Book Burning MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Mill |
| Released | 2002-05-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Judgment |
| Set code | JUD |
| Number | 80 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Dorman |
Text of card
Unless a player has Book Burning deal 6 damage to him or her, put the top six cards of target player's library into his or her graveyard.
The wizard's spellbook was full of burning questions.
Cards like Book Burning
Book Burning is a unique spell in the Magic: The Gathering card pool that reflects the versatile and strategic nature of red spells. It draws a parallel to cards like Mindclaw Shaman, which also dips into the opponent’s deck, albeit for casting the retrieved card without paying its mana cost. Book Burning, however, presents the choice of dealing direct damage or potentially disrupting the opposing deck’s strategy by milling cards.
Another related card is Ghitu Firebreathing which, like Book Burning, plays with red’s ability to deal damage. While Ghitu Firebreathing focuses on scaling a creature’s power, Book Burning can be a double-edged sword that either removes an opponent’s key cards or brings them closer to defeat through damage. We also can’t overlook Breaking Point, part of the dilemma series, which places the decision in the hands of the opponent—similar in spirit to Book Burning’s design.
In essence, Book Burning might not be the most efficient card in pure burn or mill strategies, but it holds its ground as a hybrid that can surprise opponents and adapt to the dual roles it offers in gameplay, a distinction that gives it a special place in Magic: The Gathering strategies.
Cards similar to Book Burning by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Book Burning can potentially put six cards from a player’s library into their graveyard, setting them back in terms of available resources. If an opponent chooses not to take the damage, they risk valuable cards being milled.
Resource Acceleration: While Book Burning itself does not directly accelerate resources, the act of milling cards can fuel strategies that benefit from having a stocked graveyard, indirectly contributing to a player’s resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: Although Book Burning is a sorcery, its impact on the game can be as crucial as that of an instant speed spell. Quickly changing the dynamics of a player’s library, it demands attention as soon as it’s played, shaping your opponent’s strategies around its effects.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Book Burning’s effectiveness hinges on your opponent’s choice, potentially requiring you to discard six cards if they choose not to take the damage. This can deplete your hand and leave you at a disadvantage, particularly in games where maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both red and generic mana, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that may struggle with color-specific mana requirements, especially in formats with a highly competitive mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 1R and an additional cost of revealing it while having no cards in hand, Book Burning’s six damage or mill effect can be costly compared to other cards that may provide more impact or versatility for a similar or reduced mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Book Burning is a unique addition that garners attention in decks focusing on direct damage or graveyard strategies. Its flexibility in either milling or dealing damage based on a choice makes it adaptable for varied playstyles.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in combo decks aiming for a big finish. It works well with cards that capitalize on graveyard fill or punishing opponents for damaged life totals, increasing its tactical applicability.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to disrupt an opponent’s strategy by either milling their deck or chipping away at their life, Book Burning holds relevance in metas where control or graveyard-based strategies are prevalent.
How to beat
Book Burning can be a tricky card to face in any MTG match due to its potential for causing significant damage or library disruption. However, there are strategies to mitigate its impact. Being a sorcery, Book Burning’s effect is limited to the caster’s main phases, giving opponents a window to respond. Moreover, since it allows for player choice, anticipate the decision that would be less detrimental and plan accordingly.
If you have counterspell options, such as Negate or Counterspell itself, keeping mana open to cast them when your opponent plays Book Burning is wise. Alternatively, graveyard manipulation can turn this threatening card to your advantage. Using cards that benefit from having a loaded graveyard, like Tarmogoyf, or those that can shuffle your graveyard back into your library, such as Elixir of Immortality, can nullify the potential damage or loss of crucial cards.
Playing around Book Burning means staying flexible and assessing the board state carefully. Don’t let it catch you off-guard, and make your deck resilient to such threats. This way, you can continue your game plan without skipping a beat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Book Burning MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Book Burning 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Book Burning has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |