Firewild Borderpost MTG Card

Firewild Borderpost provides efficient mana fixing and subtle library thinning for multicolored decks. Its flexibility akin to “flash” can be a pivotal factor during gameplay for strategic plays. Casting it involves a trade-off, either returning a land to hand or paying a higher mana cost.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Number	54
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jean-Sébastien Rossbach

Text of card

You may pay and return a basic land you control to its owner's hand rather than pay Firewild Borderpost's mana cost. Firewild Borderpost comes into play tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.

Understanding Firewild Borderpost

In the vast landscape of mana-fixing options in MTG, Firewild Borderpost stands as a unique artifact. It’s akin to other Borderposts, allowing players to pay the cost by returning a land to hand rather than paying the mana cost. This flexibility can be compared to cards like Prophetic Prism, which also provides mana fixing, but without the alternative cost option. However, Prophetic Prism grants immediate card draw, something Firewild Borderpost lacks.

Cards like Firewild Borderpost

Firewild Borderpost has its kin in cards like Veinfire Borderpost and Fieldmist Borderpost, each offering mana-fixing for different color combinations. These alternatives similarly can be played using their alternative cost, fitting various deck strategies. Yet each Borderpost provides a distinct color pairing, making the choice highly situational. Another analogue could be Wildfield Borderpost, paralleling in mana cost and function.

Considering mana artifacts, Firewild Borderpost can be weighed against Darksteel Ingot, which provides indestructible mana-fixing albeit at a higher cost and without the alternative cast option. While it doesn’t return a land to hand, it stands strong against removal, a feature not to be overlooked in formats where board wipes are prevalent. Both serve similar roles but shine in different deck archetypes and metagames.

Evaluating such comparisons, it becomes evident that Firewild Borderpost serves as a practical choice for players needing specific mana color combinations and the versatility of an alternative casting cost within their MTG strategy.

Fieldmist Borderpost - MTG Card versions

Wildfield Borderpost - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Firewild Borderpost by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Firewild Borderpost isn’t typically seen as a card advantage engine, but in the right deck, it can effectively thin your library by acting as a land that also fills the role of a spell. This slight efficiency can be considered an incremental advantage as it lets you get to your more important cards a bit more consistently.

Resource Acceleration: While Firewild Borderpost requires one mana and returning a basic land to your hand, it ultimately allows you to tap for two different colors of mana. This mana fixing is crucial in multi-color decks, smoothing out your draws and enabling more consistent plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Firewild Borderpost isn’t an instant, it has an ability similar to “flash” due to its alternate casting cost. You can play it during your main phase like a normal land drop, which is essentially at “sorcery speed,” but the flexibility of its casting cost means you can adjust your plays based on the game state and opponent’s actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To cast Firewild Borderpost efficiently, you need to discard another card. This can be costly, especially when your hand is running low and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a mana cost that specifically requires red and green. This can restrict deck-building options, as it may not fit well in decks that don’t support these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: If you’re unable to meet the discard requirement, Firewild Borderpost comes with a mana cost that some players may find steep for its effects, particularly when compared with other mana-fixing options available.

Reasons to Include Firewild Borderpost in Your Collection

Versatility: Firewild Borderpost is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those that capitalize on the mana-fixing aspect or aim for a strong late-game presence with multicolored spells.

Combo Potential: This artifact can enable synergy in decks that thrive off of non-land mana sources or fuel strategies that involve artifacts and multicolor spells. It also has the potential to be an integral component in combos that revolve around landfall triggers or artifact recursion.

Meta-Relevance: With decks in the meta often requiring a solid mana base to cast powerful multicolored spells, Firewild Borderpost can provide consistency to your land drops while keeping you on curve, which is particularly crucial in fast-paced or mana-intense environments.

How to beat

Firewild Borderpost is a versatile card often found in decks that capitalize on mana fixing and acceleration. This multicolored Artifact is part of a cycle of Borderpost cards that can be played by returning a land you control to your hand rather than paying the mana cost. While the capacity to slot into a mana base efficiently is an advantage, it also opens up a window of opportunity for astute players.

To effectively counter Firewild Borderpost, consider using land destruction or direct artifact removal spells. Cards such as Naturalize or Shatter can be used to remove the Borderpost directly from the battlefield, swiftly eliminating the mana advantage it grants. Furthermore, by forcing the Borderpost user to bounce a land to their hand, you can set them back in terms of land drops, which is particularly impactful in the early game. Additionally, cards that restrict the type of mana that can be used or punish multicolor strategies can also be quite effective. Keeping an eye on your opponent’s mana base and being ready to disrupt it can be key to overcoming the challenge posed by Firewild Borderpost.

While it’s easy to view Firewild Borderpost as just another mana rock, strategic play and the right removal spells can ensure it doesn’t become a stumbling block in your path to victory. Respect the card for its utility but remain prepared, and you’ll find yourself holding the line against this and other similar threats.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Firewild Borderpost MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Firewild Borderpost and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Firewild Borderpost has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-05-01	As you cast a spell, you get a chance to activate mana abilities before you pay that spell’s costs. Therefore, you may tap a basic land for mana, then both spend that mana and return that land to your hand to pay this card’s alternative cost. (Of course, you can return a different basic land instead.)
2009-05-01	Casting this card by paying its alternative cost doesn’t change when you can cast it. You can cast it only at the normal time you could cast an artifact spell. It also doesn’t change the spell’s mana cost or converted mana cost. The only difference is the cost you actually pay.
2009-05-01	Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast this card will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay.
2009-05-01	To satisfy the alternative cost, you may return any basic land you control to its owner’s hand, regardless of that land’s subtype or whether it’s tapped.