Summoner's Bane MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Summoner’s Bane replaces countered spells with a new creature, amplifying your board presence.
  2. Instant-speed casting provides flexibility and control over the game’s flow.
  3. Specific mana requirements may limit deck inclusion to blue-skewed decks.

Text of card

Counter target creature spell. Put a 2/2 blue Illusion creature token onto the battlefield.

"I don't need to have the perfect plan. My foe just has to have an imperfect one." —Jace Beleren


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Summoner’s Bane not only counters a creature spell but also leaves a creature token on your side of the battlefield. This effectively replaces itself in your hand by putting a presence on the board, indirectly adding to your card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Summoner’s Bane doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it provides a creature token which can be crucial for defense or offense without the need to invest additional cards or mana from your hand, preserving your resources for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt opponents’ plans on their turn. This reactive quality allows you to efficiently manage your mana and decide the most opportune moment to neutralize a threat, which can be pivotal in maintaining control of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Summoner’s Bane, players aren’t required to discard, but the limitations it presents are elsewhere. Instead of a discard requirement, the card’s effectiveness is influenced by the player’s current board state and hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoner’s Bane comes with a mana cost that includes two blue mana symbols. This specific requirement narrows its deck compatibility, predominantly fitting into mono-blue or blue-heavy multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, two of which must be blue, Summoner’s Bane’s cost can be steep compared to other counter-magic options. Some alternative spells provide similar or even added benefits for a lower or more flexible mana investment.


Reasons to Include Summoner’s Bane in Your Collection

Versatility: Summoner’s Bane is a unique counter spell that not only cancels an opponent’s creature spell but also provides you with an Illusion creature token. This dual utility can make it a flexible addition to control or token-themed decks.

Combo Potential: The Illusion token created by this card can synergize with various strategies. Whether you are bolstering your army for a swarm tactic or utilizing the token for sacrifice effects, there are numerous ways to incorporate Summoner’s Bane into combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-heavy strategies are prevalent, having a response that disrupts your opponent while simultaneously advancing your board state can be incredibly advantageous. Summoner’s Bane fits well into such scenarios, making it a card worth considering in a competitive collection.


How to beat

Summoner’s Bane is a unique countermeasure against creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This card cleverly not only counters a creature spell but also carves your defensive line by creating an Illusion creature token with power and toughness equal to the countered spell’s mana cost. The best way to overcome this dual-purpose card is by strategically baiting out the counter. This can be done by playing less critical creatures first to draw out Summoner’s Bane, preserving your more impactful creatures for later. Another approach is to use spells that can’t be countered, such as those with the ability “can’t be countered by spells or abilities.” These straightforward tactics ensure your essential creatures land safely on the battlefield.

Moreover, resilience plays a key role in your game strategy. By utilizing creatures that have effects when entering or leaving the battlefield, you minimize the loss even if Summoner’s Bane intervenes. In a match where Summoner’s Bane is a known factor, balancing the timing of your threats and having a backup plan is crucial to maintain the upper hand.


Cards like Summoner's Bane

Summoner’s Bane holds a distinctive place within the suite of counter spells available in Magic: The Gathering. This intriguing card not only counters a creature spell, similar to the classic Cancel, but Summoner’s Bane also gifts the player a creature token. This dual-purpose nature provides a clear advantage over Cancel, which offers no additional board presence.

Another counterpart worth noting is Essence Scatter, which is more streamlined with its focus solely on negating creature spells at a lesser mana cost. While Essence Scatter doesn’t supply an extra creature like Summoner’s Bane, its efficiency in resource management can be crucial in early game scenarios.

In terms of versatility, Dissolve presents itself as a contestant by countering any spell and permitting a scry to refine future draws. Although Dissolve lacks the immediate creature token of Summoner’s Bane, the added scry can play a strategic part in securing game control.

Analyzing the balance between immediate board effect and overall strategic value makes Summoner’s Bane an appealing choice among counter spells for Magic: The Gathering players who favor both disruption and presence on the battlefield.

Cancel - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Cancel - Time Spiral (TSP)
Essence Scatter - Magic 2010 (M10)
Dissolve - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Summoner's Bane by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Deflection - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ray of Command - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Inspiration - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Turnabout - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Quash - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Foil - Prophecy (PCY)
Thwart - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Plagiarize - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Fact or Fiction - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Cryptic Command - Amonkhet Invocations (MP2)
Urza's Command - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fold into Aether - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Part the Veil - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Gifts Ungiven - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Surging Aether - Coldsnap (CSP)
Careful Consideration - Modern Masters (MMA)
Gifts Given - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Discombobulate - Tenth Edition (10E)
Permafrost Trap - Worldwake (WWK)
Bone to Ash - Core Set 2020 (M20)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Summoner's Bane MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Summoner's Bane and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Summoner's Bane Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2014-03-14. Illustrated by Cyril Van Der Haegen.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 712003normalblackCyril Van Der Haegen
22014-03-14Duel Decks: Jace vs. VraskaDDM 312003normalblackCyril Van Der Haegen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Summoner's Bane has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 If the targeted spell is an illegal target by the time Summoner’s Bane resolves, the entire spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t get a creature token.
2009-10-01 You get the token creature, not the controller of the creature spell.

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