Nahiri's Binding MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Number | 29 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Magali Villeneuve |
Key Takeaways
- Nahiri’s Binding controls opponents by immobilizing key creatures or planeswalkers, disrupting their game plan.
- This enchantment indirectly aids in maintaining tempo and can result in resource advantage for the player.
- Its sorcery speed operation lets players use it tactically to force opponents to commit resources unwisely.
Text of card
Enchant creature or planeswalker Enchanted permanent can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
"This is my world, Jace, down to its very bones."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nahiri’s Binding offers strategic immobilization of an opponent’s creature or planeswalker, effectively reducing their battlefield presence. By neutralizing a key asset of your opponent’s strategy, this enchantment can swing the momentum in your favor and indirectly lead to gaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Nahiri’s Binding itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it aids in maintaining tempo. By binding a source of your opponent’s mana abilities or delaying their game plan, you inhibit their ability to accelerate, thereby indirectly preserving your resource parity or lead.
Instant Speed: Though Nahiri’s Binding operates at sorcery speed, its ability to lock down a target at a critical juncture allows you to dictate the pace of the match. This can force opponents to waste mana or reconsider their plays for the turn, giving you the opportunity to respond with instant-speed spells while their resources are tied up.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nahiri’s Binding doesn’t directly demand card discard but controlling a permanent until Nahiri’s Binding leaves the battlefield can act as a double-edged sword. Should the enchantment be removed, not only do you lose control over the target, but you’ve also potentially wasted precious removal resources without a permanent solution.
Specific Mana Cost: The card requires one white and two generic mana, which for some decks can be a hurdle. It necessitates a solid white mana base, limiting its integration in multicolored or off-theme decks that may not prioritize white mana generation.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Nahiri’s Binding might be considered costly when compared to other removal spells in MTG. Especially in formats where mana efficiency can dictate the pace of the game, spending three mana to temporarily handle a threat might not always be the optimal play.
Reasons to Include Nahiri’s Binding in Your Collection
Versatility: Nahiri’s Binding shines in its ability to deal with a wide range of threats. This enchantment can lock down creatures and planeswalkers alike, making it a flexible choice for most white-based control or midrange decks looking to handle diverse opponents.
Combo Potential: When synergized with cards that benefit from enchantments entering the battlefield, Nahiri’s Binding not only disrupts opponents but also contributes to your own strategic advancements. It’s an ideal component for enhancing enchantment-matters decks and triggering powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its ability to restrict some of the most formidable creatures and planeswalkers in the game, Nahiri’s Binding is rather relevant in a meta teeming with such threats. Staying ahead in the game often means disabling your opponent’s key pieces, and this card excels in that role.
How to beat Nahiri’s Binding
Nahiri’s Binding has a strong grip on the battlefield as it keeps one’s creature or planeswalker tethered down, unable to cast its powers or swing for damage. Those familiar with the mechanics of this card understand the importance of leveraging enchantment removal spells. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are efficient tools in freeing your trapped piece, instantly turning the tables on your opponent.
Another strategy is to pivot your gameplay to rely less on the creature or planeswalker that’s been bound. Shifting gears to other threats can outmaneuver the effects of Nahiri’s Binding temporarily. Employing an array of creatures with varying abilities or diversifying your win conditions can minimize the setback caused by this type of single-target removal.
Ultimately, being prepared for enchantment-based removal and having a deck that’s adaptable in the face of control strategies are your best defenses against Nahiri’s Binding. This preparedness ensures that even when key pieces are out of play, your deck still functions efficiently, pushing towards victory with resilience and strategic flexibility.
Cards like Nahiri's Binding
Nahiri’s Binding is an intriguing control card from Magic: The Gathering, with a presence often compared to other white enchantment removal spells. Akin to Pacifism, Nahiri’s Binding restricts the affected creature from attacking or blocking. However, it notably extends its disabling grip by also preventing the creature’s activated abilities from being used, an attribute Pacifism does not share.
Looming large in this category as well is Banishing Light. Both cards can effectively sideline a creature or planeswalker and keep it out of play for as long as the enchantment remains. While Banishing Light can exile any nonland permanent offering a broader range of targets, it comes at the same mana cost as Nahiri’s Binding. The choice between them can hinge on whether the player values targeting flexibility or the additional suppression of activated abilities.
In sum, when weighed against its counterparts, Nahiri’s Binding is a robust choice in the realm of white control enchantments. Its unique ability to shut down both combat potential and activated abilities positions it as a particularly oppressive tool for players aiming to stymie their opponents’ strategies.
Cards similar to Nahiri's Binding by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nahiri's Binding MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Nahiri's Binding 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 Nahiri's Binding has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
