Bog Initiate MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	95
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

Bog Initiate effectively adjusts mana pools, allowing seamless casting of spells regardless of color restrictions.
The card’s mana conversion ability can greatly boost black mana-reliant strategies and enable combos.
Despite its utility, Bog Initiate’s vulnerability to removal and specific mana costs can be limiting.

Text of card

o1: Add o B to your mana pool.

"Urborg's magic is strong. Did Urza send you to protect us or to protect against us?" —Urborg witch, to Barrin

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bog Initiate provides continuous utility throughout the game by allowing you to convert any color of mana into black mana, essentially smoothing out mana usage. This capability can indirectly lead to card advantage by enabling you to use cards in your hand that otherwise might be inaccessible due to color restrictions.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerant, Bog Initiate can play a pivotal role in decks that benefit from producing lots of black mana. This interaction becomes particularly powerful when you’re looking to activate abilities or cast high-impact black spells, thus accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Though Bog Initiate itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it allows for instant speed interaction by converting mana to black at any time. This flexibility lets you keep up appearances of having mana for instant speed responses, while also being able to switch gears and fuel black mana-dependent spells and abilities on an opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bog Initiate demands a card to be discarded in order to transform it, which can deplete your hand quickly and may not be ideal when trying to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of the card is confined to black, which might restrict deck-building options and make it less versatile if you’re playing a multi-color deck requiring mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its abilities, the mana required to place Bog Initiate on the field could be viewed as steep, given that other creatures or spells might provide similar or better value for the same or less investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bog Initiate offers a unique mana conversion ability, allowing players to channel any color of mana into black. This kind of flexibility can be critical in decks that utilize graveyard-based strategies or color-intensive spells.

Combo Potential: As a mana filter, this card works seamlessly to enable combos in decks that might struggle with color requirements. It pairs well with cards that require black mana or benefit from mana of any single color, increasing potential interactions and combo setups.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where black mana or sacrifice decks are prominent, Bog Initiate’s ability to transmute any mana into black is significantly advantageous. The adaptability it brings can be crucial for players looking to stay competitive in a shifting meta.

How to beat

Bog Initiate introduces an interesting dynamic to mana conversion in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that can turn any color of mana into black mana, it fits into a variety of decks and strategies focused on black mana-intensive spells or abilities. Its presence on the board is reminiscent of the versatility offered by cards such as Dark Ritual, although it requires the creature to be untapped and available to exercise that function.

Nevertheless, dealing with Bog Initiate can be straightforward for seasoned players. Removal spells are effective, especially if you can target Bog Initiate before it has a chance to be leveraged for its mana conversion. The key here is timing; you need to anticipate when your opponent plans to make critical plays using the black mana and pre-emptively remove the Initiate from the board. Counterspells can be equally useful by disrupting your opponent’s plan to cast Bog Initiate in the first place, thereby staving off their strategic advantage.

Ultimately, while Bog Initiate has the potential to create significant advantages for those utilizing black mana, it can be overcome through prompt removal, strategic counterspells, and by understanding the critical junctures of mana conversion within your opponent’s strategy.

Cards like Bog Initiate

Bog Initiate introduces its own flavor to the array of mana filtering options in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to convert any one color of mana into black mana. When viewed alongside Initiates of the Ebon Hand, a crossroads is reached. While also a mana filter, Initiates of the Ebon Hand comes with the cost of an additional black mana for a similar ability but lacks the flexibility offered by Bog Initiate which operates without this additional charge.

Another comparison can be drawn with cards like Dark Ritual, which provides a burst of black mana but doesn’t carry forward the same mana filtering mechanic. This makes Dark Ritual better suited for explosive plays rather than the steady conversion provided by Bog Initiate. There’s also Farrelite Priest, which not only converts mana to white but also allows for life gain, presenting a different set of strategic options for players developing their board.

Such varied utilities serve to highlight the niche Bog Initiate occupies, bridging color gaps in decks that harbor spells from multiple magic schools. Balancing cost, impact on strategy, and consistency, Bog Initiate holds its own as a nuanced choice for mana manipulation within Magic: The Gathering decks.

Initiates of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bog Initiate by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bog Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Bog Initiate and other MTG cards: