Promise of Bunrei MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Promise of Bunrei ensures card advantage by creating four 1/1 Spirit tokens upon a creature’s demise.
  2. Provides resource acceleration, turning loss into a potent battlefield presence without extra mana.
  3. Instant speed activation offers flexibility, making it a formidable defensive surprise against opponents.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control is put into a graveyard from play, sacrifice Promise of Bunrei. If you do, put four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens into play.

"I am not afraid to die today nor afraid of what death will bring."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Promise of Bunrei creates four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens, offering considerable card advantage by bolstering your battlefield presence after a creature you control dies.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, this card efficiently converts a single creature’s demise into multiple permanent assets, effectively accelerating your resource presence on the board without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: As an enchantment, it can be activated at any time which means you have the flexibility to set up your defenses even during your opponent’s turn. This surprise element is key in swinging the stage of the game to your favor by creating blockers when least expected.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its potential to create Spirit tokens, the actual trigger of Promise of Bunrei requires a creature you control to go to the graveyard, which can be an unfavorable situation, especially if you can’t control when this happens.

Specific Mana Cost: Promise of Bunrei demands two specific white mana, which may restrict its inclusion strictly to white or two-colored decks that can accommodate white mana without compromising their mana base consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the ability to produce four Spirit tokens is considerable, the initial investment of three mana for an enchantment that doesn’t provide immediate board presence can be costly. This often compares unfavorably to other cards in the same mana range that can impact the game upon casting.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Promise of Bunrei offers adaptability across various deck archetypes, primarily fitting in strategies that capitalize on creature sacrifice or death triggers. This card’s ability to generate four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens can be a significant boon in token-based and control decks alike.

Combo Potential: The tokens provided by Promise of Bunrei have synergy with numerous cards and strategies. They can be used to fuel sacrificial engines, enhance go-wide strategies, or support cards that benefit from having a high creature count on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where board wipes and creature removal are prevalent, Promise of Bunrei can deter opponents from destroying your creatures or at least provide a comeback mechanism. With its ability to deter opponent strategies and its relevance in multiple scenarios, this card remains a valuable asset.


How to beat

The Promise of Bunrei card in Magic: The Gathering is unique for its ability to create four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens when a creature you control dies. It lurks on the battlefield, threatening to multiply its controller’s board presence significantly upon a creature’s demise.

A strategic approach to countering Promise of Bunrei is to control when your opponent’s creatures die. This can be achieved by employing instant speed removal spells during a time when the tokens won’t be as impactful, such as your opponent’s end step. Alternatively, exile effects bypass the triggering condition of Promise of Bunrei entirely, since the creatures aren’t dying, but rather being exiled from the game. Cards that can remove enchantments directly, such as Disenchant, prevent Promise of Bunrei from ever triggering. Lastly, playing around Promise of Bunrei by refraining from killing your opponent’s creatures until you can handle the tokens or win the game is another viable tactic.

Understanding the nuances of playing with and against Promise of Bunrei can help better prepare players for the diverse challenges that come with the game. Knowing when to use removal or when to push for the win is key, making encounters with this card not only challenging but also enriching the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players know that a well-crafted deck is like a fine-tuned engine, and cards like Promise of Bunrei can serve as powerful pistons in that engine. With its ability to convert a loss, like a creature’s death, into a tide of Spirit tokens, it’s no wonder players value this card in their repertoire. If you’re intrigued by the strategic depth it can add to your deck, or simply looking to ensure your next match evolves from a mere duel to an epic saga of tactical prowess, then delve deeper with us. Enhance your game, and harness the potential of Promise of Bunrei by learning more on how it can be effectively utilized in your MTG battles.


Cards like Promise of Bunrei

Promise of Bunrei is an intriguing enchantment in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering that creates creature tokens. A card it can be compared to is Luminous Broodmoth, which also deals with bringing creatures back into play under certain conditions. While Promise of Bunrei generates 1/1 tokens upon the death of a creature you control, Luminous Broodmoth allows for creatures without flying to come back with a flying counter.

Another parallel can be drawn with the card Doomed Traveler which, much like Promise of Bunrei, leaves behind a creature token after dying. However, Promise of Bunrei offers the potential for multiple tokens, whereas Doomed Traveler only creates one. Finally, Hangarback Walker provides a similar effect, leaving behind a number of 1/1 flying Thopters in accordance to the +1/+1 counters on it when it dies, potentially surpassing the four spirits provided by Promise of Bunrei.

To sum up, Promise of Bunrei holds its unique position within MTG as an enchantment that can consistently provide a significant number of tokens, making it a powerful tool in decks that capitalize on creatures dying.

Luminous Broodmoth - MTG Card versions
Doomed Traveler - MTG Card versions
Hangarback Walker - MTG Card versions
Luminous Broodmoth - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Doomed Traveler - Innistrad (ISD)
Hangarback Walker - Love Your LGS (PLGS)

Cards similar to Promise of Bunrei by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - Commander 2015 (C15)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Junior Super Series (PSUS)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)
Guardian's Magemark - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Celestial Dawn - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Promise of Bunrei MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa and Masters 25, 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 Promise of Bunrei and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Promise of Bunrei Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2005-06-03 and 2021-11-19. Illustrated by Stephen Tappin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-06-03Saviors of KamigawaSOK 242003normalblackStephen Tappin
22018-03-16Masters 25A25 302015normalblackStephen Tappin
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2022015normalblackStephen Tappin
42020-09-26The ListPLST A25-302015normalblackStephen Tappin
52021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 962015normalblackStephen Tappin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Promise of Bunrei has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-03-16 Promise of Bunrei's ability will trigger multiple times if multiple creatures die at once, but it will only be sacrificed once. You'll get only four Spirit tokens.

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