Boil MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 165
1998-08-12 - Number bs165sb
1999-04-21 - Number 169
1999-08-04 - Number kb165sb
2000-08-02 - Number jk169sb
2001-04-11 - Number 177
2001-04-11 - Number 177★
2001-08-08 - Number jt177sba
2003-07-28 - Number 180
2003-07-28 - Number 180★
2017-04-28 - Number 47
| Card sets | Released in 11 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Destroy all islands.
"The fishers will throw out their nets and draw them back filled with dust." —Oracle *en*-Vec
Cards like Boil
Boil is a distinctive magic card with the power to disrupt opponents by destroying all Islands. Its efficacy can be likened to cards such as Choke, which also targets the same land type but by simply restricting their ability to untap, instead of outright removal. This more subtle approach of Choke can quietly cripple an opponent’s mana without the immediate devastation Boil offers.
Another similar spell is Tsunami, which is also a game-changer in the right setting. It carries the same land destruction theme against Islands but differs as it doesn’t affect nonbasic Islands, a limitation when compared to Boil. On the flip side, we have Flashfires, which targets Plains instead of Islands. This provides an advantage in metagames where white mana predominates over blue. Though the cards aim at different land types, their strategic use to unsettle specific manabases remains consistent.
In summarizing the comparative value, Boil holds a significant place within the realm of land disruption in MTG. Its ability to impact both basic and nonbasic Islands grants it a substantial edge in matches against heavy blue-manabase decks.
Cards similar to Boil by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Boil provides a potential advantage by disrupting opponents who heavily rely on Islands as their mana base. It can effectively wipe out a substantial portion of an opponent’s lands, indirectly leading to card advantage when they lose access to resources needed for playing their spells.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly serving as a resource accelerator for the user, Boil can severely decelerate an opponent’s resources. This creates a form of indirect resource acceleration for you by putting them behind in the race for board presence and available mana, giving you a competitive edge as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: The beauty of Boil lies in its instant speed nature. This allows for strategic plays during the end of an opponent’s turn, catching them off-guard and potentially destroying their lands before they have the chance to tap them for mana or respond with countermeasures. The ability to act at instant speed also means you can efficiently manage your own mana, waiting to see if a more pressing threat needs to be addressed before committing to the spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Boil doesn’t ask for a card to be discarded, it’s crucial to note that leveraging such a potent spell necessitates careful hand management. The loss of a valuable card could turn the tides against you.
Specific Mana Cost: Boil’s mana cost strictly requires red, potentially restricting its inclusion to mono-red or two-color decks that can accommodate red mana with ease.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding cost of three and one red mana, Boil may arrive too late against swift land deployments, where early game control is crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Boil is a powerful choice for any red deck due to its ability to disrupt opponents playing with nonbasic Island cards. Its place in sideboards is well-earned, as it can turn the tide in matches where blue-based control decks dominate.
Combo Potential: This card pairs flawlessly with strategies that aim to dismantle an opponent’s land base. It can be a decisive advantage when combined with land-targeting effects, unleashing a destructive wave against blue-heavy opponents.
Meta-Relevance: With many players leaning towards multicolored decks that rely on nonbasic Islands, Boil becomes an essential tool. Its meta relevance is heightened in environments where blue control decks are prevalent, offering a potent countermeasure to those strategies.
How to Beat
Successfully navigating the challenges posed by the card Boil in Magic: The Gathering requires an understanding of its strengths and potential weaknesses. Boil is a powerful spell capable of destroying all Islands on the battlefield, which could be a massive setback for players heavily relying on blue mana. To counter this, diversifying your mana base becomes crucial, incorporating non-Island sources such as dual lands that don’t count as Island or utilizing mana rocks and other artifacts for mana generation.
Adjusting your strategy can also help mitigate the impact of Boil. This includes playing spells and creatures that have a low dependency on blue mana or having countermeasures ready such as counterspells to prevent Boil from resolving. Another tactic is to bait your opponent into using Boil prematurely, before you deploy your critical Islands or blue-threats. Moreover, leaning on versatile land spells that allow you to search your library for non-Island basic lands will ensure that your mana flow remains uninterrupted, even in the face of such a threatening spell.
Ultimately, the key to beating Boil lies in the anticipation of the card and maintaining a flexible and resilient mana base, rendering this powerful destruction spell far less effective against your carefully crafted game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Boil MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Boil 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Boil Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2017-04-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 165 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bs165sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 169 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 4 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | kb165sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 5 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | jk169sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 6 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 177 | 1997 | Normal | White | Christopher Moeller | |
| 7 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 177★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 8 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | jt177sba | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Christopher Moeller | |
| 9 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 180 | 2003 | Normal | White | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 10 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 180★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
| 11 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet Invocations | MP2 | 47 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Philip Straub |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Boil has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |