Restless Bones MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Skeleton
Released	2006-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Guildpact
Set code	GPT
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	58
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Glenn Fabry

Key Takeaways

Repeatable reanimation makes Restless Bones a reliable presence, enhancing graveyard strategies.
Instant speed regeneration provides vital defensive tactics and unpredictability in battles.
Exact mana cost and card discard are notable drawbacks, considering deck constructions.

Text of card

, : Target creature gains swampwalk until end of turn. : Regenerate Restless Bones.

"We mourn our dead. We shroud our dead. We bury our dead. Too often, it seems, we must kill our dead again." —Grazda, veteran armorer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Restless Bones offers an intrinsic card advantage by providing a repeatable way to bring it back from the graveyard to the battlefield. This means players can consistently rely on it for board presence without depleting other resources in their hand.

Resource Acceleration: By facilitating a cycling effect, it can help in filtering through the deck. While it may not directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, its synergy with graveyard mechanics can indirectly lead to acceleration by interacting with effects that trigger upon creatures entering the graveyard or returning to the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The ability to regenerate at instant speed makes Restless Bones a versatile card during gameplay. It can be used defensively, to save key creatures during combat, or as an enabler for surprise blockers. Its instant speed usage adds a layer of complexity to the game, forcing opponents to play around its possible activation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To unleash Restless Bones onto the battlefield, you must part with another card from your hand, which can be quite the setback when your options are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning these spectral remains requires a precise combination of mana, including at least one black source, possibly restricting its inclusion to particular deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that might be deemed steep for the abilities it confers, Restless Bones could be overshadowed by other creatures or spells in the same slot that provide greater value or versatility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Restless Bones offers significant flexibility for any deck that leverages the graveyard. Its ability to return from the graveyard allows for recurring tactical advantages.

Combo Potential: This card’s synergies with self-mill strategies or decks that capitalize on creature deaths can make it a cornerstone for intricate combos, especially since it can consistently reanimate itself.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where control decks may stall the board, having a card like Restless Bones can help regain tempo by providing a persistent threat that must be addressed repeatedly.

How to beat

Restless Bones is a unique card that presents MTG players with an interesting challenge. In essence, the card offers a crescendo of power with the ability to regenerate or even boost itself. The key to overcoming this card lies in strategic play and timing. One effective tactic is to prioritize removal spells that don’t destroy but exile instead, like Path to Exile, clearly bypassing the regeneration ability.

Furthermore, employing cards that impose restrictions on activated abilities can shut down Restless Bones’ potential before it starts to snowball. It’s also wise to manage your resources carefully, deploying threats that the opponent must answer instead of trying to confront Restless Bones head-on. Finally, don’t overlook the power of board wipes, which reset the playing field and effectively nullify the card’s regenerative capabilities. In games where Restless Bones makes an appearance, remember to stay calm, maintain pressure, and choose your counters wisely.

Through a combination of exile effects, stifling activated abilities, and smart resource management, players can nullify the looming threat of Restless Bones and stay one step ahead in the game.

Cards like Restless Bones

Restless Bones is a versatile creature in the vast array of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It finds kinship with cards like Skeletonize, which similarly offers recurring threats through its ability to replace destroyed creatures with a 1/1 skeleton creature token. However, Restless Bones stands out with its ability to come back to your hand directly through its unearth ability, offering a more direct and repeatable way to recapture board presence.

In the same realm, Reassembling Skeleton offers a comparable mechanic with its effortless resurrection back onto the battlefield. This creature allows you to maintain a blocker or aggressor without paying the mana cost of a new card. Although it lacks the instant speed of Restless Bones’ unearth, it can be a steady nuisance for your opponent. Then there’s Drudge Skeletons, a basic yet sturdy option for those looking to have an enduring blocker. Unlike Restless Bones, Drudge Skeletons does not have the flexibility of returning to the hand or an unearth ability, but it can consistently regenerate on the battlefield itself, providing a different kind of resilience.

Assessing the value of each option, Restless Bones holds a solid position within MTG as a recurring threat with its unique unearth ability and direct hand return, showcasing its strategic versatility in gameplay.

Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Restless Bones by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Restless Bones MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact, 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 Restless Bones and other MTG cards: