Bortuk Bonerattle MTG Card


With instant speed and card retrieval, Bortuk Bonerattle excels at optimizing graveyard strategies in play. Its demand for a discard and specific mana restricts use but adds a layer of strategic resource management. Bortuk fosters combos and provides a recurring threat, making it a meta-relevant card in black-based decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Troll Shaman
Abilities Domain
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Domain — When Bortuk Bonerattle enters the battlefield, if you cast it, choose target creature card in your graveyard. Return that card to the battlefield if its mana value is less than or equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control. Otherwise, put it into your hand.


Cards like Bortuk Bonerattle

Dwelling in the space of intriguing tribal commanders, Bortuk Bonerattle offers versatility and power for those who finesse with goblin and shaman decks in MTG. Bortuk finds peers in cards like Wort, the Raidmother. Both are shamanic characters that enhance spells through their abilities. While Bortuk targets capsized creature cards and demands a strategic graveyard setup for optimal play value, Wort hinges on doubling spells and coordinating massive team-up spells, converting mere sorceries into overwhelming forces.

Bortuk’s niche also brushes against commanders like Krenko, Mob Boss, who automates the generation of goblin tokens. This highlights one of Bortuk’s limitations as it requires tighter resource management and specific conditions to exploit its full potential. Krenko, for his part, demands less setup to escalate the goblin army on the battlefield. Similarly, Dralnu, Lich Lord is in the conversation, with both cards sharing a certain affinity for graveyard mechanics. Dralnu presents a higher-risk, higher-reward style by allowing you to cast spells directly from the graveyard but at the potential cost of sacrificing lands.

Bortuk Bonerattle carves out a distinct personality in MTG, combining the tribal synergies of goblins and shamans with a unique recursion capability, standing out from peers that favor straightforward token creation or spell-doubling for their strengths. Wizards of the Coast carefully calibration ensures Bortuk offers an enchanting tactical depth for shamans and goblin enthusiasts.

Wort, the Raidmother - MTG Card versions
Krenko, Mob Boss - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions
Wort, the Raidmother - MTG Card versions
Krenko, Mob Boss - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions

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Loathsome Catoblepas - MTG Card versions
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Izoni, Thousand-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Skanos, Black Dragon Vassal - MTG Card versions
Yargle and Multani - MTG Card versions
Invasion of Lorwyn // Winnowing Forces - MTG Card versions
Shelob, Child of Ungoliant - MTG Card versions
Izoni, Center of the Web - MTG Card versions
Sludge Titan - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Bortuk Bonerattle. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBRGWUBRG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 19, 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bortuk Bonerattle is a significant contributor to card advantage as it enables the retrieval of a creature card from the graveyard directly to your hand. This not only replenishes your resources but also allows you to reuse potentially game-changing abilities inherent to the creature you return.

Resource Acceleration: This card aides in resource acceleration by allowing you to filter through your deck and fill your graveyard with creature cards, which can be an indirect way to access more of your resources efficiently, especially in decks that synergize with graveyard strategies.

Instant Speed: Bortuk Bonerattle’s ability to act at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond reactively to the state of the game. You can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to utilize its effect or in response to an action, potentially disrupting their strategies while progressing your own game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bortuk Bonerattle demands a card to be discarded upon casting which can deplete your hand when you’re already managing resources tightly.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a unique mana cost that includes black mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that can produce that type of mana reliably.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep mana investment for its specific abilities, players may find other options that provide similar benefits with a lower investment or added versatility.


Reasons to Include Bortuk Bonerattle in Your Collection

Versatility: Bortuk Bonerattle offers flexibility for deck builders due to his ability to serve as both an aggressive early threat and a late-game value engine. His death trigger provides utility in a variety of board states, making him a multipurpose tool in any black-based deck.

Combo Potential: Known for his synergistic traits, Bortuk enhances strategies revolving around creature sacrifice and graveyard interactions. He can become a recurring component in combos, allowing players to leverage his death trigger for strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: With games often hinging on incremental advantages, Bortuk Bonerattle fits into the current metagame by providing persistent threat and card advantage, which is crucial against control decks and attrition-based matchups.


How to Beat Bortuk Bonerattle

Bortuk Bonerattle is a card that demands strategic consideration to overpower effectively in Magic: The Gathering. This creature’s presence can impact the battlefield substantially due to its ability to complicate the game for an opponent. Neutralizing Bortuk Bonerattle involves preemptive control measures such as counterspells to prevent it from resolving in the first place or removal spells to deal with it after it’s on the board.

When facing Bortuk Bonerattle, one effective tactic is to utilize instant-speed removal spells to eradicate this creature before its abilities have the chance to influence the match. Board wipes can also offer a clean slate, neutralizing the issue altogether. Alternatively, exiling effects are particularly potent, as they prevent any recurrence that could arise from gravedigger abilities or reanimation strategies frequently associated with creature cards like Bortuk Bonerattle.

Ultimately, keeping the board clear of Bortuk Bonerattle is a sound approach to maintaining control over the game. Engage with cards that either preempt or immediately respond to this creature’s play to hold the upper hand and to dilute Bortuk Bonerattle’s potential influence.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bortuk Bonerattle MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United, 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 Bortuk Bonerattle and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bortuk Bonerattle Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 2962015NormalBlackJustin Hernandez & Alexis Hernandez
22022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 1972015NormalBlackWayne Reynolds
32022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 3372015NormalBlackJustin Hernandez & Alexis Hernandez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bortuk Bonerattle has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 Domain abilities count the number of basic land types among lands you control, not how many lands you control or how many of any type.
2022-09-09 The basic land types are Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. Land types other than basic land types (such as Desert) don’t contribute to domain abilities.