Magic: The Gathering

Word of Binding

Fourth Edition 172 • common

Set: Fourth Edition
Collector number: 172
Rarity: Common
Mana cost: X mana black mana black mana
Type: Sorcery
Colors: Black
Artist: Ron Spencer
Market price: $0.12

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$0.12est. via TCGplayer

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0copies owned

1other printing of this card

Market

What it's worth

$0.12market price via TCGplayer · Aug 17, 2026$0.12 – $0.13 over the tracked period

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

Lore

Why it matters

As a sorcery from the Fourth Edition set, this card serves as a functional piece of gameplay history that reflects the foundational mechanics of its era. Though identified as a common, its distinct visual identity, provided by the artist, makes it a notable inclusion for those interested in the evolution of card illustrations.

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Card face

What it does

Tap X target creatures.

"That was the worst experience of my days: standing there helpless as they killed my whole troop."— Maeveen O'Donagh, *Memoirs of a Soldier*

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
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.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Word of Binding was first introduced in the Alpha set in 1993, representing the early experimental era of Magic: The Gathering. As a common card in the Fourth Edition, released in 1995, it was part of a foundational effort to reprint essential cards from the game's earliest years to ensure accessibility for a growing player base. The card functions as a sorcery designed to tap multiple creatures, reflecting the strategic emphasis on battlefield control during the game's infancy.

The artwork for this printing was provided by Ron Spencer, a prominent illustrator whose bold, high-contrast style became a signature of the game during the mid-nineties. Spencer's approach typically utilized dramatic lighting and visceral character designs, and for this piece, he aimed to visualize the paralyzing, restrictive nature of the spell's magic. The illustration remains a notable example of the dark, gothic aesthetic that defined the visual identity of early Magic sets.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Other printings

Every version of this card

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

Word of BindingThe Dark · #55 · common · 1994$0.28

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Word of Binding

Word of Binding is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Fourth Edition 172 • common. 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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Where does the Word of Binding catalog entry come from?

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