Bonded Horncrest MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dinosaur
Released	2017-09-29
Set symbol
Set name	Ixalan
Set code	XLN
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	133
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jesper Ejsing

Key Takeaways

Bonded Horncrest’s power balance can indirectly lead to card advantage by pressuring opponents.
Creatively synergizing with flash mechanics, it uses cost-effectiveness to bolster board presence swiftly.
Despite mana specificity and reliance on other creatures, it carves a niche in aggressive playstyles.

Text of card

Bonded Horncrest can't attack or block alone.

"You don't tame a horncrest. You convince it that it's easier to destroy something else." —Amautl, knight of Atzocan

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bonded Horncrest doesn’t offer direct card draw, its formidable power to cost ratio can pressure opponents and potentially force them to use multiple cards to deal with it, indirectly providing card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Bonded Horncrest may not accelerate mana resources in traditional ways, but its low cost for a 5/5 allows players to deploy other threats alongside it more rapidly, effectively speeding up your board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Bonded Horncrest is a creature and therefore doesn’t have instant speed, its synergy with cards that can flash it in can catch opponents off guard, creating opportunities for instant-speed interaction during combat or end of turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This dinosaur demands a buddy to attack, meaning you must control another creature or Bonded Horncrest stays put, just taking up space on your battlefield without contributing to offensive strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Bonded Horncrest asks for a strict combination of red and green mana which can challenge your deck construction, especially if you’re aiming for a multicolor deck with a smoothly running mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Four mana to summon this creature might feel steep when you consider its inability to swing without a companion. There are other four-mana beasts in your arsenal that might bring more versatility and immediate impact to the game.

Reasons to Include Bonded Horncrest Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Bonded Horncrest can be a robust addition to dinosaur-focused decks but also slots into any aggressive strategy that values high power creatures. Its ability to attack only when another creature attacks makes it both a challenge and an opportunity for unique deck building.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with cards that enable multiple attackers, such as cards that provide creatures with vigilance or tap abilities that allow creatures to attack. Its 5 power makes it an ideal candidate for such combinations, amplifying your assault.

Meta-Relevance: With a 4 mana cost for a 5/5, Bonded Horncrest is cost-effective and can hold its own in a meta that leans towards aggressive plays. It can quickly become a significant threat that requires an answer, carving out its niche in the right deck and meta environment.

How to Beat Bonded Horncrest

Bonded Horncrest, with its restriction of requiring another creature to attack, can be a formidable card on the battlefield. It boasts a 5/5 stat line for four mana, which on its own is an efficient cost-to-power ratio. However, the limitation that it can’t attack alone makes it vulnerable to strategic plays. To nullify this hefty beast, control decks can rely on removal spells. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can effectively remove it from the game before it becomes a problem.

Another effective strategy is to limit the number of creatures your opponent has on the field. Sweepers like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict can clear the board of multiple threats, including an unsupported Bonded Horncrest. Should your playstyle be more aggressive, you might consider keeping the pressure on your opponent, forcing them to make unfavorable blocks and potentially leaving the Horncrest unable to attack.

When faced with the Bonded Horncrest, remember the key is to exploit its attacking requirement. Manage the creatures on the board, and this seemingly daunting card becomes much more manageable. Strike a balance in your gameplay, and you can keep this and other potential threats in check.

Cards like Bonded Horncrest

The Bonded Horncrest is a unique creature card in MTG, offering players a solid body for a relatively low mana cost. This card evokes comparisons with other creatures such as Aurochs Herd, which shares a similar stature but also boasts a beneficial ability to search the library for another copy of itself. Despite this difference, what stands out for Bonded Horncrest is its requirement of having another creature on the battlefield to attack, which limits its flexibility compared to the autonomous Aurochs Herd.

Another comparable card is Ember Beast, which also cannot attack alone. It presents a smaller body for a lower cost, hinting at a strategic trade-off for deck builders. Unlike Ember Beast, Bonded Horncrest does not have the ability to block on its own, adding another layer of comparison in terms of defensive capabilities. Then, there’s the formidable Charging Tuskodon. Although it has a higher mana cost, it can attack and block independently and has the added benefit of doing double damage to players.

Understanding these nuances is crucial for players who weigh the cost-versus-power balance in MTG. Bonded Horncrest might find its niche in certain deck strategies that capitalize on synergy and the presence of other creatures to maximize battlefield impact.

Cards similar to Bonded Horncrest by color, type and mana cost

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Rocket-Powered Turbo Slug - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bonded Horncrest MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Bonded Horncrest and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bonded Horncrest has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2017-09-29	Although Bonded Horncrest can’t attack alone, other attacking creatures don’t have to attack the same player or planeswalker. For example, Bonded Horncrest could attack an opponent and another creature could attack a planeswalker that opponent controls. Similarly, other blocking creatures don’t have to block the same creature that Bonded Horncrest blocks.
2017-09-29	If an effect says that Bonded Horncrest attacks or blocks if able and you control another creature able to attack or block, you must attack or block with Bonded Horncrest and that creature.
2017-09-29	If you control more than one Bonded Horncrest, they can attack or block together, even if no other creatures attack or block.
2017-09-29	In a Two-Headed Giant game, Bonded Horncrest can attack or block with a creature controlled by your teammate, even if no other creatures you control are attacking or blocking.
2017-09-29	Once Bonded Horncrest has attacked or blocked, it will remain in combat even if you no longer control another attacking or blocking creature.