Survivors' Bond MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2020-04-24 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths |
| Set code | IKO |
| Number | 172 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Randy Vargas |
Key Takeaways
- Reclaiming up to two creatures solidifies late-game potential and reinforces board control strategies.
- Instant-speed utility allows dynamic response to fluctuating game states, enhancing tactical depth.
- Careful deck synergy required due to the card’s specific mana cost and creature-type target.
Text of card
Choose one or both — • Return target Human creature card from your graveyard to your hand. • Return target non-Human creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
"And what did we learn? Never taunt a porcuparrot!"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Survivors’ Bond offers the ability to return up to two creature cards from your graveyard to your hand, helping you recover valuable assets and maintain a strategic upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: By recouping creatures that can generate or interact with various resources, Survivors’ Bond indirectly contributes to accelerating your board presence and increases the options available for future turns.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Survivors’ Bond at instant speed lets you respond dynamically to the ever-changing battlefield, making it a tactically versatile tool in your arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Survivors’ Bond can be a strategic setback as it necessitates the disposal of a valuable card from your hand, which might strip you of crucial plays later in the game especially when your hand is already running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Survivors’ Bond’s effectiveness is shackled to decks synergizing with its exact mana color, constraining deck-building options and maneuverability in a game that celebrates diversity in strategy and deck composition.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Survivors’ Bond could be considered steep when evaluating its return on investment. Within the rich tapestry of cards available, there are alternatives that can provide a greater impact or efficiency for the same, if not lower, mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Survivors’ Bond in Your Collection
Versatility: Survivors’ Bond shines in decks built around creatures, offering a unique opportunity to return not one, but two creatures from your graveyard to your hand. This makes it a valuable inclusion in creature-heavy decks, particularly those involving tribal themes or those looking to recoup losses after a board wipe.
Combo Potential: With this card, the ability to retrieve a Human and a non-Human creature sets the stage for diverse combo strategies. Whether you’re reassembling a disruptive duo or grabbing a creature with a valuable enter-the-battlefield effect alongside a sturdy human ally, Survivors’ Bond opens the door to multiple tactical play patterns.
Meta-Relevance: As MTG games evolve, so does the relevance of graveyard recursion. With Survivors’ Bond, you can adjust to meta trends that favor longevity and resilience, ensuring your key creatures make a timely reappearance, thus maintaining pressure on your opponent and sustaining your board presence.
How to beat Survivors’ Bond
Survivors’ Bond is an intriguing card in MTG, offering the utility of returning creatures from your graveyard to your hand. To effectively counter this card, keep in mind the key is disrupting your opponent’s graveyard. Graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus, Tormod’s Crypt, or Leyline of the Void can limit the benefits of Survivors’ Bond by exiling the creatures before your opponent has the chance to retrieve them.
Additionally, timing your removal spells and counterspells like Negate or Censor is crucial as well. This ensures that Survivors’ Bond doesn’t resolve, maintaining pressure on your opponent’s resources. It’s also advantageous to apply continuous board presence, forcing your opponent to decide between playing creatures or setting up their graveyard for Survivors’ Bond. Active board management can often displace the balance in your favor and disrupt the synergy that Survivors’ Bond aims to exploit.
When playing against decks that utilize Survivors’ Bond, anticipate the recursion it offers and plan your strategy accordingly by reducing graveyard access and being alert with your responsive plays. This approach will help you retain control over the match and undermine the card’s impact on the game.
Cards like Survivors' Bond
Exploring the thematic components found in Survivor’s Bond reveals a unique intersection of resurrection and synergy within the game. Its closest relatives include cards such as Revive, which also brings creatures back from the graveyard to hand, but Survivor’s Bond adds a nuance by specifically targeting both a Human and a non-Human creature, anchoring its utility in decks that capitalize on creature types.
Another related card is Return to the Ranks, which can potentially bring back multiple creatures at once under the right conditions. However, the convoke mechanic and the variance in mana cost mean that its use is situational and can be more mana-intensive compared to Survivor’s Bond’s consistent cost. Unbreakable Bond also enters this space as a reanimation alternative, with an added lifelink bonus. Yet, it limits the player to reviving only one creature, albeit directly onto the battlefield, as opposed to Survivor’s Bond’s hand retrieval flexibility.
To sum up, while each of these cards offers a unique approach to creature recovery, Survivor’s Bond stands out for players who value hand-based recursion and tribal deck building, offering a strategic advantage in games that hinge on creature types and synergies.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Survivors' Bond MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Survivors' Bond and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Survivors' Bond has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
