Budget Alternatives to The Walls of Ba Sing Se
Looking for a functional budget replacement for The Walls of Ba Sing Se ($22.60)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these vector-analyzed substitutes deliver comparable Versatile Deck Staple power for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for The Walls of Ba Sing Se at a Glance
That Which Was Taken
Acts as a Legendary Artifact alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 3 less mana (5 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #gives-indestructible.
Rustspore Ram
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 4 less mana (4 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #unique-type-line.
Soul of New Phyrexia
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 2 less mana (6 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-indestructible, #unique-type-line.
The Walls of Ba Sing Se
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between The Walls of Ba Sing Se and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Vector Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Walls of Ba Sing Se (Original) | Legendary Artifact Creature | $22.60 | — | — | 100% (Baseline) |
| #1 That Which Was Taken | Legendary Artifact (5 MV) | $2.65 | $19.95 | 88% | 84% Match |
| #2 Soul of New Phyrexia | Artifact Creature (6 MV) | $0.89 | $21.71 | 96% | 78% Match |
| #3 Rustspore Ram | Artifact Creature (4 MV) | $0.21 | $22.39 | 99% | 76% Match |
| #4 Mechanical Mobster | Artifact Creature (3 MV) | $0.23 | $22.37 | 99% | 65% Match |
| #5 Besieged Viking Village | Plane (0 MV) | $0.28 | $22.32 | 99% | 60% Match |
| #6 Steel Squirrel | Artifact Creature (2 MV) | $0.36 | $22.24 | 98% | 53% Match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to The Walls of Ba Sing Se
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
That Which Was Taken
(Legendary Artifact • 5 MV)
{4}, {T}: Put a divinity counter on target permanent other than That Which Was Taken. Each permanent with a divinity counter on it has indestructible.
Acts as a Legendary Artifact alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 3 less mana (5 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #gives-indestructible.
- • Costs $2.65 (88% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 84% of the mechanical power ceiling
Soul of New Phyrexia
(Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Avatar • 6 MV)
Trample {5}: Permanents you control gain indestructible until end of turn. {5}, Exile this card from your graveyard: Permanents you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 2 less mana (6 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gives-indestructible, #unique-type-line.
- • Costs $0.89 (96% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (6 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 78% of the mechanical power ceiling
Rustspore Ram
(Artifact Creature — Sheep • 4 MV)
When this creature enters, destroy target Equipment.
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 4 less mana (4 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #unique-type-line.
- • Costs $0.21 (99% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 76% of the mechanical power ceiling
Mechanical Mobster
(Artifact Creature — Human Robot Villain • 3 MV)
When this creature enters, exile up to one target card from a graveyard. Target creature you control connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 5 less mana (3 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #unique-type-line.
- • Costs $0.23 (99% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 65% of the mechanical power ceiling
Besieged Viking Village
(Plane — Earth • 0 MV)
All creatures have "Boast — {1}: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature." (Activate only if that creature attacked this turn and only once each turn.) Whenever chaos ensues, put an indestructible counter on target creature you control that attacked this turn.
Acts as a Plane alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 8 less mana (0 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #gives-indestructible.
- • Costs $0.28 (99% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (0 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 60% of the mechanical power ceiling
Steel Squirrel
(Artifact Creature — Squirrel • 2 MV)
Whenever you roll a 5 or higher on a die, this creature gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the result. {6}: Roll a six-sided die.
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se's Legendary Artifact Creature and costs 6 less mana (2 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #alliteration, #unique-type-line.
- • Costs $0.36 (98% savings over The Walls of Ba Sing Se)
- • Fills the Legendary Artifact Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Delivers 53% of the mechanical power ceiling
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates The Walls of Ba Sing Se's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is The Walls of Ba Sing Se Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require The Walls of Ba Sing Se's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $22.60 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Walls of Ba Sing Se Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
What is the best budget alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se?+
That Which Was Taken ($2.65) is the best overall alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se ($22.60), saving $19.95 (88% savings) with a 84% functional vector match.
What cards are like The Walls of Ba Sing Se in MTG?+
Cards like The Walls of Ba Sing Se include That Which Was Taken ($2.65), Soul of New Phyrexia ($0.89), Rustspore Ram ($0.21), Mechanical Mobster ($0.23). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for The Walls of Ba Sing Se?+
Rustspore Ram ($0.21) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 99% compared to The Walls of Ba Sing Se.
Why would a player want a replacement for The Walls of Ba Sing Se?+
At $22.60, The Walls of Ba Sing Se represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to The Walls of Ba Sing Se?+
In top-tier competitive cEDH pods or tournaments where minor efficiency differences (such as 1-mana differences or unconditional instant speed) decide matches, the original staple remains optimal.
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