Prayer of Binding MTG Card
Text of card
Flash When Prayer of Binding enters the battlefield, exile up to one target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Prayer of Binding leaves the battlefield. You gain 2 life.
When a Phyrexian agent cannot be killed, they must be contained.
Cards like Prayer of Binding
Prayer of Binding stands as a unique tactical play within the realm of enchantment spells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears likeness to cards like Oblivion Ring, which also exiles any nonland permanent until it leaves the battlefield. However, Prayer of Binding differentiates itself by conferring an additional benefit – it silences the exiled card’s controller from casting that card’s names for a crucial duration. Unlike Oblivion Ring’s simple removal effect, Prayer of Binding introduces a strategic silence element, disrupting opponents’ plans.
In comparison with Banishing Light, another well-known removal enchantment, Prayer of Binding takes suppression a step further. While Banishing Light simply removes a threat from the game, Prayer of Binding’s silence effect can stifle an opponent’s future plays, especially if their strategy hinges on specific cards. Then there’s Detention Sphere, which exiles all copies of a certain card, offering a broader impact in some scenarios. Nevertheless, it lacks the disruptive silence which makes Prayer of Binding an appealing option for players seeking control and foresight over the battlefield.
Deep analysis of these comparisons reveals that Prayer of Binding has carved a niche for itself, offering a compelling mix of removal and preventative tactics that can shift the momentum in a player’s favor.
Cards similar to Prayer of Binding by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Prayer of Binding. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Selesnya Auras | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024 | |
 | Esper Enchantments | Standard | 4c Zur | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
 | W | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024 | |
 | Mono-White Midrange | Standard | Mono-White Control | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
 | Azorius Tempo | Standard | Azorius Flash | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Prayer of Binding offers a way to temporarily remove an opponent’s threat while simultaneously drawing a card, which can lead to gaining an upper hand in card economy.
Resource Acceleration: By detaining an opponent’s permanent, it effectively functions as a resource accelerator, potentially delaying their game plan and giving you the needed time to develop your board and strategy.
Instant Speed: As Prayer of Binding can be cast at instant speed, it provides the flexibility to respond to threats immediately, thereby maximizing strategic gameplay and keeping opponents off-balance.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Prayer of Binding card necessitates discarding a card. This requirement might put you at a disadvantage, particularly if your hand is running low and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Prayer of Binding has a rigid mana cost that includes white mana. This makes it less flexible and potentially challenging to cast in a multi-colored deck that might be mana strained.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana, Prayer of Binding competes with numerous other cards that could potentially offer more impactful effects for a similar or reduced investment, making it a less than optimal choice for many strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Prayer of Binding’s ability to detain any nonland permanent not only disrupts opponent plays but can be a pivotal play across various deck types. Its flexibility makes it a beneficial addition to control or midrange decks looking for ways to mitigate threats.
Combo Potential: The temporary removal effect of Prayer of Binding has the potential to synergize with strategies that capitalize on board control. Locking down a key piece on your opponent’s board can pave the way for powerful combinations or swing the momentum in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to address a wide variety of permanents, Prayer of Binding can be particularly effective in a meta where diverse threats are present. It’s a strong contender for a deck’s sideboard or even mainboard, depending on the array of decks you expect to face.
How to beat
Prayer of Binding is a compelling enchantment card that can be a real headache for opponents in Magic: The Gathering. When it resolves, it not only exiles a target nonland permanent an opponent controls, but also ensures that the tied-up card remains exiled for as long as Prayer of Binding remains on the battlefield—effectively removing a key piece from their strategy.
To effectively neutralize Prayer of Binding, one should consider frequently including enchantment removal in their deck. Cards such as Disenchant, Naturalize, or even universal removal like Mortify can address the threat directly by dispatching Prayer of Binding to the graveyard. It’s also beneficial to keep instant-speed removal at hand so that you can respond in a timely manner, preserving your battle tempo and turning the tides in your favor.
Remember that diversifying your threat range can also help; if your game plan doesn’t hinge on a single key permanent, Prayer of Binding loses some of its stopping power. Keep the pressure on with a variety of threats that require different answers, thereby diluting your opponent’s ability to hamstring your board presence with this single enchantment.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Prayer of Binding MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United Art Series, 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 Prayer of Binding 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
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Printings
The Prayer of Binding Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Wylie Beckert.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United | DMU | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wylie Beckert | |
| 2 | Dominaria United Art Series | ADMU | 12 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Wylie Beckert |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Prayer of Binding has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Prayer of Binding card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | Auras attached to the exiled permanent will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to an exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist. |
| 2022-09-09 | If Prayer of Binding leaves the battlefield before its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, the target permanent won’t be exiled. |
| 2022-09-09 | If a token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won’t be returned to the battlefield. |
| 2022-09-09 | If you do choose a target for the ability and that target is illegal as the ability tries to resolve, you will not gain 2 life. |
| 2022-09-09 | If you don’t choose a target for Prayer of Binding’s enters-the-battlefield triggered ability, you will still gain 2 life. |
| 2022-09-09 | In a multiplayer game, if Prayer of Binding’s owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn’t an ability that goes on the stack, it won’t cease to exist along with the leaving player’s spells and abilities on the stack. |
| 2022-09-09 | Prayer of Binding’s triggered ability is a single ability that creates multiple one-shot effects, including one that exiles the permanent when the ability resolves and another that returns the exiled card to the battlefield immediately after Prayer of Binding leaves the battlefield. |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.