Dark Banishing MTG Card

Dark Banishing offers control by negating opponent’s threats, leading to potential card advantage. Its instant speed allows for flexible and strategic plays during critical game moments. The card’s specific mana cost can limit deck building, especially in multi-color decks.
Card setsReleased in 23 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Bury target non-black creature.

"Will not the mountains quake and hills melt at the coming of the darkness? Share this vision with your enemies, Lim-Dûl, and they shall wither." —Leshrac, Walker of Night

Cards like Dark Banishing

Dark Banishing has been a go-to choice for players needing reliable creature removal in the Magic: The Gathering realm. Tapping into the same strategic vein, Doom Blade offers a similar target elimination, albeit with a notable limitation—it can’t hit black creatures. In contrast, Dark Banishing, devoid of creature color restrictions, provides a more versatile solution and ensures that regardless of the color, the threat is handled.

Murder is another card that mirrors Dark Banishing, featuring the ability to destroy any target creature at an increased mana cost. While Dark Banishing restricts its use to nonblack creatures, the additional mana investment in Murder ensures no potential target escapes its grasp. Go for the Throat is yet another parallel, permitting the destruction of nonartifact creatures, showcasing the diverse tactical scenarios that each spell is designed to address based on deck composition and game state.

Assessing the available options, Dark Banishing stands out within the removal spells category of Magic: The Gathering due to its cost-effective nature and its straightforward, unconditional nonblack creature removal capability. Its dependability in critical moments solidifies its position in many players’ decks.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dark Banishing by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Stench of Decay - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Hapato's Might - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Stench of Decay - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Hapato's Might - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: By removing a key threat from the battlefield, Dark Banishing allows for a subtle shift in the control of the game. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, it effectively negates the card your opponent has played, tilting the balance in your favor and can pave the way towards gaining card advantage in the following turns.

Resource Acceleration: Although Dark Banishing doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, it efficiently uses your existing resources. For a mere three mana, it offers a cost-effective way to deal with an opponent’s creature, potentially saving your resources for other maneuvers or to deploy your own threats.

Instant Speed: The power of Dark Banishing shines at instant speed, allowing for strategic flexibility. You can effectively pass the turn without taking action and decide the most opportune moment to cast it – whether it’s during your opponent’s attack phase, end of their turn, or in response to an activation of an ability, giving you the upper hand in the timing of your plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dark Banishing does not impose a discard condition on its caster, which can be a point in its favor. This absence of a discard requirement allows players to retain valuable card advantage while dealing with threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Limited to decks incorporating black mana, Dark Banishing may not fit into multi-colored decks that run minimally on black. Its specific black mana cost of two and one colorless can thus constrain deck building decisions, particularly in formats favoring broader color diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While three mana may not seem excessive, in a game where speed can be critical, the cost of Dark Banishing is on the higher side when compared to other removal spells. This makes it less appealing in fast-paced or highly competitive environments where lower-cost removal options are often preferred.

Reasons to Include Dark Banishing in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark Banishing is a remarkable addition as it offers a straightforward and effective removal option for creature-heavy decks. It seamlessly fits into various black decks aiming at maintaining board control.

Combo Potential: The card’s capability to target and exile creatures plays well with strategies revolving around graveyard manipulation or death-triggered abilities, setting up potential combos with other cards.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of powerful creatures in many MTG formats, Dark Banishing serves as a crucial tool to disrupt opponent plays and can be particularly impactful in a meta dominated by creature-centric decks.

How to beat

Dark Banishing is a straightforward yet potent removal spell within the realm of MTG. As its name implies, the spell banishes creatures to oblivion with the caveat that it cannot target black creatures. This specificity can be a key point when strategizing against it. To effectively circumvent Dark Banishing, consider using black creatures in your deck. The inherent immunity provided by their color aligns perfectly against this spell’s limitation.

Another tactic involves utilizing creatures with hexproof or shroud abilities, effectively rendering them untouchable by such targeted removal spells. Dive into your collection and scout for those silent guardians that can withstand spells like Dark Banishing. Moreover, having a plan for instant-speed indomitability, through spells that grant protection or blink effects, can rescue your key creatures from being ousted. Think of it as a deft chess move, countering your opponent’s strategy at a pivotal moment.

Ultimately, beating Dark Banishing comes down to thoughtful deck construction and timely reactions. Equip your deck with the right protective measures, and this once-threatening spell could end up as nothing more than a minor setback in your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark Banishing MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Dark Banishing and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dark Banishing Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1191993NormalBlackDrew Tucker
21996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ll1191993NormalGoldDrew Tucker
31996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC gb119sb1993NormalGoldDrew Tucker
41996-10-08MirageMIR 1151997NormalBlackDermot Power
51997-10-14TempestTMP 1171997NormalBlackJohn Matson
62001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1271997NormalWhiteRebecca Guay
72001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 127★1997NormalBlackRebecca Guay
82001-12-01DeckmastersDKM 31997NormalWhiteDrew Tucker
92003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 123★2003NormalBlackDermot Power
102003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1232003NormalWhiteDermot Power
112003-08-07World Championship Decks 2003WC03 we123sb2003NormalGoldDermot Power
122005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 122★2003NormalBlackDermot Power
132005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1222003NormalWhiteDermot Power
142005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F532003NormalWhiteDermot Power
152005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F302003NormalWhiteDermot Power
162005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL D322003NormalWhiteDermot Power
172005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL D312003NormalWhiteDermot Power
182005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F412003NormalWhiteDermot Power
192006-07-21Coldsnap Theme DecksCST 1192003NormalBlackDrew Tucker
202008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 841997NormalBlackDrew Tucker
212009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 502003NormalBlackDermot Power
222014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 502015NormalBlackDermot Power
232015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 922015NormalBlackJohn Matson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark Banishing has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal