Blinding Beam MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 7
2013-06-07 - Number 7
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Entwine |
Text of card
Choose one Tap two target creatures; or creatures don't untap during target player's next untap step. Entwine (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Cards like Blinding Beam
Blinding Beam is an intriguing control option within Magic: The Gathering, standing alongside other cards that inhibit opponent’s creatures. Its kinship is close to that of cards like Pacifism, which also restricts enemy forces by preventing the enchanted creature from attacking or blocking. However, Blinding Beam offers the versatility of affecting multiple creatures at once, a distinct advantage over the singular target approach of Pacifism.
Another parallel can be drawn with Frost Breath, which, like Blinding Beam, temporarily disables multiple creatures. While Frost Breath’s impact only lasts until the next turn, it can be played at instant speed, offering strategic surprise during an opponent’s turn. In comparison, Blinding Beam’s effect can endure an extra turn if entwined, for a total lockdown in your favor, though it requires a higher mana investment and is a sorcery.
Wrapping up, Blinding Beam’s ability to impede an army of adversaries, especially when casting with its entwine cost, offers a significant board advantage. Deep comparisons with similar MTG cards reveal the strategic nuance Blinding Beam brings to decks specializing in crowd control and tempo play.
Cards similar to Blinding Beam by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blinding Beam offers a tactical edge by locking down your opponent’s creatures. While it doesn’t draw cards, it can effectively give you extra turns to attack without the threat of retaliation, increasing your advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although Blinding Beam doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its control capabilities can slow down your opponent’s board, allowing you to play your strategy without the immediate pressure of a counterattack. This can lead to resource dominance as you maintain board presence while your opponent’s resources are temporarily stalled.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Blinding Beam can’t be cast at instant speed, but its effect creates strategic openings during your main phase. By timing it right, you can maximize its impact, ensuring a clear path for your attackers or safeguarding your life total when you’re on the defensive.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Blinding Beam does not require a discard to cast, but using removal or control cards can sometimes result in card disadvantage. Players must be strategic about when to play such spells to ensure they’re not sacrificing too much hand presence, which could be a downside to consider.
Specific Mana Cost: Blinding Beam’s casting requirement of both generic and white mana limits its flexibility within multicolored decks. This can be particularly restrictive for players who operate with a limited mana base that might not reliably produce the necessary white mana to cast the spell.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Blinding Beam can be a game-changer by tapping multiple creatures, it comes with a three-mana price tag that might be steep for some players, especially when you compare it to other control options. In the fast-paced game environment, the cost to benefit ratio of Blinding Beam might not always align with the speed and efficiency required in certain decks or strategies.
Reasons to Include Blinding Beam in Your Collection
Versatility: Blinding Beam offers a flexible control option for decks looking to manage their opponent’s creatures. It can be used both defensively to protect yourself from attacks and offensively to clear the path for your own creatures to swing in unblocked.
Combo Potential: With its ability to tap multiple creatures, Blinding Beam can synergize well with cards that benefit from creatures becoming tapped or stay untouched during combat. Additionally, its entwine cost provides the choice to both tap and detain opponent creatures for a turn, multiplying its combo possibilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based aggro decks are prevalent, incorporating Blinding Beam into your collection could serve as a key tactical maneuver, potentially stalling your opponents’ strategies and swinging games in your favor with its temporary but impactful board control.
How to beat
Blinding Beam emerges as a versatile control tool in Magic: The Gathering, offering the unique advantage of incapacitating multiple creatures. Its ability to tap not just one, but two creatures, and prevent them from untapping during the next untap step, makes it a powerful card in dictating the pace of battle. This can be particularly impactful when you are racing against an opponent or need to buy time to develop your board.
Combatting Blinding Beam effectively often involves flexibility in your plays. This can be achieved by maintaining instant-speed removal or creature abilities that can be activated in response. By doing so, you’re able to sidestep the potential tempo loss caused by your creatures being tapped. Additionally, cards that untap your creatures or provide outright protection from being tapped in the first place, such as Brave the Elements, can nullify the disruptive power of Blinding Beam. Having a backup plan to deal with such control mechanics is a crucial strategy for seasoned players.
Ultimately, understanding and anticipating control elements like Blinding Beam is key in maintaining the upper hand. With thoughtfully constructed deck choices and strategic play, you can dampen its effectiveness and maintain control of the game flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blinding Beam MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Modern Masters, 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 Blinding Beam 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
Printings
The Blinding Beam Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by Doug Chaffee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 7 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee | |
| 2 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 7 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blinding Beam has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blinding Beam card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-06-07 | The second mode affects all creatures during the player’s next untap step, including creatures controlled by other players (who may have untapped because of Seedborn Muse, for example) and creatures that weren’t on the battlefield when Blinding Beam resolved. |