Barbed Foliage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Number | 207 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mark Poole |
Text of card
Whenever a creature attacks you, it loses flanking until end of turn. Whenever a creature without flying attacks you, Barbed Foliage deals 1 damage to it.
Cards like Barbed Foliage
In exploring cards akin to Barbed Foliage in Magic: The Gathering, the card’s unique flavor becomes evident. Like Thicket Basilisk, which also curses those who dare to attack through a devious ability that destroys any non-wall creature it blocks, Barbed Foliage offers a similar mechanism with its thorns pinging creatures that engage in combat. However, Barbed Foliage extends its reach to all attacking creatures, not just those it blocks, making it a more encompassing threat.
Comparably, there’s Arena, a land card that brings to the battlefield the capacity to pit creatures against one another. While Arena requires your formidable influence to choose combatants, Barbed Foliage operates passively, affecting all attackers equally, underscoring a more democratic means of dealing damage on the battlefield. Then we stumble upon Caltrops, a relic of equal impartiality that injures all participants in combat regardless of allegiance—yet, still falls short of Barbed Foliage’s defensive forest shield that remains even after its thorny retribution.
Considering card versatility and potential battlefield impact, Barbed Foliage stands tall in its defensive role among MTG cards that manipulate and repel attacking forces. It acts as deterrent armor in green decks, making it a formidable inclusion for strategic defense setups.
Cards similar to Barbed Foliage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Barbed Foliage provides players with the ability to affect multiple targets, potentially disrupting opponent strategies and leading to a gain in card advantage through attrition.
Resource Acceleration: While Barbed Foliage itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its effects can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by clearing the way for your creatures to deliver damage and possibly leading to beneficial board states that improve your mana usage.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Barbed Foliage can be played at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an attack, providing strategic flexibility and the element of surprise, which can be crucial in swinging the game state in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Barbed Foliage necessitates discarding a card upon activation. This might not always be a palatable option, particularly when you’re holding a hand that’s essential for your strategy or running low on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Looking at its mana cost, Barbed Foliage requires a specific combination of green and generic mana. Decks that don’t support green mana might find it difficult to satisfy this requirement, making it less versatile across various builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end for its effects, it could be argued that Barbed Foliage might not be the most mana-efficient choice for a deck. Alternative cards with lower mana costs or more impactful effects could be considered over this one, especially in a game where tempo matters a lot.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Barbed Foliage offers an interesting dynamic to any deck with its ability to deter attacking creatures. This card can be a tactical addition to decks that seek to control the pace of combat or protect key planeswalkers on the field.
Combo Potential: This unique enchantment pairs well with strategies that benefit from dealing damage to all attacking creatures. It can stack with effects that punish players for tapping creatures, thereby weaving into combos that could lock opponents out of combat or amplify damage output.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive creature-based strategies, Barbed Foliage can serve as an effective countermeasure. Its inclusion could thwart swarms of token creatures or dissuade formidable attackers, maintaining board presence while shaping the game to your advantage.
How to beat
Barbed Foliage presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a card that can turn creatures’ strengths against them by dealing damage whenever they attack. Over time, this passive effect can deter aggressive strategies and diminish an opponent’s offensive capabilities.
To effectively circumvent Barbed Foliage’s prickly defense, players can utilize cards that neutralize enchantments, such as Naturalize or Disenchant. These spell cards efficiently remove problematic enchantments at a low cost, ensuring your creatures can continue their assault without the fear of self-inflicted damage. Alternatively, prioritizing the use of cards with high toughness or regeneration abilities can minimize the impact Barbed Foliage has on your creatures, allowing you to weather the thorns as you press forward.
It’s also worth considering the adoption of non-combat strategies. Opting for win conditions that don’t rely on attacking, such as combos or damage spells, can render Barbed Foliage nearly irrelevant. Thus, while it can be a daunting card, with the right tactical adjustments, overcoming the challenge it presents is within any skilled player’s reach.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Barbed Foliage MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Barbed Foliage 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 Barbed Foliage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |