Ebony Horse MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 62
1994-04-01 - Number 247
1994-04-01 - Number 247
1994-06-21 - Number 247
1995-04-01 - Number 318
1995-04-01 - Number 318
2011-01-10 - Number 198
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
: Remove one of your attacking creatures from combat. Treat this as if the creature never attacked, except that defenders assigned to block it cannot choose to block another creature.
Cards like Ebony Horse
Ebony Horse has found its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a unique artifact with the capability to save creatures from harm. It’s often looked at alongside Escape Route, a card that similarly offers a safe retreat for creatures but with the added flexibility of being able to target any creature you control. However, Escape Route requires the creature to return to your hand, effectively resetting any auras or equipment attached to it, which isn’t a concern with Ebony Horse.
Moreover, we come across Safe Passage, which guards all your creatures from damage for a turn, contrasting with Ebony Horse’s single-target protection. While Safe Passage doesn’t offer a recurring protective shield, it stands out during massive combat scenarios. Conversely, Whispergear Sneak is less about protection and more about evasion, granting your creature unblockability for a turn, similar to the end result of using Ebony Horse’s ability, albeit without moving the creature out of harm’s way.
In an overall comparison, Ebony Horse’s ability to potentially save a crucial creature round after round offers MTG players a tactical edge, especially in formats where lightning-fast removal or combat tricks are commonplace.
Cards similar to Ebony Horse by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Ebony Horse itself doesn’t draw cards, it allows you to protect key creatures, effectively denying your opponent the card they would have spent trying to remove your creature. This can lead to subtle card advantage over the course of a game.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly increasing your mana pool, the strategic use of Ebony Horse can save the mana you would otherwise spend on protective spells. This frees up resources for more significant plays in the longer game.
Instant Speed: The activation of Ebony Horse’s ability at instant speed gives you the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment, such as during combat or in response to an enemy’s removal attempt. This instant-speed interaction can significantly disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not directly needing a card to be discarded, the Ebony Horse requires you to activate its ability to skip combat, which could result in a potentially crucial turn being forfeited. This can be detrimental in tight matches where every turn counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Ebony Horse comes with a 3 generic mana cost, which might seem flexible, but it becomes a liability when considering deck-building choices. Your mana can often be better spent on more impactful cards.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its activation cost and the initial mana investment to get it onto the battlefield, the Ebony Horse’s total cost is relatively high for the benefit it provides. In many scenarios, players can find more efficient options for their defensive strategies or for managing combat.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Ebony Horse holds flexibility as it can be slotted into various deck builds that aim to manipulate combat, offering a unique form of protection for your valued creatures.
Combo Potential: This artifact pairs well with strategies centered on triggering untap mechanics or saving crucial creatures from dangerous situations, thus helping to secure your board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based tactics are pivotal, the Ebony Horse offers an edge by providing consistent preservation capabilities, keeping key creatures around to clinch the victory.
How to Beat
The Ebony Horse has lingered in the corridors of nostalgia for many fans of MTG. Originating from the Arabian Nights expansion, this artifact stands as a unique piece in the game’s early history. It allows a player to essentially grant one of their creatures a form of evasion figuratively ‘riding’ away from combat unscathed.
Considering its modest effect and the resource investment required to activate it, the Ebony Horse often doesn’t impact the board as significantly as other artifacts with a similar mana cost. To overcome an opponent’s Ebony Horse, strategic creature removal or artifact disruption are effective approaches. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can directly handle problematic artifacts without much fuss, while creature-focused strategies could aim for a clear board, minimizing the relevance of the Horse’s ability.
Ultimately, the current meta hosts myriad ways to efficiently handle single artifacts like the Ebony Horse. Despite its obscurity, encountering this piece of MTG history on the battlefield offers an interesting diversion from the usual gameplay. Providing little resistance against modern removal tools, the Ebony Horse can be bypassed or eliminated with relative ease.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ebony Horse MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Revised Edition, 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 Horse 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 Horse Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Dameon Willich.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 62 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 2 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 247 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 3 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 247 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 4 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 247 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 5 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 318 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 6 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 318 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 7 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 198 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ebony Horse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |