Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Exploring Sentiment Around a Bant Artifact Across MTG Forums
In the grand tapestry of MTG discourse, some cards become quiet yardbirds—never the flashiest, but always trustworthy enough to show up in the right moment. Obelisk of Bant is one of those artifacts that thread the needle between nostalgia and practicality. Born in Shards of Alara, this three-mana artifact taps for green, white, or blue mana. It’s a humble fixer, a three-color enabler, and a talking point in forum threads about how multicolor needs are balanced against tempo and speed. 🧙🔥💎
When players and deck builders comb through forum threads, Obelisk of Bant tends to surface in conversations about color fixing in three-color Bant shells. The community often frames it as a cautious but dependable option for early three-color builds, especially in EDH/Commander where mana fixing is king and color availability can decide wins or losses many turns down the road. The card’s low rarity—common in Shards of Alara—adds to its “budget-tested, no-nonsense” appeal, a topic that frequently pops up in budget-to-midrange bant lists. In a game where unspells and unfixes can stall games, this artifact is the kind of tool that signals you’re playing to a three-color plan without blowing up your curve. 🎲
What players like: reliability, flavor, and a touch of bang-for-the-buck
- Predictable mana fix: Tapping for G, W, or U is the essence of Bant’s identity—green for ramp, white for defensive tempo, blue for countermagic and card draw. The Obelisk consoles that tri-color fix with a single activation, which players appreciate when building a curve that wants to avoid color-screws late in the game. ⚔️
- Budget-friendly access: As a common artifact, it’s accessible to casual players and intro-to-bant commanders alike, making it a frequent mention in discussions about “strong, value-driven” inclusions in budget decks. Its price point—modest in casual markets—also factors into forum sentiment as a reliable, low-risk pick. 💎
- Flavor that lands: The flavor text ties Bant’s pillars—loyalty, honor, truth—directly to the obelisks themselves. For lore-minded players, the object is more than a fixer—it’s a symbol the community can rally around in discussions about the identity of Bant across cards and sets. 🎨
What players dislike: tempo trade-offs and the limits of an artifact fixer
- Tempo costs and timing: While fixing is valuable, Obelisk does not accelerate you beyond the three-mana mark. Some threads emphasize that in fast formats or highly aggressive metas, a three-mana tap for mana might be outpaced by faster mana rocks or more aggressive strategies. The short wait before you get to cast your triple-colored spells can feel clunky in certain game states. 🧭
- Limited immediate impact: In formats that prize explosive turns, the immediate payoff of tapping Obelisk for three colors can be eclipsed by more proactive solutions—think mana rocks that spit out pressure or acceleration spells that grant immediate advantage. This balance between long-term fix and short-term tempo often drives the back-and-forth on forums. ⚔️
- Context matters: The card shines inCommander where you stabilize across multiple turns, but in strictly two-player, early-game cadences, the artifact’s value can be more situational. Community members frequently debate “when is fixing enough” in a multicolor strategy, and Obelisk is often cited as a case study in that puzzle. 🎲
“A rock that doesn’t win the game by itself but can unlock a cascade of properly colored spells later is exactly the kind of puzzle Bant loves to solve.”
Strategic context: where this artifact fits in gameplay and deck design
In Modern-legal play, Obelisk of Bant tends to live in longer, more resilient builds where color access must be guaranteed across a crowded mana base. In Commander, where three-color commitments are common and decks run a wider array of spells, its ability to provide one mana of each of three colors can be a game-deciding feature, especially when paired with mana rocks that smooth the early turns. The card’s presence often nudges players to prioritize mana-fixing in the 2- to 4-mana range—enabling smoother turns into the midgame, where Bant’s characteristic tempo and control elements can start to shine. 🧙♂️⚡
For deck builders entertaining the idea of a Bant-styled shell, Obelisk of Bant can be a backbone for fusion strategies: a deck leaning into efficient multicolor land drops, protection spells, and a suite of threat-rich cards that demand different colors on demand. The artifact’s color identity of G/U/W gives designers a broad palette—from green’s ramp to white’s protective enchantments and blue’s control options—creating an elegant trinity that forum analytics often celebrate as “flexible but disciplined.” 🎨
lore, art, and design: the story behind the obelisks
David Palumbo’s illustration gives the obelisk a ceremonious presence, aligning with Bant’s values. The flavor text underscores the symbolic weight of these monuments—castles, banners, and lone monuments—standing as emblems of loyalty, honor, and truth. This narrative flavor resonates in fan discussions as more than a mechanical utility; it’s a tactile touchstone for Bant’s ethos within a sprawling multiverse. For collectors and lore lovers, the card becomes a touchpoint linking gameplay to story—an enduring reminder that even a modest artifact can carry a world of meaning. 🎲
From a design perspective, its simplicity is part of its charm. No mana fixing gimmicks, no activated abilities beyond the tap. It respects the color wheel, honors the shard’s identity, and fits neatly into the broader architecture of Shards of Alara’s three-color shards. This efficiency is precisely why it remains a talking point years after its release in 2008. The set’s release window—the late 2000s—also fuels nostalgic threads where players reminisce about the wobble and wonder of early modern-day three-color strategies. 🧙🔥
Value, collectability, and where to find it today
In casual price threads, Obelisk of Bant sits at a budget-friendly level, with the data showing around USD 0.21 for non-foil and about USD 0.27 for foil copies, with similar values in euros. While not a centerpiece for investment discussions, its accessibility makes it a common sight in trade forums and deck-building chats, where players trade ideas and cards alike. Its status as a common from Shards of Alara means that while it’s not a chase foil, it still has a place in the collector’s binder for those who love complete sets or want a well-rounded Bant theme. Plus, it’s a handsome reminder of a block that introduced a whole nation’s vibe into the multiverse. 🧙♂️💎
For players who want to pair gameplay value with familiar design, keeping an eye on pricing charts, and perhaps snagging foil versions for display alongside a commander table, can be a fun way to celebrate a card that quietly keeps a multicolor engine honest. The card’s presence in multiple formats, including Commander and vintage-legal environments, ensures that discussions around it persist in forums and social channels.
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