Barbed Wire MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Number | 287 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Text of card
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, Barbed Wire deals 1 damage to that player. : Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt by Barbed Wire this turn.
A steel snake with ten thousand teeth.
Cards like Barbed Wire
Barbed Wire is an intriguing component in the roster of artifact cards within Magic: The Gathering. This piece of equipment can be likened to cards like Grafted Wargear, which also provides a power boost. Grafted Wargear offers a significant increase to a creature’s strength without a recurring cost, unlike Barbed Wire, which demands a maintenance fee.
Further comparison reveals Ratchet Bomb, another artifact with a gradual impact on the game. Ratchet Bomb can be a game-changer with its mass removal ability, but it lacks the direct, turn-by-turn pressure that Barbed Wire exerts on opponents. Then there’s Static Orb, a powerful control artifact that restricts untapping, sharing Barbed Wire’s theme of continuous impediment, albeit in a different domain of gameplay.
While each of these artifacts serves a unique function, Barbed Wire stands out for its capacity to consistently whittle down an opponent’s life total–a trait not easily found in other similar cards. In evaluating these tools, Barbed Wire makes a case for its inclusion in decks that capitalize on persistent, incremental damage and control.
Cards similar to Barbed Wire by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Barbed Wire offers a steady stream of opponent life reduction, indirectly contributing to card advantage by pressuring the opponent’s need to respond effectively.
Resource Acceleration: This card can work well in strategies aiming to decimate the opponent’s resources quickly, aligning with aggressive tactics that capitalize on early game acceleration.
Instant Speed: Although Barbed Wire itself is not an instant, it pairs well with instant speed interaction, allowing players to maximize the impact of their untapped mana and keep opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Barbed Wire demands that you discard a card to activate its specific ability. This can be a setback, especially when your hand is already running on empty and each card is a crucial piece of your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast Barbed Wire, you’re locked into having both colorless and black mana available. This mix can create challenges in multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana composition at the necessary time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be higher than alternative options, Barbed Wire could be seen as a costly investment. Players must carefully consider if the output of this card justifies its inclusion over other lower-cost cards that offer similar benefits with less of a mana strain.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Barbed Wire can be a versatile tool across various deck types, particularly in those that seek to whittle down opponents over time. Given its ability to inflict damage during each player’s upkeep, it becomes a consistent threat that can suit different playstyles and strategies.
Combo Potential: This card has the potential to synergize with decks that capitalize on punishment effects or artifact interactions. Whether you’re looking to increase artifact count for synergistic reasons or simply to add another layer of complexity for your opponent to handle, Barbed Wire’s steady damage output can complement and empower such combos.
Meta-Relevance: In metas that favor long-drawn-out games or stalling tactics, a card like Barbed Wire becomes increasingly relevant. Its recurring damage can break stalemates, pressure opponents, and speed up games, which is significant in formats where games tend to go longer.
How to beat
Barbed Wire is a unique artifact that can pose quite the challenge in MTG strategies. Its ability to slowly chip away an opponent’s life total as long as it remains untapped adds incremental pressure each turn. Unlike other artifacts, it does not require an activation cost, which means once it’s on the battlefield, the effect takes place automatically at each player’s upkeep.
Defeating a deck built around cards like Barbed Wire requires thoughtful play and specific strategies. Artifact removal spells, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, become immediate answers to directly remove Barbed Wire from the battlefield. Including these removal spells in your deck ensures you have a way to deal with such threats on the spot. Another effective method is to focus on aggressive early gameplay, reducing your opponent’s life total before the effects of Barbed Wire become too damaging. Alternatively, employing counter-magic like Negate ensures that Barbed Wire never hits the battlefield in the first place.
Ultimately, effective sideboard planning and being aware of the metagame are your best defenses against Barbed Wire. Having the right cards in your deck to specifically counteract this artifact ensures you’re not caught off guard and provides a pathway to victory against decks utilizing this potentially game-swinging card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Barbed Wire MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Wire 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Barbed Wire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |