Gravebind MTG Card

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 129

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 84

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Gravebind offers strategic advantage by disrupting opponents’ resources at instant speed.
Its discard requirement and specific mana cost may not always suit every deck.
Valuable in specific metas, especially against graveyard-based strategies.

Text of card

Target creature cannot regenerate this turn. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

One foot in the grave, firmly planted.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gravebind offers a unique spin on the concept of card advantage. Unlike traditional draw effects, it delves into an opponent’s resources to generate advantage, potentially disrupting their plans while enhancing your strategic position.

Resource Acceleration: This card could indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by removing potential threats or key pieces from an opponent’s game, allowing you to stay ahead in the race for board presence and strategic dominance without directly impacting mana resources.

Instant Speed: Gravebind’s instant speed gives you the flexibility to cast it at the most opportune moments. Whether it’s during your opponent’s draw phase or in response to graveyard-based strategies, the ability to use Gravebind on your terms adds a layer of surprise and adaptability to your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Gravebind requires a card to be discarded from your hand. In situations where hand size is critical or when holding key pieces for a combo, this condition can be quite restricting and possibly detrimental to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Gravebind necessitates a specific mana investment, including black mana. This can be challenging for multi-color decks that may not always have the black mana readily available, potentially leading to delays or inability to cast it at an opportune moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its effect, Gravebind may not be as cost-efficient compared to other options within MTG. Players often seek lower-cost alternatives that provide similar or faster impact on the game state, making Gravebind less favorable in competitive environments.

Reasons to Include Gravebind in Your Collection

Versatility: Gravebind offers flexibility with its instant speed, allowing you to time its disruptive effect perfectly against your opponent’s strategies. Its ability to disrupt graveyard-based mechanics makes it a valuable sideboard card for a variety of matchups.

Combo Potential: For decks that rely on graveyard synergy, Gravebind can enhance your strategy by selectively thinning yours or your opponent’s graveyard. This selective disruption creates opportunities for favorable interactions and unexpected advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where certain formats are heavily influenced by graveyard recursion strategies, Gravebind serves as a targeted countermeasure. It’s especially relevant in metas where reanimator decks or similar graveyard-dependent archetypes are prevalent.

How to beat

Gravebind poses an interesting challenge in Magic: The Gathering gameplay, especially for players leveraging their graveyard strategy. This black instant can disrupt such tactics by removing a card from play just as it’s set to make a comeback, effectively delaying your opponent’s plans. It’s a piece of the intricate puzzle within the arsenal of graveyard manipulation.

To counteract Gravebind, it’s wise to adopt strategies that minimize reliance on the graveyard. Diversifying your plays to include cards that function well from the hand or battlefield can reduce Gravebind’s impact. Utilizing instant speed removal or graveyard shuffling effects also helps guard against its usage. Additionally, effects that grant spells or creatures graveyard protection, or the use of cards that can bring back multiple cards at once, can overwhelm Gravebind’s single-target limitation. Being aware of the timing and selective usage of Gravebind can turn the tide of a match, requiring strategic play and forethought.

Indeed, facing Gravebind demands a thoughtful approach to deck building and in-game strategy that goes beyond simple graveyard interactions, rewarding those who anticipate potential disruptions and plan accordingly in their MTG matches.

Cards like Gravebind

In the realm of intriguing instant-speed spells, Gravebind offers Magic: The Gathering players a unique twist on deck manipulation. This card shares similarities with effects found in spells like Thought Scour, which also targets a player to mill two cards. Nevertheless, Gravebind stands out by allowing players to skip their draw step, subtly disrupting expected strategies. Unlike Thought Scour, Gravebind doesn’t refill the player’s hand, it focuses on a longer-term tactical advantage.

Delving further into mtg’s array of cards, we encounter Glimpse the Unthinkable. While it significantly mills ten cards from a player’s deck, its lack of flexibility when compared to Gravebind’s potential recurring effect each turn is evident. Contrarily, Glimpse offers immediate impact which Gravebind cannot match, highlighting a clear trade-off between instant results and the option for lasting control over the game’s pace.

To summarize, Gravebind’s allure lies in its capacity for iterative control, differentiating it from other mill cards like Thought Scour and Glimpse the Unthinkable. Fearless in foregoing immediate gratification, Gravebind may reward the patient strategist with a suppressed opponent’s draw, masterfully weaving a path to triumph within the nuanced strategies of Magic: The Gathering.

Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gravebind by color, type and mana cost

March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions

Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gravebind MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition IV, 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 Gravebind and other MTG cards: