Frontier Bivouac MTG Card

Provides vital mana fixing for Temur-color decks, essential in Commander and competitive formats. Entering tapped can delay tempo, but provides strong mana versatility for mid to late game. Despite pros, vulnerable to land destruction and doesn’t offer colorless mana for certain decks.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
RarityUncommon
TypeLand

Text of card

Frontier Bivouac enters the battlefield tapped. : Add , , or to your mana pool.

"The most powerful dreams visit those who shelter in a dragon's skull." —Chianul, Who Whispers Twice

Cards like Frontier Bivouac

Frontier Bivouac is a non-basic land card that plays a crucial role in Magic: The Gathering by offering tri-color mana fixing. Its closest counterparts include other tri-land cards such as Mystic Monastery, which caters to different color combinations but provides similar mana accessibility. Unlike lands that tap for one mana, Frontier Bivouac and its kin lay the foundation for a diverse deck by tapping for one of three possible colors.

Examining Opulent Palace, another tri-land, we see the same versatility in mana generation. However, each of these cards is tied to specific clans of the Tarkir set, making Frontier Bivouac particularly valuable for the Temur clan it represents. Crumbling Necropolis serves a similar purpose for other clan combinations. These lands enter the battlefield tapped, which can delay tempo, but the color flexibility they offer is often worth the slight initial slow down in game pace.

Ultimately, the comparison with similar tri-color lands in Magic: The Gathering highlights Frontier Bivouac’s strength in multi-color decks. Its ability to provide a reliable mana base for Temur-colored decks makes it a staple in any deck utilizing these colors.

Mystic Monastery - MTG Card versions
Opulent Palace - MTG Card versions
Crumbling Necropolis - MTG Card versions
Mystic Monastery - MTG Card versions
Opulent Palace - MTG Card versions
Crumbling Necropolis - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Frontier Bivouac by color, type and mana cost

Ketria Triome - MTG Card versions
Ketria Triome - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Frontier Bivouac. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free form81#CS
Calibrated BlastCalibrated Blast ModernCalibrated BlastModern Challenge 96 2023-12-09 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frontier Bivouac doesn’t specifically draw cards but it provides a consistent land drop that taps for three different colors of mana. This capability ensures you have the right mana sources to play a variety of cards from your hand without missing a beat. Having the right mana at the right time is akin to card quality advantage as it allows you to make optimal plays.

Resource Acceleration: This land enables resource acceleration by eliminating the need for multiple lands to generate various colors of mana. Past the early game where this might come in tapped, it makes all your multicolored spells that much easier to cast, effectively accelerating your game plan and helping you deploy threats or answers ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Although Frontier Bivouac doesn’t function at instant speed itself, it facilitates the casting of instant speed spells by providing a diversified mana base. The stability it brings to your mana allows you to smoothly operate on your opponent’s turn, playing instants or activating abilities without worrying about color restrictions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Frontier Bivouac does not impose a discard requirement, it’s important for players to consider other card choices that might require a discard to leverage the land’s mana flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Frontier Bivouac taps for one of three specific mana types which is fantastic for multicolor decks, but it doesn’t provide colorless mana, which could be a limitation in certain deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Frontier Bivouac does not have a mana cost itself, as a come-into-play-tapped land, it may slow down your game compared to lands that provide immediate mana access.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Frontier Bivouac slots into a broad array of decks within the Commander format, granting stable mana fixing for any deck running Temur colors—it’s a pivotal piece in ensuring your plays are timely and your color needs are met every turn.

Combo Potential: This land is ideal for enabling combos that require a diverse spectrum of mana sources. Whether you’re looking to unleash a multi-colored creature ahead of schedule or activate a game-changing ability, Frontier Bivouac provides the necessary resources.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that celebrates multi-colored decks, Frontier Bivouac stands out as a must-have. Its inclusion can mean the difference between casting your spells on curve or being a turn behind, a critical consideration for competitive play.

How to beat

Frontier Bivouac is a key asset for players steering a multicolored deck in MTG. Its ability to provide one mana of any color that Temur identity can cover is a boost for those seeking mana-fixing solutions. Nevertheless, the card arrives on the battlefield tapped, which may give opponents a window to take advantage.

Counteracting the benefits of Frontier Bivouac relies on disrupting the player’s mana base or taking advantage of the tempo loss. Employing land destruction cards such as Ghost Quarter can help unsettle the Bivouac’s controller’s strategy. Similarly, nonbasic land hate, such as Blood Moon, can transform it into a basic mountain, severely limiting its usability. Tap effects lose potency here; instead, swift aggression during the turn it enters can capitalize on the temporary downtime.

Ultimately, while Frontier Bivouac is a strong enabler for multicolor strategies, it is not impervious to specifically tailored responses. Understanding and having the right answers at the optimal time is crucial in ensuring that the Bivouac doesn’t become the pillar of a game-winning strategy against you.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frontier Bivouac MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Commander 2016, 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 Frontier Bivouac and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Frontier Bivouac Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 2342015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2972015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2512015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 16692015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
52020-04-17Commander 2020C20 2752015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
62020-09-26The ListPLST KTK-2342015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
72020-09-26The ListPLST C17-2512015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
82022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 2122015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
92022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 281★2015NormalBlackÁlvaro Calvo Escudero
102022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2812015NormalBlackÁlvaro Calvo Escudero
112023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 4022015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
122023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 722015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
132023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9972015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
142023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2812015NormalBlackOliver Wetter
152023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8722015NormalBlackOliver Wetter

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frontier Bivouac has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal