Banshee MTG Card
1994-08-01 - Number 40
1995-07-01 - Number 29
2009-09-07 - Number 59
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Its direct hit ability can change the board state, making it a potential game-changer.
- Banshee plays at instant speed, allowing flexible and unexpected plays.
- Despite its power, it requires careful usage due to its discard and mana cost.
Text of card
o X, oc T: Banshee does X damage—half (rounded up) to you and half (rounded down) to any one target.
Some say Banshees are the hounds of Death, baying to herd their prey into the arms of their master.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Banshee card can dismantle your opponent’s field by inflicting damage directly to creatures or to your opponent. This direct hit capability offers the chance to tip the scales in your favor by potentially removing key threats from the board, effectively reducing the resources your opponent has and bolstering your own strategic position within the match.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of resource acceleration in the traditional mana-generating sense, Banshee’s ability to target and possibly eliminate key creatures can indirectly accelerate your resources. By clearing the board, it saves your resources for other endeavors instead of dealing with established threats, which could be an efficient way to pave the path to victory.
Instant Speed: As a card that you can play at instant speed, Banshee offers considerable flexibility. You have the advantage of reacting to your opponent’s moves and creating surprise interactions during their turn. This can be a major tactical turning point when trying to control the game’s tempo or when waiting for the opportune moment to strike without preemptively revealing your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Incorporating Banshee into your deck might not always bode well for your hand. Its ability necessitates the discard of another card, which can put you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re running low on other options.
Specific Mana Cost: Banshee calls for a specific mana allocation to be played, which can be restrictive. Its requirement for black mana aligns it with a particular deck type, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and one black mana, Banshee can be considered pricey when measured against other cards with similar effects. This may lead to it being overlooked in favor of cards offering more value for a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Banshee card offers adaptability in various deck types due to its ability to serve both as an early-game blocker and a late-game damage dealer.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that trigger on life loss or creature death, Banshee can become a key component of powerful combo strategies, taking advantage of its damage-dealing ability.
Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with creature-based strategies, Banshee’s ability to dish out damage to multiple creatures or target an opponent directly can be incredibly impactful and shift the game in your favor.
How to beat
Banshee is a unique Magic: The Gathering card that can be quite a challenge to face due to its ability to deal damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures, players, or even planeswalkers. Utilizing strategies to counteract these effects is key when playing against this card. The straightforward approach is to have damage prevention spells or abilities at the ready. Since Banshee’s ability is not a combat damage, cards that prevent non-combat damage can be especially effective.
Additionally, because Banshee’s ability costs both mana and life to use, cards that restrict mana generation or life payment can hinder its effectiveness. Other tactics include using hexproof or shroud to protect your valuable creatures and permanents, making them invalid targets for Banshee’s damage-dividing ability. Or, opt for strategies that remove the card from play before it can dismantle your defenses. Cards that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature or simply destroy it before its activated ability can be used are also efficient.
Finally, keeping a robust life total can blunt the impact of Banshee’s ability, as the cost to the opponent may become too steep to exploit fully. A well-timed counterspell can also be a game-changer by preventing the resolution of this threatening ability. Having these countermeasures in your deck can significantly improve your chances of outlasting the haunting cries of a Banshee.
Cards like Banshee
Banshee is a unique presence within the realm of creature cards in MTG, echoing abilities found in other cards yet standing out with its distinct features. As it can inflict damage divided as you choose among any number of targets, it shares a semblance of versatility with cards like Fireball. Unlike Fireball, Banshee’s effect is bound to its activated ability, coupled with a life loss to the controller equal to half the damage rounded down, making it a tactical option for certain deck builds.
Comparable in functionality, we encounter cards like Pestilence which allows damage to be spread across multiple targets while also affecting the controller. It, however, operates as an enchantment, thus providing recurring utility at the expense of creatures’ survival on the board. Cards such as Pyrohemia share this enchantment trait, providing a red color variation of Pestilence’s ability.
Looking at the broader picture, Banshee provides a nuanced contribution to MTG’s card pool. It combines the ability to scatter damage with a self-penalty aspect that demands strategic play. This makes it an intriguing choice for players who appreciate complex decision-making within their game.
Cards similar to Banshee by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Banshee MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Chronicles, 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 Banshee 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
Printings
The Banshee Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Jesper Myrfors.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-08-01 | The Dark | DRK | 40 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jesper Myrfors | |
| 2 | 1995-07-01 | Chronicles | CHR | 29 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jesper Myrfors | |
| 3 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 59 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jesper Myrfors |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Banshee has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Banshee card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If the targeted permanent or player is an illegal target by the time Banshee’s ability resolves, the ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t be dealt damage. |
