Bump in the Night MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 92
2013-03-15 - Number 57
2023-03-21 - Number 28
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Flashback |
Text of card
Target opponent loses 3 life. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
It's not just the wind. It's not all in your head. And it's *definitely* something to worry about.
Cards like Bump in the Night
Bump in the Night is an intriguing spell that brings a unique angle to the direct damage and life loss dynamics in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative is Lava Spike, which, like our card in discussion, deals three damage to an opponent for just one red mana. Lava Spike, though, is strictly a sorcery and lacks the versatility provided by Bump in the Night’s flashback ability.
Distress is another comparison point that shares the black mana cost with Bump in the Night. It enables you to peer into your opponent’s hand and choose a nonland card to discard. While not dealing direct damage or life loss, Distress disrupts your opponent’s strategy and offers a different form of control over the game.
Examining various cards with similar functions, Bump in the Night proves to be a strong contender for players targeting quick life-total reduction. Its ability to be played twice, thanks to its flashback, means you can get double the impact for a single card investment, underscoring Bump in the Night’s potential potency in MTG games focused on speed and efficiency.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Bump in the Night. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Burn | Other | The Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #002 | |
 | Jund Burn | Modern | Jund Burn | Modern League 2024-05-08 |
 | Mono-Black Burn | Pauper | Black Burn | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-03-16 |
| B | Pauper | Pauper League 2024-04-18 | |
| Black Burn | Pauper | Black Burn | Monthly Tournament #37 |
| Decklist | Decklist | The Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #002 | |
 | BRG | Modern | Modern Challenge 32 2024-03-18 | |
| Orchard Burn | Free form | d00mwake's Pure Modern 5 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Bump in the Night does not directly allow you to draw cards, it provides indirect card advantage by efficiently dealing damage to your opponent, potentially negating the need for additional spells to finish the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card leverages your existing mana resources effectively. Its low cost of one black mana means it can be played early on, inducing pressure and leaving mana available for other plays and interactions.
Instant Speed: Although Bump in the Night is a sorcery, its flashback ability gives it an additional layer of utility, allowing you to cast it from the graveyard later in the game when you might have mana to spare, acting similarly to an instant by providing a surprise element that can catch opponents off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While ‘Bump in the Night’ doesn’t directly require you to discard cards, your strategy might force discards to fuel its flashback cost. This can strain your hand, leaving you vulnerable over time.
Specific Mana Cost: ‘Bump in the Night’ demands black mana, which could potentially restrict its integration in decks that aren’t heavily focused on black or those that don’t run a smooth mana base for multicolor strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although ‘Bump in the Night’ is cheap on its initial cast, its flashback cost is relatively steep, especially when considering the availability of other damage-dealing alternatives that could be more mana-efficient in the long run.
Reasons to Include Bump in the Night in Your Collection
Versatility: Bump in the Night provides an efficient damage option for aggressive decks and can also be used for a final push in late-game situations, thanks to its flashback ability.
Combo Potential: This card works well in conjunction with discard strategies and graveyard manipulation, increasing its potential impact on gameplay when combined with other synergistic cards.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks with a slower pace, the direct damage and potential flashback of Bump in the Night can pressure opponents and disrupt their tempo, making it a relevant choice in certain metagames.
How to beat
Bump in the Night is a formidable card that every Magic: The Gathering player should be prepared to face. It shines in decks that aim to reduce the opponent’s life total swiftly. Its initial damage is impactful, and with its flashback ability, it can return from the graveyard to deliver a second blow, making it a persistent threat.
To effectively counter this card, consider using life gain strategies, which can help offset the damage it deals. Cards like Radiant Fountain can provide a lifeline, incrementally increasing your life total. Spell-based life gain, such as Revitalize, can also outpace the damage when timed properly. Preventing Bump in the Night from wreaking havoc a second time is pivotal, making graveyard disruption key. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile it before it’s used again, denying your opponent the flashback opportunity.
Understand the importance of maintaining a healthy life total and disrupting graveyard mechanics. Anticipating and mitigating the power of Bump in the Night can be the deciding factor in many matches, securing your standing on the playing field.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bump in the Night MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Bump in the Night 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
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Printings
The Bump in the Night Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 92 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2013-03-15 | Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt | DDK | 57 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows of the Past | SIS | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bump in the Night has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bump in the Night card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way. |
| 2021-03-19 | If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it’s legal to do so before any other player can take any actions. |
| 2021-03-19 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was. |
| 2021-03-19 | You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast. |
| 2021-03-19 | You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card’s type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery. |
| 2021-03-19 | “Flashback -ost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying -ost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.” |