Black Ward MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 5
1993-10-04 - Number 5
1993-12-01 - Number 5
1993-12-10 - Number 5
1993-12-10 - Number 5
1994-04-01 - Number 5
1994-04-01 - Number 5
1994-06-21 - Number 5
1995-04-01 - Number 8
1995-04-01 - Number 8
2022-11-28 - Number 302
2022-11-28 - Number 5
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target creature gains protection from black.
Cards like Black Ward
The enigmatic Black Ward offers a unique layer of protection in Magic: The Gathering, forging an unbreakable shield against black-spelled harm. It echoes the functionality seen in other ‘Ward’ enchantments, tailored to specific colors. Comparable to Blue Ward or White Ward, Black Ward confers immunity to a chosen color, but it is solely fixated on negating black’s shadowy threats.
There’s a league of defense in Circle of Protection: Black, which operates on a different axis. Where Black Ward creates an impenetrable barrier, Circle of Protection: offers a flexible defense, allowing players to thwart damage on a case-by-case basis, albeit at the cost of mana for each instance of protection. Still, in a mana-rich setup, this card could ward off multiple threats in a single turn, a tactical advantage Black Ward does not provide.
When assessing the sanctuary these spells provide, Black Ward stands as a sentinel, unwavering in its single-minded defense against one of MTG’s most fearsome colors. Its fortification is a testament to its strategic placement in decks that value resilience over versatility, granting peace of mind against adversaries who dare to wield the power of darkness.
Cards similar to Black Ward by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Black Ward card is a boon for players seeking protective measures with added benefits. By applying this to your creatures, you maintain that crucial edge by safeguarding your assets on the battlefield, potentially allowing for other cards in your hand to be played without fear of losing key pieces.
Resource Acceleration: Black Ward doesn’t directly generate extra mana, but by defending your creatures, it indirectly supports keeping your resource-generating creatures on the field. This means more mana at your disposal over time, keeping you in the lead for strategic plays.
Instant Speed: The Black Ward can be attached at instant speed, affording you the flexibility to respond during your opponent’s turn. This can catch adversaries off guard, tipping the scales in your favor at critical moments and disrupting their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some enchantments, Black Ward necessitates that you maintain card advantage. The lack of a discard condition could lead to missed opportunities for strategic deck thinning or cycling through your deck for better options.
Specific Mana Cost: As with most color-specific cards, Black Ward requires black mana to cast. This can make it less versatile in multi-colored decks that might struggle to generate the necessary mana type, potentially leaving you with an unusable card in hand.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the cost of one black mana may seem fairly low, in a fast-paced game, the investment in an enchantment that only grants protection from one color might not be as cost-effective as other cards that provide broader defensive abilities or more aggressive options for the same mana expense.
Reasons to Include Black Ward in Your Collection
Versatility: Black Ward offers a layer of protection by granting enchantment immunity to any creature it’s attached to, from the black spells or effects that are frequent hurdles in various deck types.
Combo Potential: The card can be instrumental in combos that utilize creatures as key components, ensuring that those creatures remain on the battlefield to execute game-winning strategies against opponents relying on black for removal.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where black control or destruction spells are prevalent, Black Ward serves as an effective countermeasure, safeguarding your critical creatures to maintain a strong board presence.
How to beat
Black Ward is an enchantment that can be a subtle yet thorny obstacle for players facing decks that heavily rely on black spells. Its ability to grant protection from black can turn a simple creature into a formidable shield, impervious to black-targeted spells and abilities.
To outmaneuver this protective spell, consider using creatures with colorless damage sources or spells that don’t specify a color in their targeting conditions. Additionally, universal removals like board wipes, which affect all creatures regardless of their protection, prove to be effective in bypassing Black Ward’s safeguarding effects. Enchantment removals are also a reliable solution, stripping the opposition of its defenses and opening a path for black spells to regain their potency. Approaches such as these make Black Ward’s influence temporary and manageable within the dynamic environment of the game.
Awareness and flexibility are vital when handling cards like Black Ward. Breaking through its defenses requires strategic planning and the inclusion of versatile answers within your deck to ensure that a single enchantment doesn’t undermine your game plan. By incorporating such countermeasures, players can maintain balance even against tailored protection strategies.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Black Ward MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Black Ward and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Printings
The Black Ward Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 5 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 5 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 5 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 5 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 5 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 5 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 5 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 5 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 8 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 8 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 302 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Black Ward has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |