In the Darkness Bind Them MTG Card


The card disrupts opponents while boosting your own board state, essential for maintaining control. Playable at instant speed, it provides vital adaptability during crucial game moments. It has a high mana cost, so it competes with other impactful options in the same slot.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Saga

Text of card

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after IV.) I, II, III — Create a 3/3 black Wraith creature token with menace. The Ring tempts you. IV — For each opponent, gain control of up to one target creature that player controls until end of turn. Untap those creatures. They gain haste until end of turn. The Ring tempts you.


Cards like In the Darkness Bind Them

In the Darkness Bind Them carves its niche within the enchantment realm of MTG. This card shares its dark allure with other binding enchantments like Darksteel Mutation. Both enchantments have the primary function of neutering a target creature, yet In the Darkness Bind Them allows creatures to still attack and block, unlike Darksteel Mutation which removes those abilities.

Another parallel can be drawn with Lignify — both enchantments transform powerful creatures into less threatening entities on the board. While Lignify turns a creature into a mere 0/4 Treefolk with no abilities, In the Darkness Bind Them takes a different approach by locking a creature’s power and toughness to 0/2. It’s a subtle but strategic difference that can influence gameplay significantly.

Assessing these comparisons, In the Darkness Bind Them presents a unique blend of control and utility. It allows players to handle formidable threats differently, by leaving a creature’s utility intact but significantly diminishing its power. Unique in its execution, this enchantment adds strategic depth for players in MTG, particularly in formats where such nuances can swing the tide of a match.

Darksteel Mutation - MTG Card versions
Lignify - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Mutation - MTG Card versions
Lignify - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the Darkness Bind Them offers a unique edge by potentially disrupting your opponent’s hand while replenishing your own spells or creatures. This can swing the momentum in your favor by removing key pieces from their strategy and enhancing your resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card can contribute to resource acceleration by allowing shortcuts to powerful spells or creatures, depending on what is exiled from the opponent’s hand. Access to additional resources can be a game-changer, offering a faster route to deploy your game-winning threats.

Instant Speed: The ability to play In the Darkness Bind Them at instant speed provides strategic flexibility. It enables you to adapt to the state of the game more effectively, choosing the optimal moment to disrupt your opponent’s plans without sacrificing the advancement of your own board state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: ‘In the Darkness Bind Them’ necessitates players to discard cards, potentially draining valuable hand assets which can be particularly detrimental in the late game when each card’s strategic value tends to be higher.

Specific Mana Cost: With a stringent mana cost that includes black mana, this card’s playability is restricted to decks that can produce the necessary colors, limiting its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its higher mana requirement for activation, ‘In the Darkness Bind Them’ competes with other impactful cards in similar mana slots which may offer either more immediate or versatile effects, potentially relegating this card to more niche roles within a deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include In the Darkness Bind Them in Your Collection

Versatility: In the Darkness Bind Them offers a robust answer to a wide array of threats on the battlefield. It’s a card that can slide into multiple deck types due to its ability to disrupt opponent strategies and bolster your own board position.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with other cards that thrive on graveyard manipulation or condition-based triggers. It can become a linchpin in a combo setup that revolves around card recursion or sacrifice mechanics, making it a key enabler in powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: With shifting meta landscapes, having a card like In the Darkness Bind Them ensures you have an adaptable response to a variety of popular deck archetypes. Staying ahead of the curve with cards that can potentially alter game dynamics is essential, and this card can help you do just that.


How to beat In the Darkness Bind Them

In the Darkness Bind Them sets itself as a challenge for many players within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. With its capacity to potentially disable an opponent’s key creature, it clearly represents a significant threat on the board. To overcome this obstacle, a direct approach would be employing removal spells that can target enchantments, such as Disenchant or Krosan Grip, which can swiftly deal with such enchantments and free your creature from its constraints.

Another effective strategy could involve employing hexproof or shroud as a preemptive measure to avoid falling prey to this spell in the first place. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots or Lazotep Plating can provide the needed protection. In scenarios where In the Darkness Bind Them has already resolved, focusing on cards that can bounce your own creatures back to your hand can turn the tide, like with Unsummon or Barrin, Tolarian Archmage. These moves not only reclaim your creature but also render the opponent’s spell useless.

Ultimately, while In the Darkness Bind Them can be a vexing card to face, the key is in having the right countermeasures in your deck. This foresight ensures you’re prepared for such hindrances, ultimately giving you the upper hand in any duel where darkness attempts to bind your forces.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is about skillfully adapting to each new card and strategy that emerges. In the Darkness Bind Them is a nuanced addition that offers both challenges and advantages. Whether it’s bolstering your defensive line by disrupting an opponent or unlocking potential through its combo capabilities, this card can be a strategic asset when used wisely. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses, and implementing the right tactics against it, will further refine your gameplay. As you continue on your quest for dominance across the planes, consider In the Darkness Bind Them as a potential cornerstone in your deck’s arsenal. Dive deeper with us to integrate this spellbinding card into your winning strategies.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase In the Darkness Bind Them MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 In the Darkness Bind Them and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The In the Darkness Bind Them Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 4652015SagaBlackLack
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 582015SagaBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where In the Darkness Bind Them has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
2023-06-16 Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
2023-06-16 If a creature targeted by In the Darkness Bind Them's final chapter ability changes controllers before the ability resolves, that creature is no longer a legal target.
2023-06-16 If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
2023-06-16 The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
2023-06-16 The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.
2023-06-16 When In the Darkness Bind Them's final chapter ability triggers, you can choose to target no creatures just so that the Ring tempts you. However, if you do choose at least one target, and all of those targets are illegal at the time the ability tries to resolve, the ability won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. The Ring won't tempt you.
2023-06-16 While resolving In the Darkness Bind Them's first three chapter abilities, you can choose the Wraith token you just created to be your Ring-bearer as the Ring tempts you.