Trickbind MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Abilities	Split second
Released	2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set name	Time Spiral
Set code	TSP
Number	88
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Zeleznik

Key Takeaways

Trickbind disrupts card advantage by neutralizing opponents’ abilities, ensuring strategic upper hand.
It preserves resources and maintains tempo by countering game-altering abilities at instant speed.
Vital for decks that capitalize on timing and precision to gain a competitive edge in MTG.

Text of card

Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't play spells or activated abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Counter target activated or triggered ability. If a permanent's ability is countered this way, activated abilities of that permanent can't be played this turn. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Trickbind doesn’t directly draw you cards, it prevents an opponent’s card—or an entire series of similar abilities—from affecting the game. This can negate an opponent’s card advantage and deliver a strategic edge, setting you up for a favorable board position.

Resource Acceleration: Trickbind itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense. However, by stifling a triggered or activated ability that could otherwise disrupt your mana production or your battlefield, it effectively secures your resources and maintains your development curve.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Trickbind offers the flexibility to react in a pinch, allowing you to target and counter critical spells while your mana remains untapped. This element of surprise can be crucial, making it a powerful tool for protecting your strategy or disrupting an opponent’s at the most opportune moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Trickbind doesn’t make you part with cards in your hand, but its single-use nature might feel akin to discarding a valuable silver bullet without the chance for recursion.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two blue mana, Trickbind can be restrictive in decks that don’t have a consistent source of blue mana or are running multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana, Trickbind may seem reasonable, but in the realm of instant-speed interaction, there are alternatives that may provide a more cost-effective solution for countering activated or triggered abilities.

Reasons to Include Trickbind in Your Collection

Versatility: Trickbind is a flexible card that can be integrated into many styles of decks. Its ability to counter activated or triggered abilities can be a game-changer in any match, regardless of the opponent’s strategy.

Combo Potential: This card carries significant combo potential as it can disrupt opponents’ strategies while maintaining a surprise element due to its split-second ability, ensuring your trick cannot be responded to.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where numerous decks rely on key triggered abilities, Trickbind has the capacity to tilt the scales in your favor, making it a powerful tool against the current competitive scene.

How to beat Trickbind

Trickbind is a notorious card in the Magic: The Gathering universe, famed for its Split Second ability which prevents players from responding to it. When Trickbind is played, it can counter not only activated abilities but also triggered ones, which can be a major setback during a game. This can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, particularly if they rely heavily on certain abilities to win.

To circumvent the limitations imposed by Trickbind, players could adopt a strategy that doesn’t heavily depend on single pivotal abilities. Instead, they should diversify their game plan with a mixture of instant spells, creatures with static abilities, and other non-ability based strategies. Having a versatile deck that isn’t overly reliant on one strategy can significantly reduce the impact of a Trickbind play.

Having a backup plan is key. Understanding the meta and expecting potential disruption allows for smarter plays and less reliance on abilities that can be neutralized by Trickbind. Players who anticipate and prepare for such hindrances stand a better chance at maintaining control of the game, rendering Trickbind less effective against their well-rounded strategy.

BurnMana Recommendations

Trickbind is a unique card in MTG that can greatly shift the momentum in your favor. It’s not just about the card itself but how it intertwines with your strategy and adapts to various metagames. When considering whether Trickbind deserves a spot in your collection or deck, think about the deck archetypes you face. Its flexibility, instant speed, and split-second nature make it an invaluable asset against key activated or triggered abilities. Diving deeper into the potential of Trickbind could be the key to outsmart your opponents. Enhance your MTG experience and strategic depth by learning more about integrating Trickbind effectively.

Cards like Trickbind

In the world of interruptive spells within Magic: The Gathering, Trickbind is a standout card. Its closest counterparts are Stifle and Disallow, both known for their ability to counter abilities. Just like Trickbind, Stifle can counter activated or triggered abilities. However, the uniqueness of Trickbind lies in its split second ability, preventing players from casting other spells or activating abilities in response. Stifle does not have this feature, offering opponents a window to respond.

Disallow is another related card, but it brings an added layer of versatility by allowing players to counter not just abilities, but spells as well. Despite this expanded functionality, Disallow lacks the speed of Trickbind’s split second mechanic, highlighting Trickbind’s strategic value in critical gameplay moments. Another aspect worth noting is the cost difference: Trickbind and Stifle both cost two mana, but Disallow requires three, potentially impacting the pacing of one’s deck.

Choosing Trickbind over its similar counterparts hinges on the need for that surprise element and the certain prevention of an ability’s impact. In situations where tempo and certainty are key, Trickbind takes its rightful place as an adept control tool in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Trickbind by color, type and mana cost

Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions

Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trickbind MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Trickbind and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Trickbind has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-09-25	If Trickbind counters an activated ability of a permanent, no activated abilities of that permanent can be activated for the remainder of the turn. This includes activated abilities other than the one that was countered, as well as any mana abilities that permanent may have. Other abilities of that permanent, including triggered abilities and static abilities, are unaffected.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can be used to counter the echo triggered ability. If so, the echo ability won’t trigger again so the echo cost is never paid.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can be used to counter the flanking triggered ability.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can be used to counter the madness triggered ability. The affected card will remain exiled.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can be used to counter the storm triggered ability. Doing so prevents the copies from being created, but doesn’t counter the original storm spell.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can be used to counter the suspend “remove a counter” ability. If so, the counter won’t get removed, but the ability will trigger again as normal later on. Trickbind can also be used to counter the suspend “play this card” ability. If so, the card stays exiled (the ability won’t trigger again). Using suspend to exile a card in your hand is neither an activated nor a triggered ability, so it can’t be countered this way.
2006-09-25	Trickbind can’t counter or prevent paying the morph cost to turn a face-down creature face up, since that action doesn’t use the stack.
2016-06-08	Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.
2021-03-19	After a spell with split second resolves (or otherwise leaves the stack), players may again cast spells and activate abilities before the next object on the stack resolves.
2021-03-19	Casting a spell with split second won’t affect spells and abilities that are already on the stack.
2021-03-19	If the resolution of a triggered ability involves casting a spell, that spell can’t be cast if a spell with split second is on the stack.
2021-03-19	Players may turn face-down creatures face up while a spell with split second is on the stack.
2021-03-19	Players still get priority while a card with split second is on the stack; their options are just limited to mana abilities and certain special actions.
2021-03-19	Split second doesn’t stop triggered abilities from triggering, such as that of Chalice of the Void. If one does, its controller puts it on the stack and chooses targets for it, if any. Those abilities will resolve as normal.