Barrier Breach MTG Card


Barrier Breach - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Cycling
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Number145
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMathias Kollros

Key Takeaways

  1. Barrier Breach excels in removing multiple enchantments, swinging the momentum of the game.
  2. Instant speed enables disrupting plays at critical moments, significantly impacting strategies.
  3. Its versatility can be a strategic asset in current tournament metas involving enchantments.

Text of card

Exile up to three target enchantments. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"They cast wards, thinking it will protect them, but the biggest monsters find a way through." —Kinnan, bonder prodigy


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Barrier Breach can potentially eliminate multiple enchantments with a single card, potentially stripping opponents of key resources while maintaining your hand count.

Resource Acceleration: By removing costly enchantments, Barrier Breach can effectively slow down an opponent’s strategy, giving you a better acceleration curve in terms of resource management.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Barrier Breach at instant speed provides the flexibility to disrupt opponent plays during their turn, allowing for strategic timing and unforeseen advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Barrier Breach doesn’t ask you to discard as part of its casting, it does not offer card replacement, which means that using it can leave you down a card in hand, potentially putting you at a disadvantage when it comes to maintaining card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Barrier Breach requires three green mana to cast, which can be restrictive for multicolored decks. This specific mana requirement may make it unsuitable for decks that are not heavily green, limiting its versatility across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Barrier Breach can be a bit costly compared to other removal options. Especially since it’s a situational card that targets only enchantments, its cost-effectiveness may be questionable in a fast-paced game where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barrier Breach shines in its ability to efficiently remove multiple enchantments at once, which can easily slot into sideboards for a variety of deck archetypes dealing with enchantment-heavy metas.

Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate the graveyard or utilize spells with Escape, Barrier Breach can serve a dual purpose by filling up the graveyard with potential Escape fuel while controlling opponents’ enchantments.

Meta-Relevance: As long as enchantments remain a consistent aspect of tournament play, having Barrier Breach at hand gives you an edge by being able to dismantle key pieces of enchantment-based strategies prevalent in the meta.


How to Beat

Barrier Breach is an intriguing tool in Magic the Gathering for players who need to manage enchantments. This instant spell not only exiles up to three target enchantments but also features the cycling ability, allowing for versatile use in various gameplay situations. To effectively counter this card, consider utilizing enchantments that can protect themselves, such as those with hexproof or ones that can be sacrificed for an effect in response to being targeted. Additionally, holding up counterspells that specifically target spells which exile, can nullify Barrier Breach’s impact. Running a diverse range of threats in your deck can reduce the blow from Barrier Breach, ensuring that not all your key pieces are vulnerable to this specific type of removal.

Players might also lean on the strategy of not overcommitting enchantments to the board if they suspect their opponent is holding a Barrier Breach. This cautious approach can prevent severe card disadvantage. Lastly, leveraging graveyard recursion effects can help you recover any important enchantments exiled by Barrier Breach, maintaining your board presence and minimizing disruption to your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering is a constant journey of discovery, adaptation, and strategic dominance. Barrier Breach serves as a prime example of such nuanced gameplay, offering green mages a way to maintain tempo and control over the enchantment-laden battlefield. With its capability to exile multiple targets, this card becomes an instrumental piece in your arsenal, especially in the current meta where enchantment strategies are aplenty. We encourage you to dive deeper into the layers of strategy MTG offers. Acquire key insights, optimize your decks, and ensure you’re prepared against the enchantment threats you’re likely to face. Propel your gameplay and outwit your opponents — learn more about building your collection with indispensable cards like Barrier Breach.


Cards like Barrier Breach

Barrier Breach is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering, carving out its niche in the realm of enchantment removal. When placed side by side with cards like Naturalize, Barrier Breach offers an escalated level of utility by being able to exile up to three target enchantments rather than just destroying one. Although Naturalize is lower on mana cost, the ability to exile with Barrier Breach can be invaluable in outmaneuvering graveyard-reliant strategies.

Another parallel can be drawn with Return to Nature. This flexible spell not only targets enchantments but also has the option to tackle artifacts or graveyards. Despite this, Barrier Breach’s focused enchantment exiling power, especially with multiple targets, gives it a specialized edge in specific matchups. Additionally, the ability to cycle Barrier Breach adds another layer of flexibility, ensuring it’s never a dead card in hand.

To wrap up, examining Barrier Breach alongside its counterparts unveils its potential as a potent sideboard card or a strategic main deck choice in Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity for mass exiling and cycling option easily makes it a contender, espousing its strength in games where enchantments are prevalent.

Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Return to Nature - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Return to Nature - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barrier Breach MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Barrier Breach and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barrier Breach has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

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