Barbarian Bully MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Barbarian
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	79
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mike Ploog

Key Takeaways

Turn excess cards into power with Barbarian Bully, gaining an upper hand on the battlefield.
Accelerate resources and enhance mana with discard-triggered card interactions.
Employ instant-speed spells for strategic plays and to pressure opponents effectively.

Text of card

Discard a card at random from your hand: Barbarian Bully gets +2/+2 until end of turn unless a player has Barbarian Bully deal 4 damage to him or her. Play this ability only once each turn.

"Out of my way!"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Barbarian Bully encourages strategic discarding, allowing you to convert excess cards into increased power on the battlefield. This can lead to a significant card advantage as you turn less useful cards into a direct threat.

Resource Acceleration: Paired with cards that reward you for discarding, Barbarian Bully can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. Utilizing cards that trigger upon discarding can ramp up your mana or provide other advantages faster than usual.

Instant Speed: While Barbarian Bully itself may not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells and abilities. It can apply pressure during your turn, forcing your opponent to react, which can then open up opportunities to capitalize on instant speed interactions during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: involves a mandatory discard to unleash its full potential, challenging players to balance their hand wisely or risk depleting valuable resources too soon.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s reliance on red mana can be restrictive, necessitating a carefully constructed mana base to ensure it can be played on curve and in the appropriate deck archetype.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the resource investment needed to summon Barbarian Bully, players may find the cost outweighs the offensive advantage provided, especially when considering alternatives available within the same mana range.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbarian Bully can seamlessly integrate into a multitude of decks, shining in setups that thrive on aggressive strategies and creature-based tactics. Its ability to force discards can catch opponents off guard while strengthening your assault.

Combo Potential: With its discard mechanic, this card opens up synergies with graveyard-based strats, setting the stage for powerful plays with reanimator themes or cards capitalizing on discard benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In a game climate focused on quick, efficient threats, Barbarian Bully’s straightforward aggression can apply pressure in early turns, making it a relevant choice for keeping pace in swiftly evolving battlefield conditions.

How to beat

Overcoming the challenges posed by Barbarian Bully in MTG requires strategic thinking and a keen understanding of card interactions. This creature can be an imposing force, especially considering the potential of its coin flip ability to make it unblockable for a turn. However, like many cards in the game, it has vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

One approach is to remove it before the coin flip ability is activated. Instant-speed removal spells are prime tools for this, allowing you to bypass its threatening ability. Targeted removal like Swords to Plowshares or even a well-timed Lightning Bolt can neutralize it before it becomes a problem. Alternatively, if you’re not playing colors with direct removal, counterspells or bounce spells can serve as effective means to keep the Bully off the board and its pressure at bay.

An equally viable strategy involves playing defensively until you can stabilize your board. Utilizing creatures with deathtouch or those that can block multiple creatures, like Palace Guard, you can discourage attacks from the Barbarian Bully. Additionally, effects that grant your creatures indestructible or protection from red on the turn they block can also turn the tides in your favor. A well-rounded defense, paired with calculated offense, should give you the upper hand against the Barbarian Bully and pave the way to victory.

Cards like Barbarian Bully

Barbarian Bully has carved its own niche within the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This creature mirrors others like Raging Goblin in its aggressive red strategy, but the Bully brings its unique twist to the table. Like the Bully, Raging Goblin leaps into combat quickly with haste, yet it doesn’t have the potential power boost that Barbarian Bully presents through its discard ability.

Branching into the realm of intimidation, a card like Goblin Taskmaster also buffoons opponents by empowering fellow goblins. However, Barbarian Bully doesn’t rely on tribal synergy and instead has the player betting on the chance of discarding a nonland card to possibly double its power. Comparing it to Skirk Marauder, both cards have the potential to pack a surprising punch, but the Marauder requires mana investment to activate its ability, unlike the conditional but mana-free power boost of the Bully.

While evaluating the roster of similar aggressive creatures, it’s noticeable that Barbarian Bully offers a unique blend of risk and reward, standing out for its potential to become immediately formidable if the conditions are right, without costly mana investments or specific tribal alignments.

Cards similar to Barbarian Bully by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbarian Bully MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Barbarian Bully and other MTG cards: