Bulwark MTG Card


Bulwark enhances defense and preserves player resources, enabling a sustainable advantage in game. Instant speed play provides tactical flexibility in response to opponents’ actions, bolstering in-game strategies. When combined with cards that maximize hand size, Bulwark can form an impenetrable defense, critical in long matches.
Bulwark - Urza's Saga
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameUrza's Saga
Set codeUSG
Number178
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrian Snõddy

Text of card

During your upkeep, Bulwark deals 1 damage to target opponent for each card in your hand greater than the number of cards in that player's hand.

"It will be the goblin's first bath, and its last." —Fire Eye, viashino bey


Cards like Bulwark

Bulwark is an intriguing enchantment that offers a distinct advantage for players with a full hand in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable cards that also take advantage of a player’s hand size include Ivory Tower and Venser’s Journal. Ivory Tower grants life proportional to the number of cards in hand during the upkeep phase, though it doesn’t match the direct damage potential that Bulwark has. Venser’s Journal provides a static life gain for each card held when your turn concludes, contrasting Bulwark’s reliance on continually maintaining a large hand for optimal effect.

Another card worth mentioning is Spellbook, which allows an unlimited hand size, much like Bulwark; however, Spellbook lacks the board influence that comes with dealing damage to opponents according to hand size. It is worth noting that while Spellbook is cost-free, Bulwark comes with a mana investment. The strategy turns less on cost efficiency and more on the tactical advantage of leveraging a bountiful hand to pressure the opponent.

After examining the nuances and overall impact of hand-size-related MTG cards, Bulwark holds its ground as a powerful tool for those who can sustain a substantial hand, affecting all opponents rather than gaining individual benefits. Its uniqueness is characterized by the offensive edge it provides in the right circumstances.

Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Venser's Journal - MTG Card versions
Spellbook - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Venser's Journal - MTG Card versions
Spellbook - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bulwark by color, type and mana cost

Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Crescendo - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
Aether Charge - MTG Card versions
Gratuitous Violence - MTG Card versions
Extra Arms - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Curse of Bloodletting - MTG Card versions
Pyroconvergence - MTG Card versions
Tin Street Market - MTG Card versions
Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Crescendo - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
Aether Charge - MTG Card versions
Gratuitous Violence - MTG Card versions
Extra Arms - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Curse of Bloodletting - MTG Card versions
Pyroconvergence - MTG Card versions
Tin Street Market - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the Bulwark card, you increase your defensive capabilities while maintaining card flow. It can effectively counter multiple threats from your opponent, helping to sustain a lead in resources and board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Bulwark may offer cost reduction mechanics or other benefits that enable faster deployment of your strategies. By reinforcing your position, you can potentially outpace your opponent by playing more impactful cards sooner.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Bulwark at instant speed offers tactical flexibility, allowing you to adapt reactively to the evolving state of the game. This gives you the upper hand, as you can wait to assess the opponent’s moves before committing to your own defensive strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Bulwark card demands a discard from your hand to activate its abilities. This can be problematic in situations where your hand is nearly empty or the cards in hand are too valuable to lose, potentially putting you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Bulwark’s activation relies on a specific combination of mana types which could be restrictive for decks that do not readily produce the necessary colors. This limits its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment to get Bulwark in play can be quite heavy, particularly when considering the tempo of the game. Decks that aim for efficiency and early board presence might find this card’s cost prohibitively high, thereby making it a less attractive option in fast-paced games or in metas that favor low-cost strategies.


Reasons to Include Bulwark in Your Collection

Versatility: Bulwark complements an array of defensive strategies, especially in decks that aim to prolong the game or stabilize against aggressive opponents. Its ability to scale with your hand size makes it adaptable to different game states.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that maximize hand size. It can work in tandem with effects that draw multiple cards or have no maximum hand size to create a robust defense virtually impenetrable by standard means.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where longer matches are commonplace, Bulwark’s capacity to continually fortify your defenses becomes increasingly valuable. It shines in metas where resilience and endurance can turn the tides of battle.


How to beat

Bulwark from Magic: The Gathering presents a challenge with its ability to fortify a player’s defenses based on the number of cards they hold. Notably, it has the potential to make combat math tricky by increasing the toughness of a player’s creatures. Unlike other enchantments that provide a static defense boost, Bulwark’s variable nature means that it can sometimes be underestimated. To surmount this obstacle, one must consider strategies that diminish the opponent’s hand size, thus weakening the effect of Bulwark. Discard spells and effects that force the opponent to draw and reveal multiple cards, such as Rankle, Master of Pranks or Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, can turn the tables on a Bulwark-reliant defense by minimizing the hand size advantage.

Another angle of approach would be leveraging spells that don’t care about toughness at all. Cards with -X/-X effects or those that say “destroy target creature” can bypass the toughness boost provided by Bulwark, rendering its advantage null. A smart player will look for opportunities to strip the power of Bulwark away, turning a once formidable defense into a mere paper wall, easily torn down and bypassed to claim victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bulwark MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Bulwark and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bulwark has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 Counts cards during resolution.