Blade Banish MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2020-04-24 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths |
| Set code | IKO |
| Number | 4 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lie Setiawan |
Text of card
Exile target creature with power 4 or greater.
The Wanderer walks many paths. Her blade travels only one.
Cards like Blade Banish
Blade Banish could be described as a straightforward solution in the pool of removal spells Magic: The Gathering offers. It shares common ground with cards like Pacifism, both designed to handle creatures without destroying them. While Pacifism locks down a creature by preventing it from attacking or blocking, Blade Banish outright removes a creature from combat through exile, provided its power is 4 or greater. This form of exile is effective against indestructible units, giving it an edge over traditional destroy effects.
Comparably, we have Reprisal which, akin to Blade Banish, targets only creatures with significant power, destroying them without the possibility of regeneration. Yet, it doesn’t exile, possibly leaving room for the creature to come back from the graveyard. Another close relative is Descend upon the Sinful, which exiles all creatures but at a higher cost and with the added benefit of potentially creating an Angel token. Blade Banish is cheaper, but less comprehensive.
To sum up, Blade Banish situates itself as a conditional yet cost-effective removal spell. Its particular niche of removing only large threats from combat by exiling them separates it from broader options, catering to players dealing specifically with high-power creature threats in their MTG games.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blade Banish enhances your strategic options by dispatching an opposing creature. Removing a potential threat can swing the game in your favor and effectively diminish your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Blade Banish does not directly accelerate resources, it efficiently handles creatures with four or greater power. This allows for better control of the game state, thereby indirectly furthering your resource management by stifling your opponent’s potential acceleration.
Instant Speed: One of the most valuable aspects of Blade Banish is its instant speed. This characteristic enables you to react swiftly to threats, even during your opponent’s turn. The flexibility to cast it at any time provides a tactical advantage, allowing you to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of an MTG match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some removal spells, Blade Banish is straightforward and doesn’t require you to discard a creature card, allowing you to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Blade Banish has a specific mana requirement of three colorless and one white mana. This can be restrictive, as it necessitates a mana base conducive to white spells, potentially limiting its inclusion to mono-white or two-color decks that can consistently produce white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four total mana, Blade Banish is on the higher end for its sort of effect. Considering other removal options available in the game that cost less and may offer additional flexibility or lower mana requirements, Blade Banish may not always be the most mana-efficient choice for controlling the battlefield or handling threats.
Reasons to Include Blade Banish in Your Collection
Versatility: Blade Banish serves as an excellent defense mechanism in a wide array of decks. Its ability to exile an attacker or blocker with power 4 or greater makes it ideal for managing large threats on the board.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in deck strategies that aim to control the battlefield. Utilizing Blade Banish in a deck with recursion abilities allows you to repeatedly remove formidable creatures from the game, disrupting your opponent’s plans.
Meta-Relevance: With a constant presence of high-powered creatures in numerous MTG formats, Blade Banish stands out as a relevant addition to collections. It can shift the tide of a match by removing pivotal creatures that could otherwise lead to an opponent’s victory.
How to beat
Blade Banish stands out in MTG as an effective response against big creature threats. Cast when a sizeable creature is attacking or blocking can turn the tide of battle. Key to overcoming Blade Banish is anticipation of its conditional nature, permitting its casting only if a creature with power 4 or greater is targeted. Diversifying your creature sizes within your deck minimizes the chances that a single Blade Banish will disrupt your strategy.
Moreover, countering this spell with instant-speed tricks or counterspells is a solid strategy. Since Blade Banish operates at sorcery speed, prioritizing the deployment of creatures outside of its restriction or protecting valuable assets with spells like Dive Down ensures your board presence is maintained. Creatures with power less than 4 are immune to Blade Banish’s effect and can therefore safely be employed to apply pressure without fear of exile.
In essence, mitigating the impact of Blade Banish revolves around strategic deck building, reactive play, and maintaining a mix of creatures to ensure not all fall within its scope. Maintaining a proactive approach and ready responses ensures that Blade Banish becomes a less daunting hurdle in achieving victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blade Banish MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Blade Banish 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 Blade Banish has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |