Instrument of the Bards MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Instrument of the Bards offers a strategic edge by enabling you to search your library for a specific card each upkeep, ensuring a steady flow of key cards to your hand.

Resource Acceleration: This card can expedite your gameplay by potentially fetching mana dorks or land cards, keeping you ahead of the mana curve and allowing for powerful plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Instrument of the Bards itself isn’t an instant, it places the cards into your hand at the beginning of your upkeep, giving you the flexibility to cast spells at instant speed with the right cards in hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other enchantments that provide value with no additional costs, Instrument of the Bards requires you to part with a valuable card from your hand in order to retrieve a creature card. This makes it less efficient in situations where hand size is critical to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a dedicated mana cost, not just colorless but one green mana. Players not running that specific mana color in their decks will find it hard to integrate Instrument of the Bards, limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of four mana and a steady investment to get creatures from your library, it becomes a slow addition to your battlefield. Other cards could provide more immediate impact or require less investment to achieve similar or better effects.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Instrument of the Bards is an adaptable card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes. Whether you’re piloting a commander deck that thrives on specific creature types or a control deck that requires precise tutoring, this card offers tailored card advantage turn after turn.

Combo Potential: Known for unlocking combos, this card lets you sift through your deck for critical pieces. Its capability to search for creatures of your choice each turn can set up powerful interactions and synergies that can sway the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape changes, having cards that adapt to various tactical needs is essential. Instrument of the Bards finds relevance by providing consistent value in environments dominated by slower, more thoughtful play where setting up the right board state is key to victory.

How to beat

Instrument of the Bards is a unique card in MTG that offers gradual but powerful card advantage. As it allows players to search their library for a card with an increasing mana value each turn, it becomes a slow but potential threat. To effectively handle this artifact, consider aggressive artifact removal spells like Abrade or Nature’s Claim to dispatch it swiftly. Additionally, strategies that limit searching libraries, such as Ashiok, Dream Render, can neutralize its advantage.

Another tactic is to outpace the incremental value it provides by applying pressure with a faster, more aggressive deck. This hinders an opponent’s ability to capitalize on the slowly accumulating value. Countermagic is also a reliable approach; cards like Counterspell or Negate can prevent Instrument of the Bards from landing on the battlefield in the first place. Playing around the activation cost and timing can also be effective, as the card requires a significant mana investment over multiple turns.

Understanding and responding to its slow build-up is crucial. By utilizing disruption or overwhelming your opponent before they reap the rewards of Instrument of the Bards, its impact can be significantly diminished, tipping the scales in your favor.

BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the subtle power of Instrument of the Bards requires finesse and strategic planning. Positioned to shape the course of a match, this nuanced card presents opportunities for growth and tactical deployment. As you march forward in your MTG journey, consider the intricate dance of deck building and the impact of calculated card selection. Embrace the depth of play that Instrument of the Bards invites. If your aim is to harness the potential of a card that grows with every verse, allow us to guide you further into the rich tapestry of MTG. Learn more and optimize your quintessential deck with us.