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Hands of Binding

{1}{U}

Sorcery

GTCGatecrash#37common
Finishes
Nonfoil · Foil
Border
black
Frame
2003
Illustrator
Raymond Swanland
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality

Constructed

StandardNot legal
PioneerLegal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
PauperLegal

Commander

CommanderLegal
Pauper CommanderLegal
Duel CommanderLegal
PreDHNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
Tiny LeadersLegal

Arena

AlchemyNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
BrawlNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlNot legal
GladiatorNot legal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
Future StandardNot legal
Tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step. Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)
Cipher
Plays as:
Combat Damage TriggerTapper
Market · per finishtrend updated 5h ago · prices as of Oct 15, 2026
$0.03 low$0.02 gap
Foil$0.62+31.9%
$0.15 low$0.07 gap
Cheapest playable copy$0.15· across 1 printing· you're viewing it

Price history

last 30 days · set by the window above · each finish on its own scale
Nonfoil$0.15-11.8%30D
30D range$0.15to$0.19Since Feb 2024:H $0.19L $0.06
Foil$0.62+31.9%30D4.13× nonfoil
30D range$0.47to$0.62Since Feb 2024:H $0.69L $0.08

Other printings

1 totalCompare all printings

Found in

10 productsRounded odds
  • Gatecrash MTGO Redemption

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  • Gatecrash MTGO Redemption Foil

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    Nonfoil —Foil 1+ copies
  • Gatecrash Prerelease Kit Dimir

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    Nonfoil under 50%Foil —
  • Dragons Maze Prerelease Guild Kit Dimir

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  • Gatecrash Booster Pack

    Booster Pack · $7.23

    Nonfoil under 10%Foil under 1%
  • Dragons Maze Prerelease Guild Kit Golgari

    Limited Aid Tool · —

    Nonfoil under 10%Foil —
  • Dragons Maze Prerelease Guild Kit Azorius

    Limited Aid Tool · $39.88

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  • Dragons Maze Prerelease Guild Kit Izzet

    Limited Aid Tool · $39.45

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  • Dragons Maze Prerelease Guild Kit Rakdos

    Limited Aid Tool · $37.50

    Nonfoil under 10%Foil —
  • Gatecrash Six Card Booster Pack

    Booster Pack · —

    Nonfoil under 10%Foil —

Rulings

13 · latest Apr 15, 2013
  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If a creature with an encoded card deals combat damage to more than one player simultaneously (perhaps because some of the combat damage was redirected), the triggered ability will trigger once for each player it deals combat damage to. Each ability will create a copy of the exiled card and allow you to cast it.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If another player gains control of the creature, that player will control the triggered ability. That player will create a copy of the encoded card and may cast it.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If the creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card will no longer be encoded on any creature. It will stay exiled.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If the spell with cipher doesn't resolve, none of its effects will happen, including cipher. The card will go to its owner's graveyard and won't be encoded on a creature.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If you choose not to cast the copy, or you can't cast it (perhaps because there are no legal targets available), the copy will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. You won't get a chance to cast the copy at a later time.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    If you want to encode the card with cipher onto a noncreature permanent such as a Keyrune that can turn into a creature, that permanent has to be a creature before the spell with cipher starts resolving. You can choose only a creature to encode the card onto.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    The copy of the card with cipher is created in and cast from exile.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    The exiled card with cipher grants a triggered ability to the creature it's encoded on. If that creature loses that ability and subsequently deals combat damage to a player, the triggered ability won't trigger. However, the exiled card will continue to be encoded on that creature.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    The spell with cipher is encoded on the creature as part of that spell's resolution, just after the spell's other effects. That card goes directly from the stack to exile. It never goes to the graveyard.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    You cast the copy of the card with cipher during the resolution of the triggered ability. Ignore timing restrictions based on the card's type.

  • WotCApr 15, 2013

    You choose the creature as the spell resolves. The cipher ability doesn't target that creature, although the spell with cipher may target that creature (or a different creature) because of its other abilities.

  • WotCJan 24, 2013

    If a different player gains control of the creature that was tapped by Hands of Binding, Hands of Binding will stop that creature from untapping during its new controller's next untap step.

  • WotCJan 24, 2013

    If the creature that was tapped by Hands of Binding is untapped during its controller's next untap step (perhaps because a spell untapped it), Hands of Binding has no effect at that time. It won't apply at some later time when the creature is tapped.