Painful Bond MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2022-03-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Kamigawa |
| Set code | YNEO |
| Number | 12 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jodie Muir |
Text of card
Draw two cards, then cards in your hand with mana value 3 or greater perpetually gain "When you cast this spell, you lose 1 life."
Cards like Painful Bond
Painful Bond presents an intriguing dynamic within the realm of life management cards in MTG. What makes Painful Bond stand out is its niche ability to turn life into card advantage, akin to the renowned Greed. Both cards allow you to pay life in exchange for drawing cards, yet Greed demands a mana investment each time you wish to activate its ability. Painful Bond, however, has a once-off cost, making it compelling for strategies that seek to maximize resource efficiency.
It’s also worth observing the similarities to Erebos, God of the Dead, which permits unlimited card draw at the expense of life and mana, although it’s an indestructible enchantment with a creature side. Painful Bond offers a static effect without the need for additional resources once on the field. Conversely, Arguel’s Blood Fast presents as a lower-cost enchantment that flips into a land, providing a different form of utility and resilience in prolonged battles. Each card provides a twist on life-for-cards, with Painful Bond’s straightforward approach appealing to players seeking predictability and up-front cost.
Assessing the landscape of these life conversion cards, Painful Bond brings a direct and singular cost mechanism to players, positioning it as a compelling option for decks that are not afraid to trade life for power within the MTG multiverse.
Cards similar to Painful Bond by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Painful Bond. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Rakdos Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Mono-Black Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Jund Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
 | Esper Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Holiday Night Magic | |
 | Mono-Black Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Grixis Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Painful Bond is an exceptional player in the realm of card advantage. This spell grants you the opportunity to peek at the top three cards of your library, thus refining your strategy with the most advantageous options. This can be a game-changer when searching for the right answer or simply stocking your hand with more resources.
Resource Acceleration: Beyond insights into upcoming draws, Painful Bond offers a surge in resource acceleration. By potentially revealing land cards, you are able to ensure your land drops and progress your board state, or find that crucial spell that can be a stepping stone to victory. It smoothly integrates into strategies that thrive on maintaining momentum and pushing the pace of the game.
Instant Speed: The value of instant speed cannot be understated. Painful Bond operates on this powerful dynamic, permitting you to maximize your mana each turn by holding it back until just the right moment. This flexibility allows for reactionary play or end-of-turn decision-making, keeping your opponents constantly on their toes and unprepared for your next move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Painful Bond requires a player to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This element makes it less ideal in scenarios where card advantage is critical or when a player’s hand is nearly depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Painful Bond demands a precise mana alignment to activate its effect, with the necessity for black mana potentially restricting its versatility across various deck builds that may not operate predominantly with black mana or have sufficient mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the card’s effect weighed against its mana investment, Painful Bond showcases a relatively high cost for its potential benefit. This may deter players when considering other cards with lower cost or higher impact within the same mana range.
Reasons to Include Painful Bond in Your Collection
Versatility: Painful Bond offers a unique mix of life loss and card advantage, making it a fitting choice for various black-centric or multicolor decks that thrive on such mechanics.
Combo Potential: This card can play a pivotal role in synergy with life manipulation strategies or in combination with effects that capitalize on card draw or player life totals.
Meta-Relevance: With a meta that can shift towards slower, more strategic play, the balance between the card draw and life payment that Painful Bond provides could tip the scales in your favor against control-based opponents.
How to beat
Painful Bond is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that has the ability to steadily whittle down an opponent’s life total. To effectively neutralize its impact, it’s essential to have enchantment removal spells on hand. Cards such as Disenchant, which are staples in many sideboards, can swiftly remove Painful Bond from play. An alternative solution could be countering it upon cast using spells like Negate or having a permanent with an ability to destroy enchantments, such as Aura Shards, in play.
Another strategic approach is to limit the targets for Painful Bond. This can be done by employing creatures with hexproof or shroud abilities, rendering them impossible to be targeted by such enchantments. Moreover, opting for a less creature-centric deck can reduce the effectiveness of Painful Bond, forcing the opponent to make suboptimal choices. Lastly, utilizing life gain strategies can help offset the life loss caused by Painful Bond, preserving your health total in the long run.
Taking these preemptive and responsive measures ensures that Painful Bond becomes less of a threat and allows you to maintain control of the game, pushing towards a victory despite its potential influence on the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Painful Bond MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Kamigawa, 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 Painful Bond 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Painful Bond has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |