Benalish Faithbonder MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Abilities | Enlist, Vigilance |
| Released | 2022-09-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria United |
| Set code | DMU |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 7 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Francisco Miyara |
Text of card
Vigilance Enlist (As this creature attacks, you may tap a nonattacking creature you control without summoning sickness. When you do, add its power to this creature's until end of turn.)
"A single light can hold back endless darkness."
Cards like Benalish Faithbonder
Diving into the pool of defensive options in MTG, Benalish Faithbonder stands out with its unique blend of attributes. As a comparison, Serra Angel has long been the benchmark for vigilant creatures. While both share the vigilance trait, Benalish Faithbonder goes further by leveraging the lifelink ability, adding an invaluable twist to the battlefield dynamics. Serra Angel may have superior power and the capacity for aerial combat, but Benalish Faithbonder’s lifelink provides continuous life gain, which can be pivotal in prolonged matches.
Another card worth mentioning is Ajani’s Pridemate, which offers a synergy with Benalish Faithbonder’s lifelink ability. While Ajani’s Pridemate doesn’t innately possess vigilance or lifelink, its power grows with each instance of life gain, suggesting a harmonious blend with Benalish Faithbonder in decks focusing on life gain strategies. Furthermore, Knight of Grace presents itself as a counterpart, boasting hexproof from black and first strike. However, it lacks the lifelink that often turns the tide of combat by bolstering a player’s life total.
Thus, in evaluating defensive stalwarts within MTG, Benalish Faithbonder demonstrates distinct advantages. Its lifelink and vigilance combo enable it to serve as both an offensive and defensive asset, a feature that provides continuous value throughout the game’s progression.
Cards similar to Benalish Faithbonder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When it comes to card advantage, the Benalish Faithbonder shines by offering you the potential to gain life whenever you cast another white spell. This, combined with the right deck build, could translate into drawing additional cards or triggering advantageous effects that maintain or expand your presence on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While the Benalish Faithbonder itself does not directly produce mana or tokens, its synergy with other cards that benefit from life gain could indirectly lead to accelerated resource availability. This can help in deploying more threats on the board faster, giving you an edge over your opponent.
Instant Speed: Benalish Faithbonder may not have instant speed itself, but it complements an arsenal of instant-speed spells in MTG. This creature can fuel your strategy by providing life gain triggers at critical moments, enhancing the value of your instant spells and allowing you to capitalize on every opportunity during both your turn and your opponent’s.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of the Benalish Faithbonder is its requirement for a card to be discarded, potentially depleting your hand and leaving you at a disadvantage if your card count is already low or the discarded card is crucial for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is quite particular, demanding a precise combination of colors that could be challenging to generate in a timely manner for multicolored decks, resulting in possible delays or an inability to cast it when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its abilities, the Benalish Faithbonder may not be the most efficient card to play, especially when there are alternatives that could accomplish similar results for less mana or provide additional benefits.
Reasons to Include Benalish Faithbonder in Your Collection
Versatility: Benalish Faithbonder is a solid choice for various decks; its ability to boost other creatures makes it a fine choice for midrange and aggro strategies alike. It perfectly complements token strategies or decks that focus on +1/+1 counters, giving you wide flexibility in deck building.
Combo Potential: This card’s synergy with counter-based mechanics can lead to explosive plays when paired with proliferate effects or cards that utilize +1/+1 counters for additional benefits. Imagine the satisfaction as your creatures grow increasingly formidable with each counter manipulation.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play, having a creature that can impact the board state and turn the tide in creature-centric match-ups is crucial. The Benalish Faithbonder adapts well to a variety of situations, making it a worthy inclusion if creature strategies dominate the meta.
How to beat
Benalish Faithbonder presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, known for its ability to bolster other creatures and showcase the strength of unity in Magic: The Gathering. This particular card shines in decks focused on +1/+1 counters and creature synergies, creating an increasingly formidable presence if left unchecked.
To effectively counter this card, focus on keeping the board clear of creatures. Targeted removal spells are highly effective, as they can disrupt the synergy before it becomes overwhelming. Consider spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile that can neutralize creatures regardless of their size as your opponents work on buffing their forces. Another strategy involves the use of board wipes such as Wrath of God, clearing the entire field and negating any accumulated advantages from the Faithbonder. Additionally, employing counter spells when Benalish Faithbonder is cast prevents it from ever impacting the board, preserving your control over the game’s pace and flow.
Addressing the Benalish Faithbonder early in the game is paramount, as a delayed response can lead to a snowball effect in your opponent’s favor. Strategic and timely disruption is key to overcoming the collective might that this card seeks to assemble.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Benalish Faithbonder MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Benalish Faithbonder and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Benalish Faithbonder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Benalish Faithbonder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | The attacking player chooses whether to tap a creature for an enlist ability immediately after they tap the creatures that they have chosen to attack with. You can’t choose to enlist a creature later. |
| 2022-09-09 | To enlist a creature, that creature must be untapped, it must not be attacking (even if it has vigilance), and it must have haste or have been under that attacking player’s control since the beginning of their current turn. |
| 2022-09-09 | When a player taps a creature for an attacking creature’s enlist ability, that attacking creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the tapped creature’s power. This is a triggered ability that goes on the stack immediately after attackers have been declared in the declare attackers step. |
| 2022-09-09 | You may tap only one creature for an enlist ability of an attacking creature, and a single creature can’t be tapped for more than one enlist ability. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.