Balancing Act
Odyssey 10 • rare
- Set
- Odyssey
- Collector number
- 10
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- 2 generic mana white mana white mana
- Type
- Sorcery
- Colors
- White
- Artist
- Scott M. Fischer
- Market price
- $1.75
What it does
Each player chooses a number of permanents they control equal to the number of permanents controlled by the player who controls the fewest, then sacrifices the rest. Each player discards cards the same way.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulNot legal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
Search for Balancing Act on the marketplaces collectors use.
Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Where it came from
Balancing Act was released in 2001 as part of the Odyssey expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set was designed to shift the game’s competitive landscape by emphasizing graveyard interactions and high-cost, high-impact spells. The card itself reflects the expansion's focus on dramatic board states, functioning as a symmetric reset mechanic that forces players to discard down to the same number of permanents.
The artwork was illustrated by Terese Nielsen, a prominent figure in the game's early visual identity. Her contribution captures the thematic essence of the card through surreal, balanced imagery that mirrors the mechanical effect of the spell. Upon its release, Balancing Act was recognized by players for its potential to swing the momentum of a game, solidifying its place as a quintessential white control card of the Odyssey era.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Balancing Act
Balancing Act is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Odyssey 10 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Balancing Act on collecto.rs?
Balancing Act doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Balancing Act?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other magic: the gathering collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Balancing Act catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Balancing Act is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs cards tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your cards is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every card you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
