Luminous Bonds MTG Card
2018-01-19 - Number 12
2018-07-13 - Number 25
2018-10-05 - Number 21
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block.
"Your part in this fight is done, vampire. Get used to your thirst."
Cards like Luminous Bonds
Luminous Bonds is an interesting pacifism effect within Magic: The Gathering, serving a crucial function in controlling opponents’ creatures. Aligning with other cards like Pacifism itself, Luminous Bonds restricts the affected creature from attacking or blocking, essentially neutralizing it as a threat on the board. Where Pacifism is straightforward, Luminous Bonds adds a bit of flavor to deck strategies with its divine theme and artwork.
Another card to consider in this realm is Arrest. Both serve a similar purpose, but Arrest offers an additional ability restraint, preventing the creature from activating its abilities. This can be a pivotal advantage when dealing with creatures that rely heavily on their activated abilities to impact the game. Conversely, Claustrophobia from the Innistrad set functions similarly to Luminous Bonds but with a focus on the blue mana segment of the game, providing a touch of versatility.
In scrutinizing these cards, Luminous Bonds holds its own by being a cost-effective control option in white decks. The enchantment effectively neutralizes major threats and does it in a manner that is both mana-efficient and accessible to players seeking to maintain a defensive posture in their gameplay strategy.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By neutralizing a key threat on the board, Luminous Bonds effectively allows you to mitigate an opponent’s card without losing a card yourself. This means you’re evening out the playing field while maintaining the cards in your hand, strategically positioning yourself for future plays.
Resource Acceleration: While Luminous Bonds doesn’t directly produce additional resources, it helps save your resources by dealing with opponents’ threats in a cost-effective way. This means that you can allocate your mana elsewhere, effectively speeding up your gameplay by allowing you to develop your board without worrying about a powerful creature.
Instant Speed: Luminous Bonds, while not at instant speed, should be played with timing in mind to maximize its potential. Deploy it when your opponent least expects it, ideally after they’ve invested resources into their now-neutralized creature, making the card a tactical tool in the right situation.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Luminous Bonds does not have an explicit discard requirement, which is a benefit rather than a con. Instead of discarding, this enchantment focuses on restricting the targeted creature’s abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: Luminous Bonds requires white mana in its casting cost, necessitating its inclusion in white or multicolor decks that can accommodate white mana, which may not suit every player’s deck building strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not excessively costly, the three mana needed to cast Luminous Bonds may be considered high given that it only prevents the creature from attacking or blocking but doesn’t offer additional effects such as exiling or reducing creature strength. Other spells might provide more comprehensive solutions for the same or a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Luminous Bonds is a flexible addition to many decks as it can neutralize the biggest threats on the board without permanently removing them. This makes it particularly useful in formats where creature-centric strategies are common.
Combo Potential: Beyond its primary function as a lockdown card, Luminous Bonds works well in decks that capitalize on enchantment synergies. It can trigger effects that rely on casting enchantments or having them enter the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: As aggro and creature-heavy decks often dominate the game, Luminous Bonds provides a cost-effective control element. This relevance ensures it retains a place as a staple in decks looking to impose restrictions on opponents’ game plans.
How to beat
Luminous Bonds is what you could describe as a quintessential control card in MTG, often tipping the scales by restricting an opponent’s creature without able to attack or block. This white enchantment can lock down even the mightiest of creatures, essentially taking them out of the fight, provided they don’t have an ability that triggers from being tapped or untapped.
To navigate around this sticky form of control, consider running enchantment removal in your deck. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can effectively dispatch Luminous Bonds, freeing your creature to rejoin the fray. Another strategy is employing creatures with abilities that are beneficial even if they’re not attacking or blocking, ensuring that Luminous Bonds doesn’t completely neutralize your board presence. It’s also smart to bait out Luminous Bonds with a less crucial creature, keeping your heavy-hitters in reserve until your opponent has exhausted their control resources.
By understanding the constraints Luminous Bonds brings to the table and having a game plan that includes either direct removal or strategic play, you put yourself in a better position when facing decks that rely on such control tactics to win. It’s about foresight and flexibility, key components to any victory in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Luminous Bonds MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Core Set 2019, 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 Luminous Bonds 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Luminous Bonds Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2018-10-05. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-01-19 | Rivals of Ixalan | RIX | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Argyle | |
| 2 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 25 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Argyle | |
| 3 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 21 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Behm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Luminous Bonds 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 |