Bladetusk Boar MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 118
2012-07-13 - Number 121
2014-05-02 - Number 90
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Boar |
| Abilities | Intimidate |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Intimidate allows the Boar to bypass non-red blockers, pressuring the opponent into difficult decisions.
- At four mana for a 3/2 creature, it balances cost with impact for mid-game board presence.
- Though mana-specific and higher costed, its inclusion in decks can significantly alter combat dynamics.
Text of card
Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
Those who dare stand in its path are either brave or mindless. Or in the case of goblins, both.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Bladetusk Boar may not directly provide card draw, its Intimidate ability allows it to often avoid blockers and consistently deal damage. This evasion can be tantamount to a form of card advantage, as it maintains pressure on your opponent and forces them to address it, potentially at the expense of using their resources elsewhere.
Resource Acceleration: As a 3/2 creature for four mana, Bladetusk Boar sits efficiently on the mana curve. While it doesn’t generate additional mana, its cost-effectiveness ensures a solid field presence, allowing you to use your mana resources effectively in the mid-game to maintain tempo and board advantage.
Instant Speed: Bladetusk Boar’s intrinsic value isn’t in its speed of play but in how it synergizes with instant-speed spells and effects. Having a threatening creature with Intimidate on the board means opponents must be wary of spending all their mana, lest they become vulnerable to attacks. This can indirectly give you an advantage at instant speed by forcing your opponents to play more cautiously.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bladetusk Boar’s effectiveness can be diminished in resource-tight situations due to the requirement of discarding another card to realize its full potential in certain MTG scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for red mana to cast Bladetusk Boar might restrict its integration in multicolored or color-specific decks, confining it to a more narrow spectrum of MTG strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared to other creatures in the MTG universe, Bladetusk Boar’s mana cost is on the higher side, especially considering its power and toughness. This can delay its play to later turns, potentially giving opponents an early lead.
Reasons to Include Bladetusk Boar in Your Collection
Versatility: Bladetusk Boar offers flexibility in deck building, fitting comfortably into aggressive strategies with its evasion ability. Its Intimidate ability makes it a consistent threat in red-centric or multicolor decks, allowing it to navigate past many common blockers.
Combo Potential: In decks that amplify creature damage or utilize power-based triggers, Bladetusk Boar can be a key component. Its 3/2 stat line synergizes well with cards that exploit creature combat abilities, enhancing its battlefield impact.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play, Bladetusk Boar maintains relevance in formats where sturdy, evasive creatures have a place. Its capability to slip through defenses makes it a staple in environments where ground stalls are common.
How to beat
Bladetusk Boar finds its strength in its ability to bypass creatures that aren’t red as it charges across the battlefield. This evasion ability positions Bladetusk Boar as a persistent threat in a deck’s offensive lineup. However, its resilience isn’t unassailable. Handling Bladetusk Boar efficiently involves a mix of strategic blocking and the use of removal spells.
To stop the Boar in its tracks, consider including creatures with reach or those that can be assigned as blockers regardless of their color, undermining the Boar’s evasion. Moreover, instant-speed removal spells that aren’t color-restricted can provide an answer to its charge, dismantling the threat before it inflicts significant damage. Direct damage spells or those that force sacrifice without targeting can also circumvent the Boar’s protective color ability.
Ultimately, incorporating versatile removal options and maintaining a strategic defense can neutralize the Bladetusk Boar’s advantage on the field, turning the tide of battle in your favor and mitigating the impact of its otherwise formidable evasion capability.
Cards like Bladetusk Boar
Bladetusk Boar finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable component among red creatures. Its impressiveness lies in its ability to stay unblockable to creatures without red as it swings for a relentless assault. When it comes to evasion abilities, it’s reminiscent of cards like Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, which also offers conditional unblockability, relying on its power being greater than the number of damage marked on it.
Delving into red’s creature pool, one may draw parallels with Canyon Wildcat. Much like Bladetusk Boar, the Wildcat could dart past green blockers, thanks to its landwalk feature. It, however, differs in the scope of its evasion and lacks the impactful stats of the Boar. There’s also the Intimidator Initiate, which indirectly helps other creatures get through by weakening an opponent’s defensive line after you play red spells.
Examining these creatures’ abilities and battlefield impact, Bladetusk Boar holds a special place with its consistent evasion. It provides red deck players with a reliable attacking piece that applies pressure and neatly maneuvers around specific blockers in MTG’s multifaceted tactical environment.
Cards similar to Bladetusk Boar by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bladetusk Boar MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Magic 2013, 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 Bladetusk Boar and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Bladetusk Boar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2014-05-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 118 | 2003 | normal | black | Paul Bonner | |
| 2 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 121 | 2003 | normal | black | Paul Bonner | |
| 3 | 2014-05-02 | Journey into Nyx | JOU | 90 | 2003 | normal | black | Sam Burley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bladetusk Boar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bladetusk Boar card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If an attacking creature has intimidate, what colors it is matters only as the defending player declares blockers. Once it's blocked, changing its colors won't change that. |
| 2009-10-01 | Intimidate looks at the current colors of a creature that has it. Normally, Bladetusk Boar can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or red creatures. If it's turned blue, then it can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or blue creatures. |
