Runner's Bane MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dragon's Maze
Set code	DGM
Number	17
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

Runner’s Bane offers control by disabling opponent’s creatures while aligning with your tactics.
With a need to discard and specific mana, it poses both strategic advantages and restrictions.
Its enchantment nature makes it susceptible to common removal or creature power boosts.

Text of card

Enchant creature with power 3 or less When Runner's Bane enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature. Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Runner’s Bane offers a tactical edge by allowing players to temporarily remove a threat from the opponent’s side of the field while maintaining hand equilibrium.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t produce additional resources directly, it efficiently uses existing mana by costing only two mana, which enables a faster execution of your game plan.

Instant Speed: As a card that can be cast at instant speed, Runner’s Bane provides the flexibility to disrupt the opponent’s strategy during their turn or in response to actions, keeping them off-balance and preserving your mana for the most critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Runner’s Bane demands that you discard a card to activate certain abilities. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage, especially in fast-paced games where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment comes with a rigid blue mana requirement, which might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t heavily invested in blue. It restricts deck building and can hamper mana flexibility in multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is slightly above curve for its effect, Runner’s Bane may not be as cost-effective as other control options in the game. Players might find themselves choosing more efficient alternatives that offer similar levels of board control for a lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Runner’s Bane offers exceptional utility in blue-centered control decks, adept at pinning down key creature threats from opponents. Its low mana cost and easy casting requirements make it a handy tool in various match-ups.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can work seamlessly with cards designed to capitalize on tapped creatures, such as those harnessing the power of tap/untap mechanics or benefitting from your opponent’s creatures being declared as defenders.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that heavily features aggressive creature strategies, Runner’s Bane shines by providing an efficient answer to early-game threats, making it a strategic addition to your arsenal in such an environment.

How to beat

Runner’s Bane presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield in MTG. This enchantment locks down creatures with power three or less, but removing it can be simpler than one might assume. Dealing with Runner’s Bane effectively requires either a spell that directly destroys enchantments or using creature abilities that can bypass its restrictions.

Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are common answers in a player’s arsenal, capable of targeting and eliminating enchantments at a low cost. Moreover, increasing the power of the enchanted creature beyond the threshold of three can also break the Bane’s grip. Instants that boost power, such as Giant Growth, serve dual purposes by amplifying a creature’s might and simultaneously freeing it from Runner’s Bane’s clutches.

In essence, while Runner’s Bane may seem like a thorn in your side temporarily, strategic use of enchantment removal or power-boosting spells makes it a manageable obstacle. By preparing your deck with such answers, you can ensure that Runner’s Bane does not disrupt your path to victory.

Cards like Runner's Bane

Runner’s Bane is an intriguing control card in MTG, positioned within the timeless strategy of creature lockdown. This enchantment parallels other staple blue control spells like Claustrophobia. Both enchantments tap down creatures and make them unable to untangle from their binds. However, Runner’s Bane distinguishes itself by focusing on smaller creatures with power 3 or less, showcasing a degree of specificity compared to Claustrophobia’s broader application.

Another card worth mentioning alongside Runner’s Bane is Ice Cage, which shares the trait of incapacitating creatures. The key difference lies in Ice Cage’s vulnerability; it breaks upon the enchanted creature becoming the target of a spell or ability. In contrast, Runner’s Bane remains steadfast unless the creature’s power increases beyond the threshold of three. Then there’s the might of Sleep Paralysis, which goes a step further by entering the battlefield and tapping the enchanted creature, setting up for future turns without the immediate escape potential for the adversary.

To sum up, Runner’s Bane fits snugly into the roster of MTG blue enchantments aimed at creature control. While it may have limited scope, its low mana cost and resilience offer a focused strategy that can give players a competitive edge against swift and aggressive creatures.

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

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Runner's Bane has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	If the enchanted creature’s power increases to 4 or greater, Runner’s Bane will be put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action.
2013-04-15	The enchanted creature can still be untapped in other ways, such as by Aurelia, the Warleader.