Wily Bandar MTG Card

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 175

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 739

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat Monkey
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Wily Bandar enhances battlefield presence, offering a resilient defense option for your early game.
The card can serve as a utility piece in creature-based engine strategies, synergizing well with others.
It counters certain metagame threats with its unique indestructible ability, giving it staying power.

Text of card

: Wily Bandar gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.)

Part feline, part primate, all trouble.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Wily Bandar itself doesn’t directly provide card draw or add to your hand, its enduring presence on the battlefield can indirectly lead to card advantage. By offering a blocker that can be repeatedly fortified with its ability, it often deters opponents from attacking, which may preserve your more valuable creatures and your resources over the course of the game.

Resource Acceleration: The Wily Bandar MTG card doesn’t ramp or generate additional mana. However, its low casting cost affords you the opportunity to deploy other critical spells in your early game. Casting Wily Bandar can also synergize with strategies that benefit from having a creature enter the battlefield, potentially accelerating your game plan indirectly.

Instant Speed: Wily Bandar’s key ability isn’t an instant, but its nature allows you to keep mana open for other spells while presenting the option to activate its defensive ability if needed. This capability means you can be flexible in how you manage your resources each turn, holding up mana for instant-speed interactions, then choosing to bolster Wily Bandar if no action is required elsewhere.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Wily Bandar, players do not need to worry about additional discard costs as it has no such ability. This is one less concern for strategists who may want to maximize their hand without the trade-off of losing cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring solely green mana to be played, Wily Bandar can be restrictive and less optimal for multi-colored decks that may struggle to generate the necessary green mana efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a single green mana to summon a 1/1 creature, Wily Bandar may seem economical. However, in a game where the board state can rapidly evolve, investing in a creature with greater impact might be a more strategic use of mana resources.

Reasons to Include Wily Bandar in Your Collection

Versatility: Wily Bandar is a flexible addition to decks, especially those that demand low-cost creatures that can adapt to multiple roles on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: As a one-mana creature, Wily Bandar can be a cog in engine decks looking to ramp up their creature count or synergize with strategies that capitalize on creature abilities.

Meta-Relevance: With its ability to gain indestructible until end of turn, Wily Bandar can be unexpectedly durable in a meta where combat tricks and removal spells are prevalent.

How to beat

Wily Bandar is unique in its adaptability as a creature on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This one-mana green card offers flexibility in defending against threats through its ability to gain indestructible until end of turn. Its role can often be pivotal in the early game stage, warding off aggressive strategies and deterring opponents from attacking.

Countering Wily Bandar effectively requires strategic removal. Utilizing spells or abilities that bypass its indestructible feature is key. Board wipes that don’t target or destroy, like “Settle the Wreckage” or “Doomskar”, effectively clear the way. Alternatively, employing control elements such as “Frost Breath” or “Claustrophobia” can neutralize Wily Bandar, sidestepping its ability and minimizing its impact.

Ultimately, overcoming the challenges posed by Wily Bandar involves a mix of patience and the right tactics. By anticipating its defensive play and employing creative solutions, players can nullify the Bandar’s resilience and maintain control over the course of the game.

Cards like Wily Bandar

Wily Bandar holds its unique charm in the vast array of creature cards available in Magic: The Gathering. When considering its closest relatives, one can’t help but reflect on cards like Suntail Hawk. Both are single white mana creatures, but the hawk takes flight with its flying ability, giving it an aerial advantage over the grounded feline. In contrast, what Wily Bandar offers over its avian counterpart is the ability to make itself indestructible for the turn, providing it more resiliency against effects that would otherwise dispatch it.

Another creature that echoes the survival theme is Mogg Maniac, which can turn any damage dealt to it into indirect damage to your opponents. Though the maniac doesn’t share Wily Bandar’s protective maneuver, it introduces a damage reflection that could deter opponents from attacking. Lastly, there’s Selfless Cathar. While lacking an indestructible mechanic, it can sacrifice itself to bolster your army, adding a layer of strategy that Wily Bandar lacks. We see different nuances in each of these cards, showcasing the variety and strategic depth woven into each creature’s design within Magic: The Gathering.

When weighing playability and board impact, Wily Bandar offers a reliable blockading option, particularly apt for stalling aggressive opponents and preserving crucial life points. Its staunch defensive prowess, albeit situational, merits consideration for players valuing endurance in their creature-based strategies.

Cards similar to Wily Bandar by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wily Bandar MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Wily Bandar and other MTG cards: