Elite Spellbinder MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 289
2021-04-23 - Number 17
2021-04-24 - Number 17p
2021-04-24 - Number 17s
2022-11-02 - Number 2021
2002-06-24 - Number 89992
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying When Elite Spellbinder enters the battlefield, look at target opponent's hand. You may exile a nonland card from it. For as long as that card remains exiled, its owner may play it. A spell cast this way costs more to cast.
Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, World Champion XXVI
Cards like Elite Spellbinder
The Elite Spellbinder has carved its niche in the suite of disruptive creatures within MTG. Holding a mirror to similar cards, such as Meddling Mage and Tidehollow Sculler, the Spellbinder brings a unique twist. Much like Meddling Mage, which can hush the casting of a selected card entirely, the Elite Spellbinder instead adds a mana cost to that card’s casting fee, affecting your opponent’s strategic plays. It primarily constricts their options without permanently locking out a card from the game.
A glance towards Tidehollow Sculler reveals that while it also allows you to peek at and pluck a card from your opponent’s hand, Elite Spellbinder offers less permanence but more mana taxation. Pondering on the comparison further, Leonin Arbiter’s taxing effect on searching libraries seems akin, but the Spellbinder distinctively focuses on the hand, altering the gameplay dynamic quite differently. Plus, with flying as its ability, the Elite Spellbinder can also be an offensive threat in the air.
Considering the impacts on opponents’ strategies and gameplay tempo, Elite Spellbinder stands out with its blend of disruption and aerial agility, making it a preferred tool for many players aiming to navigate the metagame with precision.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Elite Spellbinder. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selesnya Company | Pioneer | Selesnya Company | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-20 |
 | Abzan Midrange | Explorer | The Pizza Box Open: Explorer | |
 | Azorius Tempo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024 | |
 | Four-color Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024 | |
| Esper Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024 | |
 | Mono-White Aggro | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024 | |
| Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 | |
 | Naya Winota | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
| Boros Death & Taxes | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
| Selesnya Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 12 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elite Spellbinder provides a unique form of disruption by allowing you to look at an opponent’s hand and exile a nonland card. While not drawing you additional cards directly, this peek into the opponent’s strategic options can offer a significant advantage, helping you to make more informed plays and navigate around potential threats.
Resource Acceleration: Although Elite Spellbinder doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens, the card affects resource acceleration indirectly. By increasing the cost of the exiled card by two generic mana, it can slow down an opponent’s game plan, providing you with a form of tempo acceleration as they are forced to spend more resources than planned on a single card.
Instant Speed: Elite Spellbinder itself does not have instant speed, but it fits well into decks that operate at instant speed. Given its disruptive ability, it can significantly benefit from being played at the end of an opponent’s turn through flash enablers, fitting seamlessly into a strategy that prioritizes flexibility and timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card can sometimes force a tough decision upon casting, as you must consider the value of the discarded card against the benefits of holding onto potential resources for future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: The Elite Spellbinder requires both white and generic mana, which might restrict its inclusion only to decks that can consistently provide the necessary white mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two of which are color-specific, other cards might offer similar disruption effects at a lower mana investment, potentially speeding up your game strategy.
Reasons to Include Elite Spellbinder in Your Collection
Versatility: Elite Spellbinder’s ability to peek into opponents’ hands and temporarily increase the cost of a card isn’t just disruptive—it’s a strategic tool that fits into various white-centric or multicolored builds. The flyer offers both offensive pressure and crucial information, making it a flexible choice for many decks.
Combo Potential: By delaying your opponent’s key plays, this card can buy time for you to set up game-winning combinations. In decks designed around spell timing, Elite Spellbinder works to ensure your tempo stays ahead while disrupting your opponent’s strategic timeline.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowing and sculpting the battlefield is half the battle, Elite Spellbinder proves its worth. In environments where players rely on casting efficiency, being able to meddle with an opponent’s hand places you at an advantage, keeping the card relevant in many dynamic metas.
How to beat
Elite Spellbinder presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to delay your opponent’s spells and provide valuable information about their hand. This creature card can disrupt strategies effectively, but worry not, as there are strategies to counter its influence. To mitigate the setback caused by Elite Spellbinder, consider diversifying your deck with a mix of low-cost spells. This ensures that even when some of your cards are temporarily increased in cost, you still have a roster of options to play.
Another tactical approach is to include instant-speed removal spells that can swiftly eliminate the Spellbinder before its effect becomes too disruptive. Timing here is key; playing your removal at the end of your opponent’s turn ensures maximum efficacy. Additionally, you can use spells that allow you to shuffle your hand back into your library, thereby nullifying the Spellbinder’s peek at your cards and cost increase effect.
Ultimately, being adaptable and having a well-rounded deck can diminish the impact of Elite Spellbinder in your matches. Equip your arsenal with a variety of countermeasures and maintain a composed game plan when facing this potent card on the field of play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elite Spellbinder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Elite Spellbinder 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
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Printings
The Elite Spellbinder Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-11-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 89992 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 289 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 4 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 17p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 5 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 17s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 6 | 2022-11-02 | Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit | SLC | 2021 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Alexis Ziritt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elite Spellbinder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elite Spellbinder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | If the exiled card is a modal double-faced card and its back face is a land, its owner may play it as a land. (Note that if the front face is also a land, you couldn’t have exiled it to begin with.) |
| 2021-04-16 | Playing the exiled card follows all normal timing restrictions. |