Frodo, Sauron's Bane MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Halfling Citizen
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Frodo’s card advantage and resource acceleration can significantly enhance a player’s strategic options during a game.
  2. While potent, the card’s discard requirement and specific mana cost may limit its versatility in some decks.
  3. Despite its costs, Frodo’s instant speed actions provide tactical flexibility that can decisively influence match outcomes.

Text of card

{W/B}{W/B}: If Frodo, Sauron's Bane is a Citizen, it becomes a Halfling Scout with base power and toughness 2/3 and lifelink. : If Frodo is a Scout, it becomes a Halfling Rogue with "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game if the Ring has tempted you four or more times this game. Otherwise, the Ring tempts you."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frodo, Sauron’s Bane provides a unique edge by potentially drawing multiple cards. This comes into play as you undertake quests with Frodo, maximizing your hand’s potential and keeping you ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: In the realm of Middle-earth, Frodo’s ability to recover the One Ring translates into MTG as a form of resource acceleration. This holds the possibility of untapping lands or other resources, giving players extra leverage to cast more spells or activate abilities sooner than their opponents.

Instant Speed: With Frodo on the battlefield, you’re granted the tactical advantage of instant speed actions. This mirrors his quick thinking and ability to escape dangers swiftly, allowing for surprise maneuvers and responses to your opponent’s threats at a moment’s notice, which can often turn the tide of a game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Frodo Sauron’s Bane, you may find yourself at a crossroads, as the card necessitates players to discard a card from their hand. This can be particularly taxing during late-game scenarios where every card counts or when your hand is already running on empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building is an art, and the inclusion of Frodo Sauron’s Bane demands a precise mana alignment. The card’s cost requires dedicated mana resources, which can pose a deck construction challenge, potentially restricting it to specific archetypes or strategies that can consistently generate the required mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mana is the lifeblood of any strategy, and with Frodo Sauron’s Bane’s somewhat steep mana cost, players must weigh its effects against other potential plays. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, it’s vital to consider whether the benefits of deploying this card outweigh its hefty mana investment, especially when compared to alternative options available within the game’s vast library of cards.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Frodo Sauron’s Bane offers flexibility across multiple deck archetypes due to its potential for protection and threat nullification. Its ability to evade enemy spells or abilities makes it a valuable asset in defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card excels when paired with other cards that benefit from or protect heroes, enhancing both offensive and defensive synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with villainous threats, Frodo Sauron’s Bane’s hero-centric focus provides a significant tactical edge, making it a timely addition to any collection geared towards current competitive play.


How to beat

The card Frodo, Sauron’s Bane can present a challenge to many players in the game. Its ability to evade traditional removal spells and its synergy with other cards can make it a persistent nuisance on the battlefield. To counter this, consider incorporating targeted removal spells that can deal with indestructible creatures, such as exile or -X/-X effects. You may also want to include ways to restrict your opponent’s ability to cast creature spells, potentially neutralizing the threat Frodo poses.

Another strategic approach is to employ counter spells or hand disruption techniques, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, in the early game. These can prevent Frodo from ever entering the battlefield. If Frodo does make it into play, keeping a flexible and responsive strategy is key. Utilize cards like Path to Exile, which exiles the creature, or board wipes that circumvent indestructibility, such as Damnation. Glancing at the wider metagame, adding specific “hate cards” that address abilities similar to Frodo’s can fortify your deck against a range of threats.

Ultimately, adapting to Frodo’s presence involves a mixture of preemptive control and in-game tactics that can limit its impact, ensuring that you maintain the upper hand in your matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the depth of MTG gameplay with Frodo, Sauron’s Bane in your arsenal. As you piece together the card’s strengths like card advantage and mana acceleration with its place in current metagames, consider its subtle power that goes beyond the board. Whether it’s constructing a new deck or tweaking an existing one, this card’s versatility offers unique strategic options. Learn more about the nuances that make Frodo a formidable presence on the battlefield, and how to best integrate this hobbit into your deck for competitive or casual play. Forge your path to victory with the wisdom of the ring bearer.


Cards like Frodo, Sauron's Bane

The introduction of Frodo, Sauron’s Bane to Magic: The Gathering’s card pool invites comparison to other infamous hobbits in the lore. Akin to Samwise the Stalwart, who offers protection and support to your creatures, Frodo excels in stealthy maneuvering through enemy defenses. While Samwise might provide a more straightforward buff, Frodo introduces a subtle and tactical advantage with his ring-bearer ability, giving players the chance to bypass potential threats.

Another character that shares a narrative connection with Frodo is Pippin, Watchful Hobbit. Pippin grants card advantage by allowing you to peek at the top card of your library anytime. Frodo doesn’t provide this direct vision but compensates with his own brand of tactical foresight, discreetly disrupting opponent strategies. Meriadoc, the swordsman hobbit, also comes to mind, whose prowess in combat can be more immediately impactful than Frodo’s more passive strategy, though less versatile over the progression of the game.

Comparing Frodo, Sauron’s Bane to these fellows, it becomes apparent that his role in MTG is less about might and more about subtlety and strategic planning. This offers a unique niche for deck builders seeking to use craftiness and cunning to outmaneuver opponents in the game.

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

Nip Gwyllion - MTG Card versions
Dutiful Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mardu Hateblade - MTG Card versions
Twilight Panther - MTG Card versions
Nip Gwyllion - MTG Card versions
Dutiful Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mardu Hateblade - MTG Card versions
Twilight Panther - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frodo, Sauron's Bane MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Frodo, Sauron's Bane and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Frodo, Sauron's Bane Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 4692015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 7962015NormalBorderlessAndreas Rocha
32023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3042015NormalBorderlessAndreas Rocha
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 182015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth PromosPLTR 18s2015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
62023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 4482015NormalBorderlessMarta Nael

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frodo, Sauron's Bane has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Frodo, Sauron'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
2023-06-16 As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
2023-06-16 Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
2023-06-16 Frodo, Sauron's Bane's first ability checks whether it's a Citizen, and its second ability checks whether it's a Scout. It doesn't matter how it became the appropriate creature type.
2023-06-16 If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 None of these abilities have a duration. If one of them resolves, it will remain in effect until the game ends, Frodo, Sauron's Bane leaves the battlefield, or some subsequent effect changes its characteristics, whichever comes first.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
2023-06-16 The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
2023-06-16 The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.
2023-06-16 You can activate Frodo, Sauron's Bane's abilities regardless of what creature types it is. Each of those abilities checks Frodo's creature types when that ability resolves. If Frodo, Sauron's Bane isn't the appropriate creature type at the time, that ability does nothing.