Barrier of Bones MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Skeleton Wall |
| Abilities | Defender,Surveil |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 61 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Vincent Proce |
Text of card
Defender When Barrier of Bones enters the battlefield, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
The Dimir rarely make statements, but when they do, the message is clear.
Cards like Barrier of Bones
Barrier of Bones holds an intriguing place among creature cards with an enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effect in Magic: The Gathering. Much like Wall of Omens, it provides defensive utility as soon as it hits the field. While Wall of Omens draws you a card, Barrier of Bones offers a different avenue with its surveil mechanic, enabling you to filter your upcoming draws by looking at the top card of your deck and deciding if it stays or goes into your graveyard.
Contrasting with creatures like Augur of Skulls, which also has a bone-chilling aesthetic and a discard effect, Barrier of Bones veers towards setting up your next moves rather than disrupting your opponent’s hand directly. Mourning Thrull, another card with a skeleton theme, grants you lifegain with its extort ability, but it lacks the immediate board presence that Barrier of Bones provides as a staunch defender. Although its 0/3 body doesn’t pose a threat, its value lies in the subtle yet impactful early game decisions it facilitates.
When examining this card’s utility against others in its category, Barrier of Bones stands as a viable option for decks that benefit from graveyard strategies and defensive plays, marking its distinct role in MTG’s vast card pool.
Cards similar to Barrier of Bones by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Barrier of Bones enters the battlefield, its surveil ability lets you look at the top card of your library. You have the choice to put that card into your graveyard. This effect helps to potentially filter your draws, improving the chances of drawing into more useful cards and keeping your hand resourceful.
Resource Acceleration: Although Barrier of Bones does not directly accelerate resources like land or mana, the information you gain through surveil accelerates the quality of your resources. By selecting which cards stay on top of your library, you can strategically plan your future turns, setting up for powerful combos or ensuring you hit your land drops.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, the surveil mechanic tied to Barrier of Bones is reminiscent of instant-speed interaction. It provides immediate value upon hitting the battlefield and can be played on your turn to surprise your opponent with graveyard setup or to bluff holding up mana for an instant.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Barrier of Bones demands a card discard when utilizing its surveil ability. This prerequisite can put players at a setback, especially when hand resources are already dwindling, or when having to choose between essential cards to discard can impact the flow of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires one black mana which could be less flexible for multicolor decks that prioritize mana optimization. This cost sometimes hinders its inclusion in decks that run on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When measured against other one-mana creatures or defensive spells, Barrier of Bones can be seen as having a high mana investment for its limited defensive stats and abilities. Others in its slot might offer immediate board impact or more significant late-game potential.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Barrier of Bones fits seamlessly into multiple deck archetypes. Its ability to surveil upon entering the battlefield makes it adaptable for setting up your future draws or enhancing graveyard strategies.
Combo Potential: As a creature with a low-cost ability to surveil, it pairs well with mechanics that benefit from self-mill or when trying to achieve threshold counts of creatures in the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values efficient use of the graveyard, Barrier of Bones becomes an asset, allowing for strategic planning and potential disruption of opponent’s graveyard-centric plans.
How to beat
Barrier of Bones presents a unique challenge in a Magic: The Gathering duel with its surveil ability allowing for deck manipulation and it being a low-cost creature that can easily be slotted into any black deck. To effectively navigate around this card, one can consider removal spells as a primary option. Cards like Shock or Lightning Strike offer a cost-effective solution to eliminate the 0/3 creature without committing significant resources. Additionally, direct damage to a player can circumvent the blocker posed by Barrier of Bones.
Another strategy is to utilize enchantments that neutralize creatures without destroying them; Pacifism or Claustrophobia effectively render Barrier of Bones useless without triggering any graveyard synergies. Moreover, forcing card disadvantage through targeted discard abilities enables a player to pressure the opponent and potentially remove Barrier of Bones from their hand before it can impact the board.
Considering these tactics, players can turn the tide against opponents using Barrier of Bones by being preemptive and thoughtful with their removal choices, all the while maintaining momentum and card advantage in their favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Barrier of Bones MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Barrier of Bones and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Barrier of Bones has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Barrier of Bones card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-10-05 | When you surveil, you may put all the cards you look at back on top of your library, you may put all of those cards into your graveyard, or you may put some of those cards on top and the rest of them into your graveyard. |
| 2018-10-05 | You perform the actions stated on a card in sequence. For some spells and abilities, you’ll surveil last. For others, you’ll surveil and then perform other actions. |