Word of Binding MTG Card

The Dark (DRK)
1994-08-01 - Number 55

Fourth Edition (4ED)
1995-04-01 - Number 172

Word of Binding - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
1995-04-01 - Number 172

Renaissance (REN)
1995-08-01 - Number 68

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Word of Binding provides control by tapping multiple creatures, potentially altering the game’s momentum in your favor.
Playing it at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility and surprise, disrupting opponent strategies at critical moments.
Restrictive black mana requirements limit its deck inclusion, but its impact justifies considerations for sideboard use.

Text of card

X target creatures become tapped.

"That was the worst experience of my days, standing there helpless as they killed my whole troop." —Maeveen O'Donagh, *Memoirs of a Soldier*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Word of Binding shines in scenarios where controlling multiple creatures is pivotal. Drawing this spell can shift momentum in your favor by incapacitating several targets, denying your opponent valuable card actions.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly generating mana or tokens, Word of Binding can indirectly accelerate your resources. By tapping down potential blockers, it ensures your creatures can attack without restraint, potentially leading to quicker victories and less time for your opponent to stabilize.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Word of Binding at instant speed gives it strategic versatility. It enables reactive play during your opponent’s turn, allowing you to wait and assess the best moment to disrupt their plans, right before they would declare attackers or combo off.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other spells that can simply be cast, Word of Binding puts players at a potential disadvantage by requiring the discard of other cards to fully capitalize on its effects, which can deplete hand advantage quickly, especially in decks that do not have efficient means to refill their hand.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Word of Binding efficiently, a player’s mana base must be attuned to produce black mana, as the costs associated are strictly black. This requirement restricts the card’s flexibility, limiting its inclusion to mono-black or black-focused decks and potentially complicating the mana curve in multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the overall impact of Word of Binding in the game, its mana cost is on the higher side for its effect. In the current meta, there are alternative cards that can provide equivalent or better control at a lower cost, which makes Word of Binding a less favorable choice for players seeking efficient board control options in their deck construction.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Word of Binding’s ability to incapacitate multiple creatures makes it a strong addition to any collection. This card can be a game changer when you need to navigate through an opponent’s defenses or protect yourself from incoming attacks.

Combo Potential: For decks focused on incapacitating opponent’s creatures, Word of Binding can serve as a key piece, enhancing your ability to control the battlefield. This card opens up opportunities for other spells or abilities to take center stage while the opposition is locked down.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having Word of Binding in your arsenal means you’re prepared to halt your enemy’s momentum. This enchantment can be especially effective in sideboard strategy, ensuring you’re equipped to tackle creature-heavy decks in the current meta.

How to beat Word of Binding

Word of Binding holds a niche spot in the realm of control cards in Magic: The Gathering. At first glance, its ability to tap down multiple creatures might be seen as a way to hinder your offense, aligning it with other stall tactics. But this card, hailing from an earlier era of MTG, doesn’t carry the weight it once did, given the advancements in creature and removal spells.

To tackle the disruption of Word of Binding effectively, consider cards that either counter spells or offer hexproof to your creatures. For example, Dive Down or Blossoming Defense can protect key creatures from being targeted. On the other hand, countermagic like Cancel or Negate can address the issue before it hits the board. Cards that untap creatures, such as Act of Heroism, can also nullify the effect of Word of Binding post-cast, restoring your battlefield presence quickly.

While Word of Binding may seem like a temporary roadblock, adapting your strategy with protective spells or swift counters can ensure that your game plan remains unshaken. Keeping these tactics in mind allows you to bypass the constraints of Word of Binding, maintaining the momentum in your favor.

Cards like Word of Binding

Word of Binding is a piece of the puzzle in the extensive collection of control spells within Magic: The Gathering. Scribbled closely alongside spells such as Darkness, Word of Binding shares the feature of stalling opponents by neutralizing threats, specifically by tapping creatures down. Unlike Darkness, which prevents all combat damage for a turn, Word of Binding pins down the opponent’s creatures directly, effectively preempting their combat phase without waiting for the declaration of attackers.

Parallel to its effects, we find Encase in Ice. It’s more selective, targeting only red or green creatures, but it has the added benefit of keeping the creature frozen as long as Encase in Ice remains on the battlefield, potentially offering a more prolonged control than the single-turn effect of Word of Binding. Another spell worth mentioning is Crippling Chill, which taps a creature and draws a card, providing an instant two-for-one value in terms of control and advantage.

Considering the tactical advantages among these variations, Word of Binding holds its own within MTG’s arsenal of temporary creature control spells. Its ability to tap multiple threats at once makes it particularly impactful in games where board presence dictates the victor.

Cards similar to Word of Binding by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Word of Binding MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition, 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 Word of Binding and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Word of Binding Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 1995-08-01. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-08-01	The Dark	DRK	55	1993	Normal	Black	Ron Spencer
2	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition	4ED	172	1993	Normal	White	Ron Spencer
3	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border	4BB	172	1993	Normal	Black	Ron Spencer
4	1995-08-01	Renaissance	REN	68	1993	Normal	Black	Ron Spencer