Forbidding Spirit MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 9
2022-10-14 - Number 10
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit Cleric |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Forbidding Spirit enters the battlefield, until your next turn, creatures can't attack you or a planeswalker you control unless their controller pays for each of those creatures.
"You will respect the dead."
Cards like Forbidding Spirit
The Forbidding Spirit stands out in the realm of creature cards that impact the flow of the opponent’s game. Like the Spirit, Ghostly Prison makes attacking more challenging by imposing a mana cost on opponents who want to swing at you with their creatures. However, Ghostly Prison is not a creature itself, decreasing its versatility compared to the Forbidding Spirit, which can also block or attack when the time is right.
Another comparable card is Baird, Steward of Argive, providing a similar deterrent effect. While Baird affects all opponents in multiplayer games and has stronger stats as a creature, it comes at a higher casting cost. Thalia, Heretic Cathar is a creature that also slows opponents down, not through taxing attacks but by making the opponents’ creatures and nonbasic lands enter the battlefield tapped, a different kind of control but comparable in its disruptive nature.
In assessing the unique role of the Forbidding Spirit within the game, its ability to force opponents into difficult decisions on resource allocation while still offering a physical presence on the board grants it a distinct position among cards that control the pace of combat in Magic: The Gathering.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Forbidding Spirit doesn’t directly allow drawing cards, its ability to control the tempo can effectively cause your opponent to waste turns or mana, inadvertently leading to an indirect card advantage as they’re unable to effectively deploy their hand.
Resource Acceleration: Forbidding Spirit itself isn’t a traditional resource accelerator. Nevertheless, by delaying opponent’s creatures, this card gives you more time to develop your board and access mana. It fits well in strategies looking to stretch the game into the latter turns where you can make the most out of your resources.
Instant Speed: Although Forbidding Spirit is a creature and not instant-speed magic, its enter-the-battlefield effect can be utilized similarly to instant speed interaction. When played at an opportune time, it can surprise an opponent in their combat phase or before a crucial turn, providing a pivotal shift in tempo and control akin to instant speed plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Forbidding Spirit doesn’t directly demand a discard, its entry effect can be negated if your opponent is willing to discard resources. This can make the Spirit less impactful against opponents with expendable hands.
Specific Mana Cost: Forbidding Spirit requires a combination of white mana which could restrict deck building flexibility. If your mana base isn’t properly tuned, summoning this creature can become challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including double white, Forbidding Spirit’s ability to delay attacks may not justify its spot over lower-cost alternatives that provide immediate board presence or more significant disruption.
Reasons to Include Forbidding Spirit in Your Collection
Versatility: Forbidding Spirit offers unique tactical flexibility to control decks. As a creature that can delay opponents’ strategies, it can fit into both tempo plays and defensive measures, providing valuable time for you to establish board control.
Combo Potential: This card can operate synergistically with strategies that lock down the battlefield, paving the way for cards that benefit from creatures entering play or capitalizing on taxed resources.
Meta-Relevance: The Spirit’s ability to tax opponents’ creatures aligns seamlessly with game states saturated with creature-based aggression. If creature-heavy decks dominate the current landscape, including Forbidding Spirit in your lineup could provide a distinct advantage.
How to beat
Forbidding Spirit presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, with its ability to temporarily stall an opponent’s onslaught by forcing a mana payment for each attacking creature. Despite this, savvy players can navigate around this obstacle with a little strategy. One effective approach is prioritizing the removal of the Forbidding Spirit itself. Instant-speed removal spells that can be cast before the declare attackers step, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are ideal for this. By removing the Spirit, attackers can proceed without the taxing mana cost.
Another method is to focus on non-creature strategies. Enchantments, planeswalkers, and spells that deal direct damage can sidestep the Forbidding Spirit’s ability altogether. Cards with abilities that don’t require attacking, like tap or triggered abilities from creatures on the board, maintain pressure without engaging with the Spirit’s deterrent.
Moreover, timing can play a significant factor. Waiting out the Spirit’s effect after it enters the battlefield, or planning one’s curve to accommodate for its tax can also render its presence less disruptive. Thus, with a combination of removal, alternative tactics, and patience, players can overcome the Forbidding Spirit’s influence on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Forbidding Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Game Night: Free-for-All, 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 Forbidding Spirit 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
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Printings
The Forbidding Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Ryan Yee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee | |
| 2 | 2022-10-14 | Game Night: Free-for-All | GN3 | 10 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Forbidding Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Forbidding Spirit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | Because it doesn’t modify the characteristics of creatures, Forbidding Spirit’s triggered ability can affect creatures that enter the battlefield after that ability resolves. |
| 2019-01-25 | Forbidding Spirit’s effect continues until your next turn even if Forbidding Spirit leaves the battlefield before then. |
| 2019-01-25 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, creatures can attack your teammate and planeswalkers your teammate controls without requiring a mana payment. |
| 2019-01-25 | While Forbidding Spirit’s effect is in effect, your opponents can choose not to pay to attack with a creature that attacks “if able.” If there’s no other player or planeswalker to attack, that creature simply doesn’t attack. |