Bind the Monster
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
When this Aura enters, tap enchanted creature. It deals damage to you equal to its power.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Kaldheim
- Price
- $0.14
- EDHREC rank
- #22086
Bind the Monster taps a creature and slaps an Aura on it that keeps it tapped every upkeep — for a single blue mana. It's the cheapest tap-lock effect in the format, and in Commander that means one problematic creature stays neutralized indefinitely for almost no investment.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Bind the Monster punches well above its cost — one blue mana to neutralize a commander or a threatening creature until someone deals with the enchantment is a real tempo swing, and blue decks that want cheap interaction slot it easily. In Pauper, where cheap enchantment removal is limited, Bind the Monster can lock out a key attacker for long stretches and sees niche play in tempo and control shells. Modern and Legacy move too fast for a tap effect with no immediate card advantage to compete with counterspells or bounce, so it sits firmly on the bench in those formats. Pioneer sits in the same boat — the card is legal but rarely seen, outclassed by more permanent answers.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.14 bulk tier
At $0.14, Bind the Monster is deep bulk — you're getting a legitimate piece of interaction for the price of a sleeve. Bulk commons with narrow but real utility tend to stay at this floor indefinitely, so there's no meaningful price risk in picking up a playset.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.