Ebony Charm MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 120
1997-08-13 - Number js120sb
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Choose one Target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life; or remove from the game up to three cards in any player's graveyard; or target creature cannot be blocked this turn except by artifact or black creatures.
Cards like Ebony Charm
Ebony Charm is a versatile utility card from the Mirage set in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a miniature toolkit within a single black instant. When we look for cards akin to Ebony Charm, it’s interesting to note how many focus on just one of its many options. Take Nihil Spellbomb, where its primary role in exile is graveyard removal much like one of Ebony Charm’s modes. However, Spellbomb lacks the instant speed and the additional choices provided by Ebony Charm.
Darkness, another related card, mirrors Ebony Charm’s ability to prevent damage, acting as a nice stand-in for moments where you need to stave off an overwhelming attack. Despite serving as a close combat alternative, the absence of variability makes Darkness less flexible overall. We also have Funeral Charm in our radar, which shares more than a name similarity. Funeral Charm offers a trifecta of different, albeit similar, effects at instant speed. But it still doesn’t match the exact combination of graveyard interference, creature buffs, and damage prevention found in Ebony Charm.
Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Ebony Charm is rather unique in its multitasking prowess, establishing its niche among black instants by enabling players to adapt to a variety of situations on the fly.
Cards similar to Ebony Charm by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ebony Charm has the versatility to disrupt an opponent’s graveyard, offering a strategic edge which often translates into card advantage for the player. This is especially potent in formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to drain life from an opponent may not seem like resource acceleration at first glance. However, maintaining a life lead can give you the breathing room required to pull ahead in the game, potentially reducing the need to commit additional resources to stabilize your life total.
Instant Speed: Ebony Charm’s operations at instant speed afford you the flexibility to respond effectively to an opponent’s threats or actions. This adaptability is key in tight situations where timing can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ebony Charm prompts players to discard a card from their hand as part of its cost. This prerequisite can deplete a player’s hand, potentially leaving them at a strategic disadvantage if they’re already struggling with card availability.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of Ebony Charm limits its accessibility, requiring a black mana. This constraint may not seamlessly integrate into a multi-colored deck or match the mana base of all archetypes, potentially hindering its inclusion in many strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost and the power level of its effects considered, Ebony Charm may be viewed as too costly, especially when compared to other similar cards in the format. Players often opt for more versatile or efficient spells to maximize their mana and card economy during gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ebony Charm offers a trifecta of options for a single black mana, making it a flexible choice for any deck leaning on black for its strategy. Whether it’s life gain, creature control, or graveyard manipulation, this charm can adapt to various in-game situations.
Combo Potential: The ability to exile cards from graveyards grants it significant combo potential, particularly in formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent. It can disrupt opposing plans or synergize with your own graveyard-dependent abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that frequently sees creature-based decks, Ebony Charm’s ability to give -2/-1 to a creature can be a game-changer. Moreover, the life gain aspect can be a crucial pivot against aggressive strategies, making it a relevant inclusion in many metagames.
How to beat
Ebony Charm is a versatile tool within the arsenal of MTG cards, offering players multiple modes that can adapt to different situations on the battlefield. To successfully beat this card, understanding when and how it’s used by your opponent is key. Its ability to grant creatures -1/-1 until end of turn can be a minor setback or it could turn the tide by disrupting your creature-based strategies. Therefore, maintaining a diverse array of threats with varying power and toughness can mitigate the impact of this mode.
An additional mode of Ebony Charm involves life gain and loss, a tool often used to edge out in close matches. Having a strategy that employs life gain independent of combat, or using cards that can offset life discrepancies, will help you overcome this charm. Lastly, the card’s ability to remove graveyard elements can interrupt decks reliant on recursion or graveyard mechanics. Ensuring your deck has redundancy or alternative paths to victory will reduce Ebony Charm’s potential disruption.
Ultimately, the best way to beat Ebony Charm is by crafting a well-rounded deck, resilient to the removal and life swings it can cause, and staying mindful of the timing and adaptability that the card offers to your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ebony Charm MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Ebony Charm and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Ebony Charm Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1997-08-13. Illustrated by Gerry Grace.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 120 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Gerry Grace | |
| 2 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | js120sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Gerry Grace |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ebony Charm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ebony Charm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | It targets the cards in the graveyard. These targets are selected when casting the spell. |