Cinderbones MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Skeleton |
| Abilities | Wither |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 59 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Carl Critchlow |
Text of card
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.) : Regenerate Cinderbones.
Not all coals lie quietly in their beds of cold ash.
Cards like Cinderbones
Cinderbones is a unique creature card in MTG, holding its place within the realm of undead skeletal beings. In comparison, Reassembling Skeleton comes to mind, with both providing a form of resilience after being destroyed. Whereas Cinderbones can be requeried with wither, enabling it to leave its mark on creatures it damages, Reassembling Skeleton simply requires mana to return to the battlefield. This makes Cinderbones a more aggressive option that can diminish opponent creatures over time.
Looking at Skeletal Vampire, another card in a related category, we notice a different kind of value. Skeletal Vampire offers repeatable bat creation for defensive strategies, which contrasts with Cinderbones’ offensive destructiveness. Meanwhile, Drudge Skeletons may seem a simpler choice, but its regeneration ability is a straightforward way to keep your defenses up without dealing incremental damage to the opponent’s creatures like Cinderbones does.
Appraising these various skeletal options in MTG, Cinderbones brings to the table a special blend of offensive pressure and recurring presence. Especially in decks focused on attrition and detrimental effects to your opponent’s creatures, Cinderbones holds its fiery ground among its similar skeletal counterparts.
Cards similar to Cinderbones by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cinderbones provides a recurring blocker on the field, with its regenerative ability, ensuring you maintain board presence and keep card advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing mana or tokens, Cinderbones’ potential to deter attacks can indirectly protect your resources, allowing for better planning and acceleration in your strategy.
Instant Speed: While Cinderbones itself doesn’t have instant capabilities, its ability to regenerate at instant speed enables strategic plays during combat on your opponent’s turn, maintaining its presence as a defensive force.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cinderbones demands a discard from its user upon activation. This could deplete valuable hand resources, potentially setting you back if your card pool is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: With its casting cost that specifically requires black mana, Cinderbones is rather restrictive. It can only flourish within decks that have an ample black mana supply, making it less versatile across the diverse MTG archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing at three mana, it’s on the higher side for what it offers in terms of board presence. Other creatures or cards might provide a similar or better impact for the same or less mana investment, potentially overshadowing the utility of Cinderbones in a competitive match-up.
Reasons to Include Cinderbones in Your Collection
Versatility: Cinderbones is a unique card with a flexible role in different deck themes, particularly in decks that revolve around sacrificing creatures or utilizing death triggers in creative ways. Its capability to regenerate adds resilience to your board presence, making it a troublesome card for opponents to deal with permanently.
Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations with other cards that capitalize on its untap ability or with cards that require creatures to be sacrificed. Cinderbones can be an integral part of a looping strategy, enabling you to exploit various graveyard and sacrifice mechanics repeatedly throughout the game.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where black decks with creature-based strategies prevail, Cinderbones’ role becomes more pertinent. It’s especially handy when creature removal is paramount, and its inherent ability to threaten enemy creatures with the deathtouch keyword cannot be understated.
How to Beat Cinderbones
Cinderbones is a creature card that exudes an air of intimidation with its wither ability, chipping away at other creatures’ strength by dealing damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. It’s the kind of card that can be a real thorn in the side of any player trying to build up their own creatures on the battlefield. However, it’s possible to swing the advantage back in your favor with the right strategy.
To circumvent the crippling effect of Cinderbones, consider using removal spells that can bypass its regenerative capability. Targeted removals such as Path to Exile or Go for the Throat can effectively neutralize it without triggering its ability to come back to life. Additionally, evasive tactics can ensure successful confrontations, so think about creatures with flying or other forms of unblockability to avoid Cinderbones’ wither touch altogether. Cards that bolster your creatures’ toughness reserves, like Honor of the Pure or Glorious Anthem, can also help your creatures survive an encounter with the likes of Cinderbones.
In essence, by creating a well-rounded approach using strategic removal, evasion techniques, and strength-enhancing spells, you can navigate around the challenges posed by Cinderbones and keep your deck running smoothly against such persistent threats.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cinderbones MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Cinderbones 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cinderbones has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |