The 1993 Limited Edition Beta Benalish Hero, card number 4, a cornerstone of Magic: The Gathering's earliest printing with its unique Banding mechanic.
1993 • Magic: The Gathering • Limited Edition Beta
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$7.32
Released in 1993 as card number 4 in the Limited Edition Beta set, the Benalish Hero stands as a fundamental component of the original Magic: The Gathering printing. This white mana creature represents the early design philosophy of the game, offering a simple 1/1 Human Soldier body for a single white mana cost. The card’s primary collector appeal lies in its unique mechanical interaction known as Banding. This rule allows the Benalish Hero to attack in a group with other creatures, giving the controller the power to distribute combat damage among the band. This complex interaction was a defining feature of the game’s early years, creating strategic depth that distinguished it from other tabletop games of the era. Understanding this mechanic is key to appreciating the card's role in the game's evolution. For completists, securing this card is a critical step in building a complete Limited Edition Beta set. As one of the earliest printed cards, it carries the weight of Magic’s genesis, representing the era when Douglas Shuler’s artwork and Richard Garfield’s design choices established the foundation for the entire trading card game genre. Collectors often seek this card not just for its gameplay history, but for its place in the lineage of digital and physical card gaming. Whether you are building a vintage collection or studying the roots of TCG mechanics, the Benalish Hero remains a vital piece of the puzzle.
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The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
The core identity of the card within the set.
The subject, team, league, and sport context tied to this card.
Featured
Benalish Hero
Game
Magic: The Gathering
Rarity, print treatment, and game-specific stats for this card.
Common
Douglas Shuler
Card Stock
English
{W}
Creature — Human Soldier
1 / 1
W
Abilities, attacks, oracle text, and flavor text printed on the card.
Banding (Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. Bands are blocked as a group. If any creatures with banding you control are blocking or being blocked by a creature, you divide that creature's combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it's being blocked by or is blocking.)
Benalia has a complex caste system that changes with the lunar year. No matter what the season, the only caste that cannot be attained by either heredity or money is that of the hero.
