Planebound Accomplice MTG Card


Planebound Accomplice - Modern Horizons
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Released2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons
Set codeMH1
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number140
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byPaul Scott Canavan

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage, enabling high-impact planeswalkers at a low-cost, changing the game’s dynamics.
  2. Instant-speed interactions with planeswalkers bolster strategic play with unexpected, game-altering tactics.
  3. Despite mana-specific constraints, its unique ability positions it as a worthy addition to red-centric decks.

Text of card

: You may put a planeswalker card from your hand onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.

"Told you I had friends."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Planebound Accomplice excels in setting up situations where players can leverage high-impact planeswalkers without the immediate need to pay their often steep mana costs, often leading to significant swings in board presence and potential card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This clever creature offers a unique form of resource acceleration in MTG by enabling the deployment of powerful planeswalkers for just one red mana. This ability to quickly utilize what would typically be costly assets can rapidly escalate a player’s threat level and turn the tides of the game.

Instant Speed: While Planebound Accomplice itself must be cast at sorcery speed, its interaction with planeswalkers can be exceptionally potent when combined with instant-speed cards or effects that protect or multiply its utility. This allows for surprise plays, catching opponents off guard at critical moments in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Planebound Accomplice often requires pitching another card, posing a risk when your hand is already depleting.

Specific Mana Cost: Complete compatibility with your deck is a must, as Planebound Accomplice demands a dedicated red mana, restraining its application to certain strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a notable three mana investment, the initial impact of Planebound Accomplice might not be on par with other alternatives in the same mana bracket, potentially leading to less mana-efficient plays.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Planebound Accomplice has a flexible role, capable of slotting into various decks that exploit planeswalkers. It excels in Red-based decks that benefit from having quick access to powerful planeswalker abilities.

Combo Potential: This card offers significant combo potential, particularly with strategies that involve activating planeswalker ultimate abilities quickly or repeatedly. Its ability to temporarily bring planeswalkers onto the battlefield can lead to game-winning plays in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta that often favors value plays and immediate impact from planeswalkers, Planebound Accomplice provides a strategic edge by allowing players to leverage those high-value, high-impact cards in a cost-effective manner.


How to beat

Planebound Accomplice is an intriguing red creature from Modern Horizons with a unique ability to cheat planeswalkers into play temporarily. The challenge it presents can make it seem daunting, yet there are strategies to effectively counter this card in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. Understanding this, the key is to hinder its ability activation or remove it from the battlefield before it can generate value.

Removal spells are practical tools against Planebound Accomplice. Instant-speed spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch our tricky friend before it becomes a larger problem. Alternatively, countering it with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak prevents it from hitting the field altogether. For players who prefer to attack the board, board sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can take care of Planebound Accomplice along with any planeswalkers it may have sneaked in.

Lastly, disrupting your opponent’s hand with cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can prevent Planebound Accomplice from even being an issue. With careful play and a keen sense of timing, outmaneuvering the Accomplice’s strategy for a strong board position is well within reach.


Cards like Planebound Accomplice

Planebound Accomplice stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature card with an ability to bring planeswalkers into the fray. Much like the celebrated Norin the Wary, Planebound Accomplice has a knack for temporarily cheating game mechanics – although Norin’s ability is focused on evasion, not acceleration. Planebound Accomplice is a brilliant inclusion for combos, closely rivalling another card, Sneak Attack, which also specializes in getting creatures onto the battlefield at a discounted rate. Nonetheless, Sneak Attack works on a broader range of creature cards but doesn’t extend to planeswalkers.

Comparing it further, we see a semblance in strategy with cards like Through the Breach, which similarly allows you to put a creature card into play for a surprise attack, though this particular card impacts the board for just one turn. While Through the Breach can’t handle planeswalkers, it beautifully accommodates powerful creatures that can change the game’s tide. Planebound Accomplice is more niche but is strikingly potent when combined with planeswalker strategies specifically tailored to exploit its unique ability.

Examining each card’s strengths and roles in different strategies reveals that while Planebound Accomplice may be a specialist in its field, it has indeed carved out a distinct and impactful niche for planeswalker-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering.

Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Sneak Attack - MTG Card versions
Through the Breach - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - Time Spiral (TSP)
Sneak Attack - Urza's Saga (USG)
Through the Breach - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Planebound Accomplice by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Stone - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Cavern Crawler - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Commando - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Stone - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Cavern Crawler - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Skirk Commando - Archenemy (ARC)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Planebound Accomplice MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Planebound Accomplice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Planebound Accomplice has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Planebound Accomplice card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-06-14 At the beginning of the next end step, you’ll sacrifice the planeswalker if it’s still on the battlefield, even if Planebound Accomplice has left the battlefield.

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