Banshee of the Dread Choir MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Myriad
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Banshee’s Myriad ability creates multiple attackers, offering card advantage in commander format games.
  2. Interaction with instant-speed spells enhances combat, making the Banshee’s assaults more impactful.
  3. Despite a higher mana cost, it’s a strategic asset in multiplayer formats, particularly in Commander.

Text of card

Myriad (Whenever this creature attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may put a token that's a copy of this creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker he or she controls. Exile the tokens at end of combat.) Whenever Banshee of the Dread Choir deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Banshee of the Dread Choir is a catalyst for card advantage, especially in commander gameplay. Its Myriad ability generates copies for each opponent, allowing multiple attacks that can lead to drawing cards or causing each opponent to discard, depending on how your deck leverages combat damage to opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While directly this card does not provide resource acceleration, it can indirectly boost your resources. By attacking each opponent, effects that trigger upon dealing damage to a player can ramp up your access to additional mana or other resources. This is beneficial in multi-player formats where resource accumulation can be pivotal.

Instant Speed: Although Banshee of the Dread Choir does not operate at instant speed, it interacts well with instant speed cards. It increases the value of those spells that can remove blockers or offer protection during combat, making her myriad attacks more effective and ensuring optimal impact when she hits the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Banshee of the Dread Choir demands a strategic approach to hand management. In commander games, where this card shines, having the right cards to discard when triggering myriad can be quite the conundrum. This may force you to forfeit valuable resources simply to fulfill the card’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one black and four generic mana means that this card is primarily slotted into decks that can comfortably produce black mana. This could restrict its inclusion to certain deck archetypes, potentially decreasing its versatility across various formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five-mana casting cost, Banshee of the Dread Choir is a mid to late-game play. There are creatures with lower mana costs that can have an immediate impact on the game, making this card a heavy investment for its effects in faster-paced games.


Reasons to Include Banshee of the Dread Choir in Your Collection

Versatility: Banshee of the Dread Choir can adapt to varying gameplay, complementing both aggressive strategies that benefit from multiple attackers and control decks that take advantage of late-game board states. Its myriad ability guarantees it will always have utility, no matter the opponent.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique ability to create copies of itself when attacking different opponents adds a layer of combo potential, synergizing with effects that trigger on creature attacks or enters-the-battlefield events. This can be a linchpin for strategies built around token generation or sacrificial mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where multiple opponents are common, Banshee of the Dread Choir proves to be an asset. It keeps relevant by pressuring each adversary equally, maintaining its effectiveness in both one-on-one and multiplayer formats, especially in Commander where its impact can be maximized.


How to Beat

The Banshee of the Dread Choir is a cunning card to face in Magic: The Gathering. With its myriad ability, every time it attacks, it creates a multitude of attacks that can overwhelm an unprepared opponent. One key tactic against this haunting presence is to prevent it from attacking in the first place. Controlling spells like Pacifism or Arrest can neutralize this threat without resorting to direct confrontation.

Another effective strategy is to limit the number of creatures your opponent controls, making the Banshee’s myriad ability less formidable. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, while spot removal keeps the Banshee’s choir in check. Remember, if it can’t clone, it can’t overwhelm. Timing is crucial, so keep your removal ready and watch for the perfect moment to strike.

Finally, using evasion tactics can render the Banshee’s attacks inconsequential. Utilizing cards that provide protection from color or hexproof can ensure your key pieces remain safe from its haunting melody. By staying one step ahead, the Banshee of the Dread Choir becomes far less terrifying and a manageable foe on the battlefield.


Cards like Banshee of the Dread Choir

Banshee of the Dread Choir is an intriguing creature card that brings a unique blend of abilities to Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison to other creatures that capitalize on hitting an opponent to trigger effects. Lurking Predators, for instance, may not have the same Myriad ability, which allows for multiple attacker creation, but it also makes use of creature aggression to potentially put creatures onto the battlefield.

Another card worth mentioning is Broodbirth Viper, which, like the Banshee, benefits from the Myriad mechanic, spawning additional attackers during combat. However, the Viper leans more towards a draw strategy, rewarding you with extra cards instead of the Banshee’s ability to coerce opponents to discard. Then there’s Herald of Dromoka that, while not possessing Myriad, does make attacking with creatures more viable thanks to its vigilance-granting ability — a different but still combat-oriented approach.

In analyzing these comparisons, we can appreciate how Banshee of the Dread Choir offers a sweet spot for MTG players interested in amplifying their attack strategies while disrupting opponents’ hands, earning a respectable position in Commander decks focused on aggressive creature-based strategies.

Lurking Predators - MTG Card versions
Broodbirth Viper - MTG Card versions
Herald of Dromoka - MTG Card versions
Lurking Predators - Magic 2010 (M10)
Broodbirth Viper - Commander 2015 (C15)
Herald of Dromoka - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

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Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Banshee of the Dread Choir MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Banshee of the Dread Choir and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Banshee of the Dread Choir Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-11-13Commander 2015C15 162015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
22015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 392015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
32017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 472015normalblackAnthony Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Banshee of the Dread Choir has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-11-04 Although the tokens enter the battlefield attacking, they were never declared as attackers. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won’t trigger, including the myriad ability of the tokens. If there any costs to have a creature attack, those costs won’t apply to the tokens.
2015-11-04 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as
-his permanent] enters the battlefield” or “
-his permanent] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the copied creature will also work.
2015-11-04 Each token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else. It doesn’t copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.
2015-11-04 If myriad creates more than one token for any given player (due to an effect such as the one Doubling Season creates), you may choose separately for each token whether it’s attacking the player or a planeswalker they control.
2015-11-04 If the defending player is your only opponent, no tokens are put onto the battlefield.
2015-11-04 The term “defending player” in the myriad rules (or any other ability of an attacking creature) refers to the player the creature with myriad was attacking at the time it became an attacking creature this combat, or the controller of the planeswalker the creature was attacking at the time it became an attacking creature this combat.
2015-11-04 The token creatures all enter the battlefield at the same time.
2015-11-04 You choose whether each token is attacking the player or a planeswalker they control as the token is created.

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