Bearer of Silence MTG Card


Efficient creature removal, Bearer of Silence can disrupt opponent strategies, gaining a significant advantage. While it requires a sacrifice, its instant-speed ability allows for strategic plays within complex MTG interactions. Its specific mana demands and additional costs may challenge deck-building but offer potent gameplay benefits.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Eldrazi
Abilities Devoid,Flying
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) When you cast this spell, you may pay . If you do, target opponent sacrifices a creature. ( represents colorless mana.) Flying Bearer of Silence can't block.


Cards like Bearer of Silence

Bearer of Silence stands out among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering with its unique combination of abilities. A close variant would be Eldrazi Displacer, which displays the Eldrazi’s characteristic of manipulating the battlefield but instead of silencing, it focuses on exiling creatures temporarily. Bearer of Silence’s ability to force an opponent to sacrifice a creature upon entering the battlefield can be seen as a reminiscent mechanism to that of Slum Reaper, although it lacks the flying trait and affects all players.

In a similar context, Sheoldred, Whispering One is also known for compelling opponents to sacrifice creatures while also having the added benefit of reanimating creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield every turn. Despite Sheoldred’s higher mana cost, its persistent board presence can prove to be more impactful over time compared to the one-time effect of Bearer of Silence.

Analyzing these comparisons, Bearer of Silence might not seem as robust as some of its counterparts in terms of recurring control effects, but its lower casting cost paired with a flying attribute, and the ability to disrupt the opponent’s board instantly, makes it a valuable card in the right MTG deck construct.

Eldrazi Displacer - MTG Card versions
Slum Reaper - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Eldrazi Displacer - MTG Card versions
Slum Reaper - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Bearer of Silence. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black AggroMono-Black Aggro PioneerEldraziUOL MKM Pioneer League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bearer of Silence can potentially remove an opponent’s key creature from the battlefield. This creature removal can create card advantage by efficiently dealing with threats and disrupting the opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While Bearer of Silence does not directly accelerate resources, casting it with its surge cost enables you to deploy a threat while holding back mana for other plays. It’s a smart way to maximise your mana usage each turn.

Instant Speed: Although the Bearer of Silence itself is not an instant, its ability, which requires sacrificing it as a cost, can be activated at instant speed. This permits strategic timing to potentially evade sorcery-speed answers or removal, allowing a well-timed interaction during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside of Bearer of Silence is that it demands a sacrifice from your hand to activate its key ability. This could set you back when your hand is already stretched thin, and losing a card could mean forfeiting crucial plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The Bearer of Silence’s casting cost includes colorless mana. This requirement could pose deck-building challenges, especially for players not operating with a widespread colorless infrastructure or lacking the appropriate lands and mana artifacts to consistently generate colorless mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To unleash its full potential, the card requires a payment above its initial casting cost, pushing its total mana expenditure up. In situations where mana resources are limited, there might be more cost-effective creatures or removal options available, which can put Bearer of Silence at a competitive disadvantage in terms of mana economy.


Reasons to Include Bearer of Silence in Your Collection

Versatility: Bearer of Silence offers flexibility for various deck builds. Its ability to act as both a creature and a removal can be a game-changer, fitting seamlessly into Eldrazi-themed or control decks.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in disruption combos, ensuring that your opponents are always at a resource disadvantage. Its synergy with other sacrifice effects can also be explored for greater impact on gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Bearer of Silence could serve as an efficient way to keep the board clear while advancing your own board presence.


How to beat Bearer of Silence

Battling against Bearer of Silence on the field can be a challenging endeavor. As a versatile creature card, Bearer of Silence demands a strategic approach to overcome its forced sacrifice ability when it enters the battlefield. Its evasion and lack of a natural blocker due to its devoid status make it tricky to remove through combat alone. Consequently, players should focus on cards that can neutralize it without engaging in battle.

One effective tactic is to deploy instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, which provide a swift end to this silent adversary before its effect can be utilized. Cards like Essence Scatter also serve as a preemptive measure, countering Bearer of Silence directly upon casting, thereby preventing its triggered ability from activating.

Indirect strategies, such as creature buffs or protection spells, can fortify your creatures against Bearer of Silence’s entrance effect. With cards like Gods Willing or Heroic Intervention, you can safeguard your key assets from being sacrificed. Consequently, maintaining a balanced blend of removal, counterspells, and protection tactics will help secure your board and ensure victory against the eerie Bearer of Silence.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bearer of Silence MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Bearer of Silence and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bearer of Silence Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2016-01-22. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 67s2015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
22016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 672015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bearer of Silence has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bearer of Silence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-01-22 Bearer of Silence’s triggered ability targets only the player, not any creature. For example, the player may sacrifice a creature with hexproof.
2016-01-22 Players can respond to the triggered ability, but once it starts resolving and you decide whether to pay , it’s too late for anyone to respond.