Bontu's Last Reckoning MTG Card
2017-07-14 - Number 60
2017-07-15 - Number 60s
2020-08-13 - Number 96
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Destroy all creatures. Lands you control don't untap during your next untap step.
To the last, Bontu wanted only to be first among the God-Pharaoh's subjects.
Cards like Bontu's Last Reckoning
Bontu’s Last Reckoning is a unique card within the vast array of board wipes available in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. At a glance, it can be compared to Damnation, as both cards carry the ability to destroy all creatures. The main difference lies in Bontu’s Last Reckoning’s cost of just three mana, a bargain that comes with the considerable drawback of lands not untapping during your next untap phase, setting you back temporarily in resource management.
Another parallel can be drawn with Wrath of God, which also clears the board without targeting creatures, allowing no regeneration. While Wrath of God has a heavier mana requirement, it doesn’t restrict your lands in your following turn, presenting a more balanced trade-off for some players. Languish is often thrown into the fray, offering a similar effect. However, it reduces creatures’ toughness rather than outright destroying them, potentially leaving the toughest creatures on the battlefield and offering a different strategic angle.
In essence, Bontu’s Last Reckoning holds a niche where players might willingly accept a short-term setback, through lands not untapping, in exchange for a timely and cost-efficient threat removal, reaffirming its distinctive standing among MTG’s creature control cards.
Cards similar to Bontu's Last Reckoning by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Bontu's Last Reckoning. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jeff | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Dimir Scam | Modern | Dimir Scam | Modern League 2024-02-24 |
 | 8-Rack | Modern | 8-Rack | Modern Challenge 64 2023-12-30 |
| Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer | Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer Preliminary 2023-12-26 (1) |
| Golgari Control | Pioneer | Golgari Midrange | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 |
 | Mono-Black Prison | Legacy | 2023 NA Legacy Champs | |
 | Dimir Mill | Draft | Magic Omens Open 2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Bontu’s Last Reckoning does not directly allow you to draw cards, its powerful board-wiping effect can indirectly lead to card advantage by dealing with multiple threats from your opponent with a single card. In a sense, it levels the playing field, potentially negating the card advantage an opponent has built up.
Resource Acceleration: Although Bontu’s Last Reckoning does not provide traditional resource acceleration, it’s cost-effective for a sweeper. At only three mana, this allows players to utilize a devastating board clear without significantly setting back their own mana development, keeping more expensive and impactful plays within reach sooner than with many other wraths.
Instant Speed: Bontu’s Last Reckoning is a sorcery, not an instant; however, its primary strength lies in its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies at a crucial moment during your turn. Despite not having the flexibility of an instant, the reckoning it brings to the battlefield can be considered a pivotal turning point, setting the stage for swift follow-up actions.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Bontu’s Last Reckoning requires a precise combination of mana, including two black, which might restrict it to decks heavily invested in black mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, this card can be a significant investment in the early game, potentially setting back your development if played too soon.
Discard Requirement: While not a discard effect, Bontu’s Last Reckoning imposes a similar setback by not allowing lands to untap during your next untap step, which can be a severe handicap, especially if you have no way to mitigate the downside.
Reasons to Include Bontu’s Last Reckoning in Your Collection
Versatility: Bontu’s Last Reckoning offers a powerful sweep effect at a lower mana cost than most board wipes. This card can efficiently clear the board, making it a suitable choice for a wide array of black decks from control to combo.
Combo Potential: This card sets up the board for various graveyard strategies. By resetting the battlefield, it allows players to exploit death triggers or other graveyard interactions with cards that benefits from creatures dying en masse.
Meta-Relevance: It shines in environments crowded with aggressive creature-based strategies. The ability to stop opponents in their tracks for a mere three mana can swing the tide in your favor, keeping your deck competitive in a diverse metagame.
How to beat
Bontu’s Last Reckoning is a potent board wipe that clears creatures off the battlefield for a seemingly low cost. This spell’s power lies in its affordability at three mana, but it comes with a significant drawback: your lands don’t untap during your next untap step. This drawback can give opponents a crucial opening.
Overcoming Bontu’s Last Reckoning relies on flexibility in playstyle and deck composition. Running cards capable of untapping lands, like Kiora’s Follower or mana artifacts that aren’t affected by the card’s limitation, can mitigate the tempo loss suffered. Alternatively, instant speed threats and flash-enabled creatures, such as Vendilion Clique, can be played at the end of your opponent’s turn, thus maintaining board presence and momentum post-reckoning.
Considering the strategic planning needed to navigate around this destructive spell, players can tailor their decks to either accommodate its downside or operate seamlessly in its aftermath. Keeping countermeasures in the back of your hand and being cautious about overextending on the battlefield could be key to turning Bontu’s Last Reckoning from a crippling setback to a mere hiccup in your strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bontu's Last Reckoning MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation Promos, 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 Bontu's Last Reckoning and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Bontu's Last Reckoning Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 2 | 2017-07-15 | Hour of Devastation Promos | PHOU | 60s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 96 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bontu's Last Reckoning has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bontu's Last Reckoning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-07-14 | If more than one spell says that lands you control don’t untap during your next untap step, the effects will all wear off during that untap step. You’ll untap lands you control during your untap step after that one. |
| 2017-07-14 | No lands that you control will untap during your next untap step, even lands that aren’t tapped as this spell resolves. This includes lands that enter the battlefield after this spell resolves. |