Elite Spellbinder MTG Card


Elite Spellbinder offers a unique form of hand disruption and temporary mana increase of opponents’ cards. It fits well into decks emphasizing instant speed for flexibility and unexpected plays. Despite its higher mana cost, its versatility and combo potential make it a strong inclusion.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying When Elite Spellbinder enters the battlefield, look at target opponent's hand. You may exile a nonland card from it. For as long as that card remains exiled, its owner may play it. A spell cast this way costs more to cast.

Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, World Champion XXVI


Cards like Elite Spellbinder

The Elite Spellbinder has carved its niche in the suite of disruptive creatures within MTG. Holding a mirror to similar cards, such as Meddling Mage and Tidehollow Sculler, the Spellbinder brings a unique twist. Much like Meddling Mage, which can hush the casting of a selected card entirely, the Elite Spellbinder instead adds a mana cost to that card’s casting fee, affecting your opponent’s strategic plays. It primarily constricts their options without permanently locking out a card from the game.

A glance towards Tidehollow Sculler reveals that while it also allows you to peek at and pluck a card from your opponent’s hand, Elite Spellbinder offers less permanence but more mana taxation. Pondering on the comparison further, Leonin Arbiter’s taxing effect on searching libraries seems akin, but the Spellbinder distinctively focuses on the hand, altering the gameplay dynamic quite differently. Plus, with flying as its ability, the Elite Spellbinder can also be an offensive threat in the air.

Considering the impacts on opponents’ strategies and gameplay tempo, Elite Spellbinder stands out with its blend of disruption and aerial agility, making it a preferred tool for many players aiming to navigate the metagame with precision.

Meddling Mage - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Sculler - MTG Card versions
Leonin Arbiter - MTG Card versions
Meddling Mage - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Sculler - MTG Card versions
Leonin Arbiter - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Elite Spellbinder. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya CompanySelesnya Company PioneerSelesnya CompanyPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-20
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
Azorius TempoAzorius Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024
Esper MidrangeEsper Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024
Mono-White AggroMono-White Aggro GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
Naya WinotaNaya Winota GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024
Boros Death & TaxesBoros Death & Taxes GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024
Selesnya MidrangeSelesnya Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 12 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elite Spellbinder provides a unique form of disruption by allowing you to look at an opponent’s hand and exile a nonland card. While not drawing you additional cards directly, this peek into the opponent’s strategic options can offer a significant advantage, helping you to make more informed plays and navigate around potential threats.

Resource Acceleration: Although Elite Spellbinder doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens, the card affects resource acceleration indirectly. By increasing the cost of the exiled card by two generic mana, it can slow down an opponent’s game plan, providing you with a form of tempo acceleration as they are forced to spend more resources than planned on a single card.

Instant Speed: Elite Spellbinder itself does not have instant speed, but it fits well into decks that operate at instant speed. Given its disruptive ability, it can significantly benefit from being played at the end of an opponent’s turn through flash enablers, fitting seamlessly into a strategy that prioritizes flexibility and timing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card can sometimes force a tough decision upon casting, as you must consider the value of the discarded card against the benefits of holding onto potential resources for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: The Elite Spellbinder requires both white and generic mana, which might restrict its inclusion only to decks that can consistently provide the necessary white mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two of which are color-specific, other cards might offer similar disruption effects at a lower mana investment, potentially speeding up your game strategy.


Reasons to Include Elite Spellbinder in Your Collection

Versatility: Elite Spellbinder’s ability to peek into opponents’ hands and temporarily increase the cost of a card isn’t just disruptive—it’s a strategic tool that fits into various white-centric or multicolored builds. The flyer offers both offensive pressure and crucial information, making it a flexible choice for many decks.

Combo Potential: By delaying your opponent’s key plays, this card can buy time for you to set up game-winning combinations. In decks designed around spell timing, Elite Spellbinder works to ensure your tempo stays ahead while disrupting your opponent’s strategic timeline.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowing and sculpting the battlefield is half the battle, Elite Spellbinder proves its worth. In environments where players rely on casting efficiency, being able to meddle with an opponent’s hand places you at an advantage, keeping the card relevant in many dynamic metas.


How to beat

Elite Spellbinder presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to delay your opponent’s spells and provide valuable information about their hand. This creature card can disrupt strategies effectively, but worry not, as there are strategies to counter its influence. To mitigate the setback caused by Elite Spellbinder, consider diversifying your deck with a mix of low-cost spells. This ensures that even when some of your cards are temporarily increased in cost, you still have a roster of options to play.

Another tactical approach is to include instant-speed removal spells that can swiftly eliminate the Spellbinder before its effect becomes too disruptive. Timing here is key; playing your removal at the end of your opponent’s turn ensures maximum efficacy. Additionally, you can use spells that allow you to shuffle your hand back into your library, thereby nullifying the Spellbinder’s peek at your cards and cost increase effect.

Ultimately, being adaptable and having a well-rounded deck can diminish the impact of Elite Spellbinder in your matches. Equip your arsenal with a variety of countermeasures and maintain a composed game plan when facing this potent card on the field of play.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elite Spellbinder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Elite Spellbinder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elite Spellbinder Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-11-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 899922015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 2892015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 172015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
42021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 17p2015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
52021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 17s2015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
62022-11-02Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown KitSLC 20212015NormalBorderlessAlexis Ziritt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elite Spellbinder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 If the exiled card is a modal double-faced card and its back face is a land, its owner may play it as a land. (Note that if the front face is also a land, you couldn’t have exiled it to begin with.)
2021-04-16 Playing the exiled card follows all normal timing restrictions.