Barbed Field MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	83
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Carl Critchlow

Key Takeaways

Convert any land into a source of repeatable damage, pressuring opponents as the game progresses.
Enhances land threat level, subtly disrupting opponent tempo and demanding attention.
Instant speed interactions complement its use, adding layers to strategic play.

Text of card

Enchanted land has "oc T: This land deals 1 damage to target creature or player."

Wherever they went, the Keldons transformed the land into a weapon.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The persistent effect of Barbed Field can turn any land into a source of repeated damage, giving you an edge as you slowly whittle down your opponent’s life total with each untap phase. Continual damage accumulation can be especially significant in prolonging games where reaching an overwhelming board presence is challenging.

Resource Acceleration: While Barbed Field itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it provides a strategic advantage by making each of your lands potentially more threatening. This psychological edge can force opponents to deal with your lands differently, often at the expense of their own tempo and resources.

Instant Speed: Barbed Field operates efficiently at sorcery speed as an enchantment, but its true value shines when utilized with instant speed spells in your arsenal. The deterrent effect of its ping ability can dissuade or redirect opponent’s actions, keeping them on their toes while you’re ready to respond swiftly during their turn with other instant speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barbed Field encourages strategical play, but the necessity to discard a card can be a setback late in the game when hand size is often diminished.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two red mana, this enchantment restricts deck building, best fitting within a mono-red or red-heavy deck to optimize consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for an ability that incrementally damages opponents, Barbed Field is outpaced by alternatives that may deliver more immediate or flexible board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbed Field is a card that can be slotted into numerous deck types, particularly ones that thrive on long-term strategy and incremental damage. Its ability to ping opponents or creatures can repeatedly edge out advantage over the course of a game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to deal damage directly, Barbed Field works well with strategies that capitalize on damage triggers. It can be a key piece in decks that reward you for damaging your opponents or that can untap lands for multiple uses per turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board states can become stalled with creatures, Barbed Field offers a way to bypass creature defenses and steadily whittle down an opponent’s life total. Its relevance climbs in metas where protracted battles are common, making it a handy tool in those scenarios.

How to beat

Barbed Field is a unique enchantment that holds the potential to turn every land you control into a source of consistent damage. This red enchantment places pressure on opponents, especially in the later stages of the game where untapped lands can be numerous. To effectively counter this strategic advantage, prioritizing enchantment removal spells is key. Green has options like Naturalize or Return to Nature, which can directly target Barbed Field and remove it from play.

Another effective strategy is to employ counterspells—blue’s forte—to prevent Barbed Field from ever hitting the battlefield. By stopping it early, you eliminate the threat before it begins to erode your life total. Control decks that represent blue might include Counterspell or Mana Leak to serve this purpose.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of life gain in outpacing the damage dealt by Barbed Field. Cards that offer steady life increment, like Soul Warden or powerhouse spells like Sphinx’s Revelation, can be pivotal in maintaining your health in a match where Barbed Field is present.

Cards like Barbed Field

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Barbed Field offers a unique dynamic as a red enchantment that turns lands into pingers. It draws a parallel to Psychic Venom, a card that also interacts with lands but does so by dealing damage to the controller when the enchanted land becomes tapped. While both cards excel at passive damage strategies, Barbed Field provides more direct control over when and to whom the damage is dealt.

Another comparison comes to light with Power Surge, which also punishes players for tapping lands, although it’s more restricted in application compared to the versatile nature of Barbed Field, which allows targeting of creatures or players. Moreover, Contaminated Ground shares a resemblance by turning lands into a liability but focuses on restricting the opponent’s mana pool and less on damage output.

Therefore, evaluating the similarities and differences puts Barbed Field in a niche position. Its constant pressure and tactical flexibility in dealing damage make it an interesting choice for players who enjoy having direct influence over their opponent’s battlefield and resources within the diverse strategies of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Barbed Field by color, type and mana cost

Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbed Field MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Barbed Field and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barbed Field has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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