Nine-Ringed Bo MTG Card


Nine-Ringed Bo - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Number263
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRalph Horsley

Key Takeaways

  1. Equipped creature attacks draw cards, fueling strategy with a well-stocked hand.
  2. Instant speed equip cost offers innovative tactical responses to threats.
  3. Activation demands specific mana, potentially challenging for some decks.

Text of card

: Nine-Ringed Bo deals 1 damage to target Spirit. If that creature would be put into a graveyard this turn, remove it from the game instead.

"We received an anonymous letter suggesting that Kumano holds a secret to defeating the kami, but he is nowhere to be found." —General Takeno, letter to Lord Konda


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Nine-Ringed Bo allows players to draw a card each time the equipped creature deals combat damage, effectively turning every attack into a potential source of new strategies and options. This steady drip of new cards can tilt the match in your favor, keeping your hand full and versatile.

Resource Acceleration: By equipping creatures with the Nine-Ringed Bo, players can accelerate their resource capabilities. Each attack not only has potential for card draw but also adds to the potency of creature-led strategies, making each strike more formidable and paving the way for quicker victories.

Instant Speed: Though Nine-Ringed Bo itself is not an instant, its equip cost can be paid at instant speed thanks to its second ability. This flexibility lets players adapt on the fly and optimize their board state in response to opponents’ actions, ensuring strategic depth and surprise plays remain at the forefront of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Nine-Ringed Bo necessitates that players discard a card when engaging its primary ability. This demand for an additional resource can be particularly taxing when your hand is depleted or if you must relinquish a vital piece of your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact’s activation cost requires not only a considerable amount of colorless mana but also a black mana. This specific mana demand may impede its integration into multicolored decks or those not heavily based on black mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that requires three mana, its utilization can be less favorable in comparison to other options. Players may find artifacts or spells that present more efficient ways to manage creatures on the battlefield without the steep mana investment.


Reasons to Include Nine-Ringed Bo in Your Collection

Versatility: The Nine-Ringed Bo offers a flexible role in many MTG decks. Its ability to disrupt creature-based strategies by tapping potential attackers or blockers makes it a valuable tool in games where control and timing are essential.

Combo Potential: The Nine-Ringed Bo works well with cards that capitalize on activated abilities. Its tap effect can be harnessed in conjunction with untap mechanics or effects that trigger when artifacts are used, amplifying your strategic options.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive creature decks are often prevalent in various MTG formats, having a repeatable source of creature control can prove critical. The Nine-Ringed Bo has the potential to alter board states in your favor, making it a card worth considering in competitive and casual circles alike.


How to beat

Nine-Ringed Bo poses an interesting challenge in MTG gameplay. It’s not just an artifact; it also has the potential to lock down an opponent’s creature with its ability. Neutralizing this threat involves a few strategies. First, removal spells that target artifacts, like Naturalize or Disenchant, can directly address the Nine-Ringed Bo. Another method is using artifact-specific counterspells, such as Annul, to prevent the Bo from entering the field in the first place.

In addition to targeted removal, you can employ strategies that focus on reducing the Bo’s effectiveness. Cards providing hexproof can shield your creatures from becoming ensnared. Similarly, running a deck with fewer creatures or using creatures with abilities like “can’t be equipped” circumvents the utility of the Bo indirectly. Lastly, considering the mana investment needed to both cast and activate the Nine-Ringed Bo, a tempo-focused deck that overwhelms an opponent before they can make full use of the Nine-Ringed Bo could prove successful. Hence, while it can be a pesky artifact to face, there are varied approaches to mitigate its impact on the game.


Cards like Nine-Ringed Bo

The Nine-Ringed Bo is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, having similarities to weapons like the Trusty Machete and Bonesplitter. These are both equipment cards that boost a creature’s power. Yet, the Bo distinguishes itself with its unique ability to incapacitate opponent creatures by tapping them, and this is where its real value lies. The Trusty Machete and Bonesplitter, while granting permanency in power augmentation, do not offer the tactical control that Nine-Ringed Bo does.

Then there is the comparison with Gorgon Flail, which provides a deathtouch ability to the equipped creature but doesn’t afford the same level of board interaction. While deathtouch is undoubtedly potent for eliminating threats, the preventative measure of tapping a target with Nine-Ringed Bo can be strategically superior in certain game scenarios. The ability to interfere with an opponent’s plan before combat can shape the battlefield to your advantage, a nuance that direct elimination options like Gorgon Flail do not provide.

In summary, although each equipment card presents its style of augmenting a player’s forces, Nine-Ringed Bo’s distinctive tap ability carves a niche for itself among MTG artifacts, offering a blend of offensive boosts and tactical control.

Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Gorgon Flail - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - Zendikar (ZEN)
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Gorgon Flail - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Nine-Ringed Bo by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
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Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Stone - MTG Card versions
Gem of Becoming - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Sunglasses of Urza - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Ebony Horse - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Arena of the Ancients - Chronicles (CHR)
Bösium Strip - Weatherlight (WTH)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Static Orb - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Wall of Spears - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vedalken Shackles - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Oblivion Stone - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Gem of Becoming - Magic 2013 (M13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nine-Ringed Bo MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Nine-Ringed Bo and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nine-Ringed Bo has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-12-01 The damaged creature will be exiled even if Nine-Ringed Bo isn’t on the battlefield when that creature would be put into a graveyard.

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