Borborygmos MTG Card


Borborygmos offers card advantage and turns lands into offensive tools, enhancing late-game potential. Its specific mana and discard requirements may limit strategic versatility and constrain deck building. Despite a high mana cost, Borborygmos’s impact on gameplay justifies its inclusion in certain decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Cyclops
Abilities Trample
Power 6
Toughness 7

Text of card

Trample Whenever Borborygmos deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.

"It's easy to see why those Gruul dirtbags follow him—the only orders he gives are 'Crush them!' and 'We eat!'" —Teysa


Cards like Borborygmos

Borborygmos stands out in MTG as a powerful legendary creature, drawing comparisons to other Gruul clan giants like Ruric Thar, the Unbowed. While Borborygmos boasts the ability to have every land card in hand double as a source of direct damage, Ruric Thar punishes noncreature spells, dealing damage to their casters. The distinct land-to-damage conversion offers a different strategy, making Borborygmos a formidable presence, particularly in decks built around land manipulation and utilisation.

Exploring further, Omnath, Locus of Rage shares a similar synergy with lands, generating elemental tokens which can become explosive when Omnath leaves the battlefield. Unlike Borborygmos, Omnath doesn’t utilize lands as a projectile, but both cards benefit immensely from land-heavy playstyles. Lastly, we see Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer as a creature that grows with each land you control. It, however, lacks Borborygmos’s active land engagement but stands as a testament to green’s philosophy of strength in numbers.

In comparing these cards, Borborygmos offers a unique blend of aggression and utility for MTG enthusiasts. Its ability to turn lands into a resource for both offense and strategy, sets it apart in the realm of creature cards, catering to a style of play that rewards players for the lands they accumulate.

Ruric Thar, the Unbowed - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Borborygmos by color, type and mana cost

Skarrgan Skybreaker - MTG Card versions
Atarka, World Render - MTG Card versions
Loamdragger Giant - MTG Card versions
Gruul Ragebeast - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Atarka - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions
Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient - MTG Card versions
Gut, Bestial Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness - MTG Card versions
Riftburst Hellion - MTG Card versions
Skarrgan Skybreaker - MTG Card versions
Atarka, World Render - MTG Card versions
Loamdragger Giant - MTG Card versions
Gruul Ragebeast - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Atarka - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions
Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient - MTG Card versions
Gut, Bestial Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness - MTG Card versions
Riftburst Hellion - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Borborygmos enables access to additional cards due to its ability to draw a card following the discard of a land card, which not only refills your hand but also thins your deck, increasing the chances of drawing into key spells and lands.

Resource Acceleration: Borborygmos inherently accelerates your resources. Each land card in your graveyard becomes a potential source of damage against opponents or creatures, turning late-game dead draws into powerful ammunition and maintaining pressure on the board.

Instant Speed: While Borborygmos works at sorcery speed, it synergizes exceptionally with cards that operate at instant speed. This allows the player to respond immediately to threats by discarding a land card as a reaction, showcasing flexibility that aligns well with instant speed strategies in your MTG deck.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Borborygmos demands a card to be discarded to activate its ability. This could be a setback, especially in a tight game where every card in hand is a vital asset. This requirement might put you at a disadvantage by depleting your hand just to fuel Borborygmos’s ability.

Specific Mana Cost: As a legendary creature with a color identity rooted in red and green, Borborygmos requires a specific combination of mana to come into play. This necessity constrains the card to decks that can produce both types of mana consistently, which might be restrictive for players running multicolored or monocolored decks not aligned with these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes multiple colored mana symbols, Borborygmos comes at a high price, which might delay your gameplay significantly. Other creatures or spells in the game potentially offer more impact or versatility at a lower mana cost, making Borborygmos a heavier investment with a delayed payoff.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Borborygmos offers dynamic gameplay by bringing both brute strength and strategic land interaction to the battlefield, fitting well into Gruul Ramp or Landfall decks, and enhancing green-red synergies.

Combo Potential: Interactions with cards that recycle lands from the graveyard or effects that draw numerous cards can turn Borborygmos into a formidable combo piece, capable of dealing significant damage directly to opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where resilience and significant threats are key to overcoming control or combo decks, Borborygmos’ ability to consistently apply pressure can be a game-changer, making it a relevant addition to any enthusiast’s collection.


How to Beat Borborygmos

Borborygmos, the rage-induced cyclops from Magic: The Gathering, embodies the essence of raw power in the form of a formidable creature card. Standing against Borborygmos often feels like facing a tempest—brutal and unforgiving. To triumph over this Gruul clan leader, one must play smartly and defensively. It’s essential to have an array of removal spells at your disposal, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, which can neutralize the threat without much ado.

Moreover, countering Borborygmos before it can even hit the battlefield is a sage strategy. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak can serve as your shield in blue-aligned decks, preventing your opponent from unleashing the cyclops’ fury. Alternatively, you can seek refuge in enchantments like Pacifism that can render him unable to attack or block, effectively turning the raging giant into a mere spectator on the battlefield.

In summary, while this legendary creature brings a colossal presence to the game, with careful planning and the right countermeasures, one can navigate the storm that is Borborygmos and emerge victorious. It’s about outsmarting the opponent and nullifying this Gruul titan before its anger translates into overwhelming damage.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG isn’t just about understanding the individual cards, it’s about recognizing their potential within the complex tapestry of game mechanics. Borborygmos is more than a card; it’s a strategic tool that meshes force with finesse, offering intriguing options for deck builders. While it comes with its considerations regarding mana cost and card discards, the payoffs in land-based synergy are undeniable. We encourage you to explore the depth of creativity this card offers. Ready to enhance your game and discover innovative strategies with Borborygmos? Dive deeper with us and add a new level of expertise to your MTG arsenal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Borborygmos MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and RNA Guild Kit, 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 Borborygmos and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Borborygmos Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Todd Lockwood.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1032003NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 872015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Borborygmos has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2006-02-01 Borborygmos’s ability won’t save your creatures that were dealt lethal damage in combat. Those creatures will be sent to your graveyard before they would get a counter.