Bond of Insight MTG Card


Bond of Insight provides card advantage by milling and retrieving valuable instants and sorceries. Its instant speed allows for surprise tactics and synergizes well with responsive decks. Despite mana cost constraints, it’s a strong pick for strategic play and meta relevance.
Bond of Insight - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Mill
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Number43
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJoe Slucher

Text of card

Each player mills four cards. Return up to two instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard to your hand. Exile Bond of Insight.

"Together we can unlock secrets no one has even dreamed of. I might even let you remember some of them."


Cards like Bond of Insight

Bond of Insight serves as a unique ritual in the strategic landscape of blue spells in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes with the function of cards like Pieces of the Puzzle, delving into the deeper layers of your library to reveal instant and sorcery gems. Where Bond of Insight distinguishes itself is its mill feature, providing the added advantage of placing the top four cards of each player’s library into their graveyard. Pieces of the Puzzle lacks this reciprocal milling effect, yet still allows for the selection of up to two instant and sorcery cards.

Further comparisons can be drawn with the card Taigam’s Scheming. This card also digs through the library, though it does not return spells back to the hand. Instead, it orchestrates the top of your deck, effectively setting up your future plays. While Taigam’s Scheming provides control over upcoming draws, Bond of Insight leverages past plays, potentially returning key spells to hand, echoing a dance with time itself. This creates a more immediate value, specifically in graveyard-centric strategies.

Analyzing the mechanics of card retrieval and manipulation, Bond of Insight capitalizes on the intersection of card advantage and graveyard synergy, placing it in a distinct position in the world of blue sorceries in Magic: The Gathering.

Pieces of the Puzzle - MTG Card versions
Taigam's Scheming - MTG Card versions
Pieces of the Puzzle - MTG Card versions
Taigam's Scheming - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bond of Insight by color, type and mana cost

Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
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Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
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Wash Out - MTG Card versions
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Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
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Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sultai ComboSultai Combo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024
Bant ControlBant Control GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bond of Insight is a wealth of wisdom waiting to be unearthed. It lets you delve into the past by milling four cards from your library, giving you direct access to a wider range of options and potentially setting up future plays. The real magic lies in the retrieval of up to two instant or sorcery cards from your graveyard, ensuring your hard-earned spells continue to serve you round after round.

Resource Acceleration: While this card may not directly generate mana or Treasure tokens, it does spark a unique form of resource acceleration. By recuperating spent instant or sorcery cards, it effectively saves the mana investment made in earlier turns. This characteristic translates into a form of virtual mana acceleration, as it allows you to reuse your spells without additional mana expenditure.

Instant Speed: The versatility of casting Bond of Insight at instant speed cannot be overstated. This flexibility means you can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to make a move, keeping them guessing and your mana untapped for any surprises. Plus, instant-speed actions can synergize with numerous other cards, making Bond of Insight a potent addition to decks that thrive on quick reactions and strategic depth.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While providing the benefit of delving into the past spells, Bond of Insight necessitates that players delve, consequently exiling valuable instants and sorceries from their graveyard. This can be a strategic drawback in decks that utilize the graveyard as a resource.

Specific Mana Cost: Bond of Insight comes with a specific mana cost involving both blue and generic mana, which can be restrictive. Decks not dedicated to generating blue mana might struggle to cast it efficiently, making it less flexible for multicolor strategies that don’t prioritize blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Four mana for a mill and potentially two card recapture can be steep, especially in faster-paced games or formats. Some players may find that other cards at lower costs could offer more immediate effects or be more synergistic with their deck’s overarching strategy.


Reasons to Include Bond of Insight in Your Collection

Versatility: Bond of Insight serves as a multifaceted tool in many blue-based decks. It allows players to delve into their graveyard, bringing back instant and sorcery spells that can turn the tide of the game. Whether in a control deck or a combo-centric build, this card fits seamlessly into varying strategies, making it a must-have for its flexibility.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that capitalize on spell-slinging synergies. Players can use Bond of Insight to recur powerful spells and set up potential game-winning combinations. Its ability to mill both players also works with graveyard-themed decks, contributing to its combo-enabling power.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where strategic play and recursion are key, Bond of Insight proves its worth. It aligns well with the tempo of control matchups and fits into the current meta-game, where retrieving critical spells for another round can provide a decisive advantage over opponents.


How to Beat Bond of Insight

Bond of Insight can be a real game-changer in any MTG deck that prizes spell recursion. It allows a player to delve into their graveyard, pulling out instants and sorceries that can turn the tide of the game. However, there are efficient tactics to counteract this potent card.

One strategy is employing graveyard hate cards. With tools like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, a player can shut down graveyard strategies, rendering Bond of Insight far less effective. Playing instant speed removal or counterspells can also disrupt the setup that Bond of Insight requires, by either targeting the card itself or key spells that your opponent might aim to retrieve.

It’s crucial to anticipate the timing of Bond of Insight, typically a mid-to-late game play. Keeping mana open to counter it or having graveyard hate cards in play by this point of the game can help ensure that Bond of Insight won’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor. Ultimately, staying one step ahead and having a solid defense against graveyard interactions will help any MTG player come out on top against this card’s powerful effect.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastery of MTG lies in understanding every card’s potential impact on a match. Bond of Insight is a strategic asset for any player who aims to turn the tides of a game with skillful spell retrieval. With its ability to offer card advantage and breathe life into past plays, it stands as a powerhouse in blue-centric decks. As you aim to outmaneuver opponents, think of including Bond of Insight in your arsenal for that critical edge. If intrigued by this card’s unique abilities and want to harness its potential, dive deeper with us. Extend your mastery and strategy over the MTG realm by exploring Bond of Insight’s full capabilities.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bond of Insight MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Bond of Insight and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bond of Insight has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-05-03 Bond of Insight doesn’t target the cards to return to your hand. You choose which cards to return as it resolves. You can choose up to two cards in your graveyard at that time, including ones just put into your graveyard by Bond of Insight.
2019-05-03 You can return two instant cards, two sorcery cards, one of each, just one instant or sorcery card, or none at all.