Bonded Construct MTG Card


Provides early creature plays, bolstering board presence without sacrificing card advantage. Enables artifact-based combos and strategies, increasing its versatility in play. Limited by needing other creatures to attack, influencing deck construction decisions.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Bonded Construct can't attack alone.

Loyal to a fault, it heeds its master's every command.


Cards like Bonded Construct

Bonded Construct has established its place among Magic: The Gathering’s artifact creature cards. Much like the popular Ornithopter, Bonded Construct costs zero mana, enabling a player to put down a creature without tapping any lands. However, unlike Ornithopter, which can fly and doesn’t require another creature to attack, Bonded Construct is grounded and must have comrades to enter the fray.

Exploring further, we encounter Phyrexian Walker – another zero-cost artifact creature that shines by imposing no attacking restrictions, although it only offers a defensive front with its zero power. Bonded Construct offers a balance, demanding assistance for aggression but equipped with a modest power to apply early game pressure.

While comparing artifact creatures mechanically inclined for aggressive strategies, Signal Pest stands out as a card that, at one mana, not only attacks unhindered by needing other creatures but also boosts fellow attackers. Despite the higher cost compared to Bonded Construct, Signal Pest’s potential to escalate an assault provides a palpable tactical advantage.

Comparing these cards reveals that Bonded Construct is a valuable asset for aggressive artifact-themed decks in MTG, especially when seeking rapid board presence. Its requirement of tandem action draws a line between it and other cost-effective artifact creatures, each serving unique strategies.

Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Walker - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Walker - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bonded Construct by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bonded Construct, despite not directly providing card draw, ensures you always have a creature to play early on, maintaining pressure and board presence without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact creature plays well with synergistic cards that benefit from having artifacts on the field, potentially ramping your capability to cast more expensive spells ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: While Bonded Construct itself isn’t played at instant speed, its low cost and artifact nature make it a flexible addition to strategies that exploit instant speed interactions, fitting seamlessly into a responsive playstyle.


Card Cons

Not Alone: The Bonded Construct card cannot attack alone, which can be a significant drawback when you’re lacking board presence or need an immediate blocker.

Fixed Role: Bonded Construct has a specific mana cost, demanding one colorless, which makes it less flexible for certain mana-fixing strategies.

Competing Options: While its low mana cost is enticing, other one-drop creatures may offer more utility or stronger individual effects, suggesting better choices could be available for your deck.


Reasons to Include Bonded Construct in Your Collection

Versatility: Bonded Construct offers flexibility to your gameplay, being a solid option as a one-drop artifact creature that can easily slot into various artifact-centric and aggro decks.

Combo Potential: As an artifact, this card synergizes with other cards that care about artifact count, enabling intricate combo plays and enhancing strategies focused on artifact manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: With the prevalence of artifact strategies in various MTG formats, Bonded Construct becomes a smart, budget-friendly inclusion that can stand up effectively in certain metagames.


How to beat

Bonded Construct joins the lineup of aggressive artifact creatures within the realm of Magic the Gathering. As a creature that can be also quite restrictive due to its inability to attack alone, it poses a strategic challenge to many players. Overcoming such a deck element isn’t as intimidating as it might appear at first glance. It is vital to focus on its limitation and exploit it by controlling the battlefield.

Strategies to beat Bonded Construct involve removal spells that can target the artifact creature directly or getting rid of potential companions that enable its attack. Countering decks that run Bonded Construct may include ample spot removal or board wipes to maintain a clear field. The inclusion of cards like Naturalize or Shatter can be quite effective in dismantling an artifact creature-heavy stratagem. Additionally, limiting the opponent’s creature count can render Bonded Construct a mere sitting duck, unable to make an offensive move. Therefore, while it may come across as a sturdy barrier at first, a well-thought-out approach focusing on its inherent weakness can turn the tide in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bonded Construct MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Bonded Construct and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bonded Construct Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2232015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 7382015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bonded Construct has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-06-22 Although Bonded Construct can’t attack alone, other attacking creatures don’t have to attack the same player or planeswalker. For example, Bonded Construct could attack an opponent and another creature could attack a planeswalker that opponent controls.
2015-06-22 Bonded Construct can be declared as an attacker only if another creature is declared as an attacker at the same time.
2015-06-22 If a creature that can’t attack alone also must attack if able, its controller must attack with it and another creature if able.
2015-06-22 If you control more than one creature that can’t attack alone, they can attack together, even if no other creatures attack.
2015-06-22 In a Two-Headed Giant game (or in another format using the shared team turns option), Bonded Construct can attack with a creature controlled by your teammate, even if no other creatures you control attack.