Silent Arbiter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 1
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Arbiter’s ability to control attacks and blocks can indirectly create card advantage, keeping key creatures in play.
  2. It compliments instant speed strategies by shaping the game state to favor calculated, reactionary plays.
  3. Versatile in nature, it is particularly potent in formats like Commander where combat can become complex.

Text of card

No more than one creature may attack each combat. No more than one creature may block each combat.

Scholars say that arbiters exist on every world, created by an unknown hand to enforce justice.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Silent Arbiter doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to control combat can indirectly lead to card advantage. By limiting the number of attackers and blockers, it helps preserve your valuable creatures on the board, often forcing your opponent to find a removal for the Arbiter itself rather than advancing their board state.

Resource Acceleration: Silent Arbiter doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of providing mana or drawing cards. However, by controlling the flow of the game, it can accelerate your game plan by giving you more time to deploy your resources effectively. It lets you manage your creature-based strategies and defenses without needing to commit multiple cards to the battlefield to maintain parity.

Instant Speed: Although the Silent Arbiter is a creature card with no instant speed abilities itself, it greatly complements a deck strategy that operates at instant speed. By dictating the pace of combat, it allows a player to keep mana open for instant speed interactions and spells, ensuring the board state remains in their favor while they respond to threats on their terms.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Silent Arbiter does not directly require a discard, but its limitations can force you into difficult decisions regarding which creatures to keep and which to discard when optimizing your battlefield strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Silent Arbiter comes with a specific mana cost that includes colorless mana, meaning it can’t be cast using any type of mana, potentially restricting it from some mono-colored decks without the appropriate mana-fixing capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a four mana cost, Silent Arbiter’s effect on the game state may seem costly when compared to other creature control options. Some players may find that investing in spells or creatures that directly remove threats is a more efficient use of their mana and deck space.


Reasons to Include Silent Arbiter in Your Collection

Versatility: Silent Arbiter can seamlessly integrate into various decks, exceptionally well in ones aiming to control the battlefield. Since it limits attacks to a single creature per turn, it acts as an effective deterrent against aggressive, creature-heavy strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos with effects that allow you to dictate which creature attacks or blocks. When paired with deathtouch or cards that force your opponent’s choices, Silent Arbiter turns into a strategic tool that can decisively influence the game’s pace and outcome.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature swarm strategies prevail, Silent Arbiter becomes a key piece to suppress your opponents’ offense. It is particularly relevant in Commander, where the multiplayer aspect often leads to complex combat scenarios, making Silent Arbiter’s ability to simplify these confrontations invaluable.


How to beat

Confronting a Silent Arbiter on the battlefield can be a tricky ordeal for many MTG players. This distinctive artifact creature ensures only one creature can attack and only one can block each turn, dictating the pace of combat to its singular rhythm. Directing a game plan against this obstacle requires strategic shifts and smart card choices.

Removal spells are your best asset here. Think along the lines of artifact destruction cards like Nature’s Claim or the versatile Beast Within, which can take care of the Arbiter regardless of its type. Alternatively, board wipes, which don’t target and can bypass the Arbiter’s restrictions on blocking, such as Supreme Verdict or Damnation, provide a clean slate to re-establish your presence. Cards like these, when timed right, can break the control the Silent Arbiter holds over the game, allowing your creatures to swarm freely once again.

In essence, overcoming the control imposed by a Silent Arbiter comes down to a proper understanding of your deck’s tools and the right timing. Opting for direct destruction or a more sweeping approach can swiftly turn the tide back in your favor, alleviating the pressure this formidable card can exert on the flow of combat.


BurnMana Recommendations

The landscape of MTG is ever-evolving, and cards like Silent Arbiter have the power to alter the flow of battle in significant ways. Through our detailed look into card strategy, we believe that understanding the intricacies of combat control can propel you to new successes. If the tactical prowess of Silent Arbiter piques your interest, exploring its potential further could be a game-changer for your deck. By examining its strengths, weaknesses, and synergy with other cards, you gain the insight necessary to make informed decisions on the battlefield. Ready to delve deeper and explore strategies that will enhance your MTG gameplay? Follow us to uncover insights and add a strategic edge to your next duel.


Cards like Silent Arbiter

The Silent Arbiter is a unique fixture in the Magic: The Gathering universe, known for its ability to control the combat phase. When stacking it up against other cards with similar roles, one might consider Ensnaring Bridge from the Stronghold set. Both pieces of magic hinder the number of creatures able to attack, although Ensnaring Bridge bases its limits on the number of cards in a player’s hand, a variable restraint in comparison to the Arbiter’s consistent and predictable one.

Another noteworthy comparison is with Crawlspace, an artifact limiting opponents to two attacking creatures per turn. While both Crawlspace and Silent Arbiter reduce the scale of combat, the Arbiter is more restrictive, allowing just one creature to swing each turn. Maze of Ith deserves a mention too for its capability to effectively ‘remove’ a creature from combat without actually altering the number of attackers permitted.

In essence, Silent Arbiter holds its ground firmly within its niche in Magic: The Gathering. It’s the go-to artifact for those seeking to enforce a severe limit on battlefield engagements, creating a strategic advantage for players who can navigate its one-on-one combat restriction effectively.

Ensnaring Bridge - MTG Card versions
Crawlspace - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Ensnaring Bridge - Stronghold (STH)
Crawlspace - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Maze of Ith - The Dark (DRK)

Cards similar to Silent Arbiter by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
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Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Coercive Portal - Conspiracy (CNS)
Aetherworks Marvel - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silent Arbiter MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Silent Arbiter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Silent Arbiter Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Mark Zug.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-06-04Fifth Dawn5DN 1502003normalblackMark Zug
22011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 112003normalblackMark Zug
32014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 2042003normalblackMark Zug
42020-04-17Commander 2020C20 2502015normalblackMark Zug
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9722015normalblackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silent Arbiter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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