Boarding Party MTG Card


Boarding Party - Commander Legends
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Abilities Cascade,Haste
Released2020-11-20
Set symbol
Set nameCommander Legends
Set codeCMR
Power 6
Toughness 3
Number163
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred bySidharth Chaturvedi

Key Takeaways

  1. Gains advantage, deploy multiple creatures instantly offering a surge in in-game resources.
  2. Affordable mana cost for a 6/3 creature, providing significant early game board presence.
  3. Haste lets it attack immediately, aligning with instant-speed plays for tactical surprise.

Text of card

Haste Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Incorporating this card into your deck has the potential to swing game momentum in your favor as it deploys multiple creatures onto the battlefield with just one card, thus increasing your in-game resources.

Resource Acceleration: Boarding Party possess an effective mana cost to power/toughness ratio, providing substantial board presence early on the game which can accelerate your path to victory.

Instant Speed: While Boarding Party itself is not an instant, it features the haste ability, enabling it to attack immediately without giving opponents a turn to prepare, mirroring the surprise element of instant speed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Without the luxury of Cascade until you’ve successfully cast Boarding Party, you may find that its initial discard requirement upon entering play can be problematic. This feature demands strategic hand management, potentially disrupting your game plan, more so if your hand is brimming with valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a specific combination of mana, including double red, Boarding Party’s cost can strain decks that rely on a diverse mana base. This requirement often pigeonholes the card into specific archetypes, reducing its application across a variety of deck designs that can’t sustain or justify a heavy red commitment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing six mana to cast, Boarding Party may prove cumbersome when faster paced play is afoot. While its potential for damage and board presence is undeniable, decks may find the mana investment steep when there are alternative creatures that can be played sooner, swinging the tempo in your favor before Boarding Party makes its grand entrance.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Boarding Party has the flexibility to slot into a range of aggressive decks that capitalize on haste to deliver prompt pressure to the opponent. Its ability to cascade promises access to additional spells that enhance your board state during the attack phase.

Combo Potential: Its cascade mechanic opens up varied combo opportunities with other cards that synergize with casting spells for free or benefit from the additional cast triggered by cascade. It’s an excellent addition to decks looking to harness and multiply such interactions.

Meta-Relevance: As metas shift towards creature-based strategies, Boarding Party’s immediate impact and sizable body make it a solid player, capable of swinging games in your favor by presenting a dual threat – direct damage and the cascade into potential game-changers.


How to beat Boarding Party

Boarding Party has made its mark in MTG as a standout creature card, especially within the Commander format. This daunting 6/3 red creature not only boasts haste, allowing it to attack the moment it enters the battlefield, but its cascade ability also triggers an additional spell cast for maximum board impact. Despite this card’s strength, it can be outmaneuvered.

To effectively counter Boarding Party, players can employ removal spells or creatures with ‘flash’ to surprise and eliminate it before it can deal damage. Enchantments like ‘Pacifism’ or spells that force Boarding Party to be sacrificed also nullify its immediate threat. Utilizing counterspells when the cascade ability triggers can further minimize the benefit of getting a free spell. Moreover, since Boarding Party requires a notable amount of mana to play, disrupting your opponent’s mana base or ramp strategy can delay its appearance, allowing you to establish board control beforehand. Remember, timing and anticipation are key when facing formidable cards like Boarding Party.

While it’s indeed a powerful card, with strategic planning and the right set of tools, players can navigate the challenge Boarding Party poses and maintain an upper hand in their matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the dynamics of Boarding Party can enhance your MTG deck’s competitive edge. Blending the vigor of haste and the thrill of cascade, it’s a card that marries surprise with strategy. If you’re looking to create openings for swift attacks or unlocking value through cascading spells, incorporating Boarding Party is a wise move. But it’s not just about inserting it into your deck; it’s about maximizing its potential in your play style. For more insights on harnessing the full power of Boarding Party and similar impactful cards, expand your MTG knowledge with us. Immerse yourself in a world where every card counts and every strategy could lead to victory.


Cards like Boarding Party

Boarding Party is an intriguing creature in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, reminding many players of cards like Angrath’s Marauders. Both of these red cards bring a formidable presence to the battlefield. Where Boarding Party offers the benefit of haste, allowing it to swing into action the moment it lands on the playfield, Angrath’s Marauders have the advantage of doubling the damage from your sources, escalating the threat level for your opponent.

Viashino Racketeer is another card that shares a kinship with Boarding Party with its ability to impact hand content upon entering the battlefield. While less powerful in terms of raw strength, the Racketeer provides valuable card selection, something the straightforward brute force of Boarding Party doesn’t cater to. Comparatively, Captivating Crew shines by granting control over your opponent’s creatures, yet lacks the immediate attack power provided by Boarding Party’s haste.

Assessing the strategic implications, Boarding Party carves out a niche for players valuing speed and a strong board presence. Its ability to deliver immediate combat pressure without waiting a turn positions it uniquely amongst its red brethren, marking its importance in aggressive strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Angrath's Marauders - MTG Card versions
Viashino Racketeer - MTG Card versions
Captivating Crew - MTG Card versions
Angrath's Marauders - Ixalan (XLN)
Viashino Racketeer - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Captivating Crew - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)

Cards similar to Boarding Party by color, type and mana cost

Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions
Bogardan Rager - MTG Card versions
Chartooth Cougar - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Greater Stone Spirit - MTG Card versions
Shivan Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Firestorm Phoenix - Legends (LEG)
Crater Hellion - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Callous Giant - Invasion (INV)
Bloodshot Cyclops - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Worldgorger Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Two-Headed Dragon - From the Vault: Dragons (DRB)
Ronin Cavekeeper - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Oni of Wild Places - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Thundermare - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pardic Dragon - Time Spiral (TSP)
Tectonic Fiend - Time Spiral (TSP)
Etali, Primal Storm - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Sunrise Sovereign - Lorwyn (LRW)
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Bogardan Rager - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Chartooth Cougar - The List (PLST)
Inferno Titan - Commander Masters (CMM)
Greater Stone Spirit - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Boarding Party MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends, 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 Boarding Party and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Boarding Party has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
2021-06-18 Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
2021-06-18 Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
2021-06-18 If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
2021-06-18 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2021-06-18 If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
2021-06-18 The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
2021-06-18 When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
2021-06-18 You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks