Leech Bonder MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Soldier |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 43 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | E. M. Gist |
Key Takeaways
- Leech Bonder provides card advantage by shifting +1/+1 counters for strategic plays.
- Operates with instant spells, allowing for unexpected interplays during matches.
- Demands -1/-1 counters for its ability, potentially limiting its use without the right setup.
Text of card
Leech Bonder comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it. , {Q}: Move a counter from target creature onto another target creature. ({Q} is the untap symbol.)
Some don't know his face, but his pets are a dead giveaway.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Leech Bonder offers a unique form of card advantage in matches. It lets you manipulate +1/+1 counters, which can be equated to drawing additional resources for players who utilize counter synergy.
Resource Acceleration: Leech Bonder works effectively to ramp up your board presence, utilizing +1/+1 counters as a form of resource acceleration to strengthen your creatures more rapidly.
Instant Speed: While Leech Bonder itself does not operate at instant speed, it interacts with instant speed spells that modify counters, allowing for unexpected plays during either player’s turn and keeping opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Leech Bonder demands an additional component for its untap ability, which involves moving a -1/-1 counter from itself onto another creature. If no such counters are present, it may not fulfill its potential, causing a setback in your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements of Leech Bonder include blue mana, which might not easily fit into decks that don’t heavily utilize this color. Players running multi-color decks may find this a challenge to accommodate without the right mana fixing solutions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Leech Bonder can be a versatile tool for counter manipulation, its three-mana cost is significant when considering other creatures in the same mana range may provide more immediate board presence or value. This high entry cost can delay your game plan, particularly in the fast-paced matches.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Leech Bonder serves multiple roles on the battlefield. With the ability to move +1/+1 counters around, it can support various counter-centric builds or serve as a tool to weaken opponents’ creatures.
Combo Potential: The card shines when combined with cards that either produce numerous +1/+1 counters or benefit from transferring them. Leech Bonder can become a key piece in intricate combo engines that aim to exploit this mechanic.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where +1/+1 counter strategies are prevalent or there’s a need to disrupt creature-based synergies, Leech Bonder can act as both an enhancer for your board and a foil to your opponent’s plans.
How to beat
Leech Bonder presents unique strategies in the landscape of MTG gameplay. Leveraging -1/-1 counters, this elusive creature can manipulate the battlefield with precision. It’s an asset for players who relish in sculpting complex and robust mid-game states. But every card has its counteractions, and Leech Bonder is no exception.
Reliable removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can swiftly dispatch Leech Bonder, nullifying its potential impact on the game. Moreover, utilizing instant-speed interactions allows players to maintain tempo while handling threats such as Leech Bonder, therefore preserving the delicate balance of the board.
Another effective method is to limit the available counters for Leech Bonder to manipulate. Strategies that avoid placing -1/-1 counters on creatures, or remove them swiftly, can diminish the utility of Leech Bonder. Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the mechanisms through which Leech Bonder thrives is key to neutralizing it, thus maintaining control over the flow of the match.
Cards like Leech Bonder
Leech Bonder offers a unique twist in the Magic: The Gathering realm, primarily focusing on the manipulation of -1/-1 counters. It’s akin to Fate Transfer, which also shifts counters from one creature to another. However, Leech Bonder brings an added layer of versatility with its untap ability, allowing it to be used multiple times in a single turn if the conditions are met.
Leech Bonder stands alongside the likes of Hex Parasite, another creature capable of interacting with counters. Hex Parasite excels at removing counters but comes at a life cost, which may not always be desirable. Leech Bonder, alternatively, provides a more controlled and potentially reusable counter movement without the life expense.
Comparing Leech Bonder to cards like Power Conduit further illustrates its value in strategic gameplay. Although Power Conduit also moves counters around, its artifact nature restricts its capabilities, lacking the mobile attack and block options that a creature like Leech Bonder possesses. The synergy between these cards can be utilized differently, each fitting distinct playstyles within MTG.
Cards similar to Leech Bonder by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Leech Bonder MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Leech Bonder and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Leech Bonder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Leech Bonder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | If a creature with an {Q} ability hasn’t been under your control since your most recent turn began, you can’t activate that ability, unless the creature has haste. |
| 2008-05-01 | If either one of the target creatures becomes an illegal target (because it left the battlefield or for any other reason), the counter doesn’t move. If both targets become illegal, the ability doesn’t resolve. |
| 2008-05-01 | If the permanent is already untapped, you can’t activate its {Q} ability. That’s because you can’t pay the “Untap this permanent” cost. |
| 2008-05-01 | Leech Bonder’s activated ability can move any kind of counter, not just a -1/-1 counter. It can target any two creatures, whether they have counters on them or not. |
| 2008-05-01 | This effect may result in a useless counter being placed on a creature. For example, if an age counter is moved from a creature with cumulative upkeep to a creature without cumulative upkeep, it will have no effect on the new creature. |
| 2008-05-01 | When you activate an {Q} ability, you untap the creature with that ability as a cost. The untap can’t be responded to. (The actual ability can be responded to, of course.) |
