Bond of Passion MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	War of the Spark
Set code	WAR
Number	116
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Izzy

Key Takeaways

Bond of Passion can significantly alter board states by commandeering opponent’s creatures.
The card’s high mana cost requires careful deck building and strategy consideration.
Its unique blend of creature control and direct damage offers valuable versatility.

Text of card

Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Bond of Passion deals 2 damage to any other target.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Bond of Passion, you not only gain control of a creature, but you also have the opportunity to use its abilities or attack with it immediately. This can lead to a significant shift in board presence and potential card advantage as you utilize your opponent’s resources against them.

Resource Acceleration: While Bond of Passion does not directly accelerate your resources, it can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by taking control of an opponent’s mana dork or a creature with a ramp ability. This temporary resource boost could be just what you need to turn the tide of a game.

Instant Speed: Although Bond of Passion operates at sorcery speed, it allows for strategic planning during your turn to make a decisive impact on the game. Its timing ensures that you can immediately make use of the stolen creature, whether for an aggressive attack or a defensive block, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bond of Passion doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, but it does demand a deliberate strategy around hand management. Due to its high mana cost, you might find yourself discarding other valuable cards to maintain an optimal play pace, which can disrupt your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires not just six mana to play, but specifically three red mana. This cost makes it less flexible, primarily confining it to mono-red or two-color decks heavily skewed towards red mana. In more diverse decks, you may struggle to meet its color-specific demands, potentially hindering your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of six, Bond of Passion is certainly on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to cost. As such, it competes with other high-impact spells in the six-mana slot. When deck building, you’ll have to weigh its potential against that of other game-changing six-mana spells which might offer more immediate or versatile benefits.

Reasons to Include Bond of Passion in Your Collection

Versatility: Bond of Passion offers a dynamic tool for decks that thrive on taking control of opponents’ creatures. Whether you are aiming for a game-changing offensive move or need a blocker for a turn, this card accommodates diverse strategies.

Combo Potential: This card not only steals a creature for a turn but also untaps it and gives it haste, enabling immediate combo executions or unforeseen win conditions as part of a larger strategy involving creature control and direct damage.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where format-defining creatures are consistently impacting the board, the ability to temporarily seize them and turn them against your opponent is a strategy that keeps Bond of Passion relevant, especially in multiplayer formats where a single turn can dramatically shift the balance of power.

How to beat

Bond of Passion is an intriguing red spell that allows players to gain control of an opponent’s creature and untap it, granting it not only haste until the end of the turn but also enabling it to be a surprise blocker or an unexpected element in a combat scenario. This card, similar to Act of Treason, highlights the temporary theft theme that red decks can use to turn the tides of a match rapidly.

When facing Bond of Passion, the key tactic is to maintain a vigilant guard over one’s board state. Cards like Blossoming Defense can provide an excellent shield mechanism, offering both hexproof and a slight increase in power to safeguard against such takeover attempts. It’s also wise to limit the number of valuable targets for Bond of Passion, either by not overextending with creatures or by having instant-speed removal like Fatal Push to respond immediately to the threat.

Overall, though Bond of Passion can be a game-changer, employing preemptive protection strategies or keeping removal spells at the ready can effectively neutralize its impact. An informed player who anticipates this card can maintain control of the game and ensure their creatures remain loyal to their cause.

Cards like Bond of Passion

Bond of Passion is a noteworthy card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing a kinship with other red spells that manipulate creatures in play. It parallels Act of Treason, which allows you to take temporary control of an opponent’s creature, offering a chance to swing the game. Unlike Bond of Passion, Act of Treason doesn’t deal damage, but it comes out cheaper at three mana, ensuring a quicker play.

Kari Zev’s Expertise stands out as well, presenting a two-fold ability very much like Bond of Passion. It can seize a creature and gives you the leeway to cast a card with two mana or less for free, potentially turning the tides of battle in your favor. However, Kari Zev’s Expertise doesn’t deal direct damage, which is a plus in the heat of combat for Bond of Passion.

When considering these cards, Bond of Passion carves its niche with its direct damage coupled with creature control. These dual abilities can provide significant strategic advantages in the right deck, making it a valuable tool for any player looking to command the battlefield with both force and cunning.

Kari Zev's Expertise - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bond of Passion by color, type and mana cost

Chaotic Transformation - MTG Card versions

Into the Maw of Hell - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bond of Passion MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Bond of Passion and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bond of Passion has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-05-03	If either target becomes illegal after Bond of Passion is cast but before it resolves, the other is still affected as appropriate.
2019-05-03	In some rare cases, gaining control of the target creature may cause the second target to become illegal. As long as the second target is a legal target as Bond of Passion begins to resolve (before the target creature changes control) it will attempt to deal damage to the second target.