Bill the Pony MTG Card


Bill the Pony excels in providing card advantage, ensuring players have necessary resources at critical times. Resource acceleration from this card can significantly outpace opponents, giving a clear competitive edge. The instant speed attribute of Bill the Pony grants players a flexible and responsive means to maintain control.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Horse
Abilities Food
Power 1
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Bill the Pony enters the battlefield, create two Food tokens. (They're artifacts with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.") Sacrifice a Food: Until end of turn, target creature you control assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.


Cards like Bill the Pony

Bill the Pony stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its utility in decks focused on creature support and resilience. Its closest counterparts include Norin the Wary and Augur il-Vec; both are creatures adept at avoiding danger. Norin the Wary excels in evading removal by flickering out of harm’s way in response to any trigger, making it notoriously hard to pin down. However, it doesn’t provide the same kind of group support you get from Bill the Pony.

Augur il-Vec shares the untargetability aspect due to shadow, guaranteeing it can’t be blocked or targeted by creatures without shadow. While this offers some defensive benefits, it doesn’t come with Bill the Pony’s potential for mutual defense and team resilience. Moreover, Augur il-Vec doesn’t provide the same level of synergy in a dedicated companion style deck.

To sum up, Bill the Pony delivers unique and supportive advantages within creature-based strategies, contributing to its longevity on the battlefield and its capacity to bolster its allies. It brings an interesting dynamic to the game, giving players tactical advantages not easily replicated by other cards.

Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Augur il-Vec - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Augur il-Vec - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bill the Pony by color, type and mana cost

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Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions
Kor Cartographer - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to the engaging world of MTG, players know the value of card advantage, and Bill the Pony exemplifies this principle. By enabling you to potentially draw additional cards or manipulate your deck, this card can significantly bolster your hand, ensuring you have the responses or threats you need when it matters most.

Resource Acceleration: Any veteran will testify that resource acceleration is a cornerstone of successful gameplay. Bill the Pony can positively impact your ability to summon creatures or cast spells ahead of the regular curve, giving you a decisive edge in the resource game. This acceleration is key in outpacing your opponents and asserting dominance on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is often the unsung hero of MTG, and Bill the Pony offers it in spades. Operating at instant speed allows for reactive gameplay, providing the opportunity to adapt to your opponent’s moves in real-time. This attribute is crucial for maintaining the momentum and can be the difference between victory and defeat in tightly contested matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bill the Pony compels players to discard another card to trigger certain abilities. If you’re already short on hand options, this requirement can further deplete your resources at critical moments in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Bill the Pony onto the battlefield necessitates a particular combination of mana, which constraints its integration primarily into decks that accommodate or can generate the necessary colors reliably.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a heavier mana cost than some other creatures in its category, this card might prove less efficient. Players may find alternatives that offer more value or versatility for a similar or lower investment.


Reasons to Include Bill the Pony in Your Collection

Versatility: Bill the Pony is a unique addition capable of finding a home in various decks. Its utility shines in providing life gain and as potentially a reliable blocker, beneficial for stabilizing gameplay across different formats.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies centered around creature buffs and those that capitalize on life gain. Its presence supports an array of combos and interactions, enhancing in-game strategies and dynamics.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right circumstances within the current meta, Bill the Pony could serve as a counterplay to aggressive strategies. Its ability to enhance survivability may be critical in tipping the scales in favor of more midrange or defensive decks.


How to beat

Confronting the card Bill the Pony in your MTG matchup requires a strategy that disrupts its supportive role. This plucky steed offers a unique advantage by safeguarding other creatures and bolstering your opponent’s resources. Its resilience stems from its ability to prevent damage to other creatures, making your usual removal spells less effective.

To effectively neutralize Bill the Pony, consider incorporating cards that sidestep its protection abilities. Board wipes, which deal damage to or destroy all creatures regardless of their damage-prevention skills, can be particularly potent. Spot removal that exiles or forces a player to sacrifice a creature gets around the damage prevention as well. Another tactic is to employ control cards that hinder creature abilities, rendering Bill less useful. Although direct confrontation might seem tempting, remember that targeting other components of your opponent’s gameplay can also diminish Bill the Pony’s impact on the game.

Ultimately, it’s about recognizing the support role Bill the Pony fulfills and dismantling your opponent’s strategy at its foundations. By redirecting your focus and utilizing these tips, you’re well on your way to galloping past this obstacle in your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you’ve journeyed through the strategic intricacies of MTG, the versatility and potential of Bill the Pony have likely piqued your interest. Whether it’s the card advantage it can provide, the instant-speed flexibility, or its ability to accelerate your resources, this card is a noteworthy contender for many deck strategies. However, awareness of its high mana cost and the risks involved in discarding cards is crucial to harnessing its power effectively. Keen to delve deeper into optimizing your deck with Bill the Pony and similar cards? Expand your MTG knowledge, discover new synergies, and refine your gameplay strategies with us. Learn more and enhance your collection for the many battles ahead.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bill the Pony MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Bill the Pony and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bill the Pony Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Christina Kraus.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 4542015NormalBlackChristina Kraus
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 32015NormalBlackChristina Kraus

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bill the Pony has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bill the Pony card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-06-16 Bill the Pony's last ability doesn't actually change any creature's power. It changes only the amount of combat damage it assigns. All other rules and effects that check power or toughness use the real values. For example, since having two creatures fight doesn't result in combat damage, an effect that causes the affected creature to fight another creature will still use its power to determine how much damage is dealt.
2023-06-16 Do not eat the delicious cards. No, not even for second breakfast.
2023-06-16 Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures in other sets, it's never a creature type.
2023-06-16 If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Lembas, an artifact card with the Food subtype, to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Food tokens.
2023-06-16 You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony.