Builder's Bane MTG Card

Strategically advantageous, Builder’s Bane can disrupt multiple artifacts at instant speed, shaping the game’s balance. While resource-accelerating for you, its discard requirement and red mana constraint could limit strategic options. Despite its versatility, the mana investment versus payoff requires careful consideration in deck building and play.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	160
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Charles Gillespie

Text of card

Destroy X target artifacts. For each artifact put into the graveyard in this way, Builder's Bane deals 1 damage to that artifact's controller.

There is only so much a person may be buried with.

Cards like Builder's Bane

Builder’s Bane has a unique position among artifact dismantling spells in Magic: The Gathering, standing side by side with influential counterparts. A notable analog is Vandalblast, which serves a similar purpose of removing threats posed by artifacts but does so with the possibility of a widespread effect at a higher mana cost. In contrast, Builder’s Bane offers a player more control over the number of artifacts to be destroyed based on the mana they are willing to invest.

Comparing to Shatterstorm, Builder’s Bane doesn’t necessarily guarantee a clean sweep of all artifacts on the field; however, its X mana cost allows for flexibility in usage. Oxidize brings forth another comparison with its instant speed and zero mana cost after the additional ❲G❳ casting cost, offering artifact removal without any financial strain on your mana pool. Nevertheless, Builder’s Bane’s capacity to deal with multiple artifacts potentially makes it more valuable in situations where the quality and quantity of artifacts vary.

Ultimately, in Magic: The Gathering, the effectiveness of artifact removal cards such as Builder’s Bane rest on contextual game scenarios, with some offering more flexibility while others cater to sheer overwhelming force, crafting a spectrum of strategic possibilities for players.

Cards similar to Builder's Bane by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Builder’s Bane offers a strategic edge by potentially dismantling multiple artifacts, which can tilt the balance of power in your favor, ensuring you gain the upper hand in resources on the board.

Resource Acceleration: By removing key artifacts that your opponents rely on for their mana generation or other accelerative effects, Builder’s Bane can slow them down, effectively accelerating your own position in comparison to their hampered development.

Instant Speed: The ability to destroy artifacts at instant speed with Builder’s Bane means you can adapt to the unfolding game state, responding to threats immediately or during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans and maintain a reactive stance.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When using Builder’s Bane, players often have to grapple with a discard requirement that can put them at a disadvantage, especially when their hand is already running low on cards. This can be particularly troublesome in stages of the game when maintaining card advantage is crucial. Depleting your hand can potentially leave you without answers to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Builder’s Bane comes with a red mana cost, which naturally restricts it to red or multicolored decks. If you’re running a deck without red mana, or if your current mana pool lacks red, this card becomes a dead draw. This restricts the flexibility when building decks and requires careful consideration of your mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost to destroy artifacts can be considered high relative to the potential advantage gained. In a game where tempo plays a vital role, spending four mana to potentially destroy only a few artifacts could put you behind your opponents, who might leverage more cost-effective ways to deal with threats or develop their own board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Builder’s Bane is an adaptable card, suitable for various deck archetypes that aim to control or disrupt opponent’s resources. Its ability to destroy multiple artifacts ensures that it can find a place in sideboards or even main decks that need to answer artifact-heavy strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks that capitalize on the destruction of permanents. It can be utilized in tandem with strategies that benefit from opponents losing their artifacts or by triggering graveyard-based mechanics for salvaging artifact value.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where artifact usage is prevalent, Builder’s Bane gains incremental value. It’s particularly potent in metas where mana rocks or artifact-centric win conditions are dominant, making it a wise addition for staying ahead of the competitive curve.

How to beat

Builder’s Bane is a distinctive card that’s designed to impact the battlefield by targeting artifacts. As a player you might find yourself on the other end of this card’s destructive capability. However, strategies to outplay Builder’s Bane do exist. The key lies in diversifying your in-game assets, ensuring not all your powerful plays are dependent on artifacts. Instead, consider including a balance of different card types in your strategy, like enchantments and creatures, to mitigate the potential damage that Builder’s Bane can cause.

Running counter spells or choosing hexproof/shroud to protect your artifacts are also viable tactics. Having cards like Padeem, Consul of Innovation or Swiftfoot Boots can make your artifacts tougher targets. Moreover, redundancy in your deck’s artifact suite ensures that losing one or two key pieces won’t completely derail your game plan. Lastly, keep in mind the mana cost and timing. Builder’s Bane requires a significant amount of mana for large-scale destruction, which means you can often predict and prepare for this kind of play as the game progresses.

Mastering the art of adaptation and protection will certainly elevate your game and help maintain the upper hand against any strategy utilizing Builder’s Bane in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Builder's Bane MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Builder's Bane and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Builder's Bane has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal