliction in the first place. In essence, having the right response at the right time ensures that Banewasp Affliction becomes more of a nuisance than a genuine threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Banewasp Affliction MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Banewasp Affliction 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Banewasp Affliction has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Banewasp Affliction card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | The player who loses life is the player who controlled the creature when it was put into a graveyard. This may not be the player whose graveyard it was put into. That player loses life equal to the creature’s toughness as it last existed on the battlefield. |