Magic: The Gathering

Manabarbs

Collectors' Edition 164 • rare

Set: Collectors' Edition
Collector number: 164
Rarity: Rare
Mana cost: 3 generic mana red mana
Type: Enchantment
Colors: Red
Artist: Christopher Rush
Market price: $15.50

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$15.50est. via TCGplayer

104,743cards tracked

15other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$15.50market price via TCGplayer · Oct 7, 2026$15.33 – $15.50 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Manabarbs; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

As a rare card from the Collectors' Edition, this piece represents a distinct chapter in the history of the game. Its presence on the table serves as a constant reminder of the inherent cost of spellcasting, forcing players to carefully balance their resources against the threat of direct damage.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

Card face

What it does

Whenever a player taps a land for mana, this enchantment deals 1 damage to that player.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
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.

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Provenance

Where it came from

Manabarbs was originally released in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, designed by Richard Garfield as a punishing enchantment for the Red color identity. The card serves as a classic example of 'Red tax' mechanics, reflecting the color's thematic obsession with chaos and damage in exchange for mana usage. Its design intent was to force players to consider the cost of their resources, creating a high-stakes board state that discourages greedy land-tapping habits.

The Collectors' Edition version was produced in late 1993 for the professional gaming market. Unlike the standard game pieces, these cards feature square corners and a gold-foil back, distinguishing them from tournament-legal versions. They were intended primarily as a display set for collectors rather than for competitive play, preserving the iconic artwork of the original print run while highlighting the card's status as a staple of early Magic: The Gathering iconography.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Manabarbs

Manabarbs is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Collectors' Edition 164 • 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.

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Can I track my own copy of Manabarbs?

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Where does the Manabarbs catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Manabarbs is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.