# 2023 Magic: The Gathering The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth #195

> The Balrog, Durin's Bane is a legendary demon card from Magic: The Gathering's 2023 Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, featuring a distinctive foil finish.

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## Identity

- **Year**: 2023
- **Manufacturer brand**: Magic: The Gathering
- **Set / series**: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
- **Card number**: #195
- **Product type**: TCG_CARD

## Description

The Balrog, Durin's Bane, designated as card number 195, is a formidable presence within Magic: The Gathering's 2023 Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth expansion. This legendary creature, categorized as an Avatar Demon, commands a mana cost of {5}{B}{R} and boasts a power/toughness of 7/5. The card's unique ability allows players to reduce its casting cost by sacrificing permanents, while its Haste keyword enables immediate impact on the battlefield. Furthermore, the restriction that it can only be blocked by legendary creatures adds a strategic layer that appeals to competitive and casual collectors alike.

Artwork for this card was created by Kekai Kotaki, bringing the fearsome entity to life with striking detail. The foil treatment enhances the visual appeal, making it a desirable addition for those focusing on parallel collecting or completing the Tales of Middle-earth set. As a high-impact card in the Magic Trading Card Game, it represents a key intersection of fantasy literature and strategic gameplay.

## FAQ

### What set is The Balrog, Durin's Bane from?

This card is from the Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, released by Wizards of the Coast in 2023 for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game.

### What are the abilities of The Balrog, Durin's Bane?

The card has Haste, costs {1} less to cast for each permanent sacrificed this turn, cannot be blocked except by legendary creatures, and destroys a target artifact or creature when it dies.

### Who illustrated this Magic card?

The illustration for card number 195 in the Tales of Middle-earth set was created by artist Kekai Kotaki.

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Last verified: 2025-11-29.