Leonin Bola MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 127
2005-08-22 - Number L16
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
Text of card
Equipped creature has ", Unattach Leonin Bola: Tap target creature." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card comes into play unattached and stays in play if the creature leaves play.)
Cards like Leonin Bola
The Leonin Bola stands out as a utility equipment in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This artifact shares the equipment theme with other cards like Trusty Machete and Bonesplitter, both enhancing creature capabilities. The distinction of Leonin Bola lies in its ability to effectively tap creatures without causing damage, a tactical maneuver useful for controlling the battlefield without engaging in combat.
Comparatively, Trusty Machete boosts a creature’s power and toughness, which could shift combat in your favor, but lacks the subtle control Leonin Bola offers. Bonesplitter, which solely increases creature power, presents a direct approach to dealing damage, promoting an aggressive playstyle rather than a strategic one. While the Bola may not increase stats, its utility can hinder opponents and disrupt their plans, making it a nuanced choice for players who value control over brute strength.
In essence, Leonin Bola’s distinctive ability to restrain opposing forces without initiating battle contributes to its unique position within MTG equipment cards. Its tactical advantage, when appropriately leveraged, can be a game-changer, providing a different angle of approach compared to the more straightforward power-boosting equipment.
Cards similar to Leonin Bola by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Equipping Leonin Bola gives a creature the ability to disable opponents’ key creatures. When you effectively negate an opponent’s threats without losing your own cards, you shift the balance of power in your favor, subtly gaining card advantage as they have fewer options to utilize each turn.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Leonin Bola itself doesn’t produce mana or tokens, its ability can potentially unlock resource acceleration by clearing the path for your more aggressive creatures. By tapping down opponents’ potential blockers, you ensure your creatures can attack and activate abilities tied to dealing combat damage, further fueling your mana base or drawing capabilities.
Instant Speed: The power of the Leonin Bola is magnified by its ability to equip at instant speed. This allows for tactical flexibility during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions. By waiting for the opportune moment to equip the Bola, players can react to threats in real-time, preserving the element of surprise and making it harder for opponents to plan an effective defense or counter-attack.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Every time you wish to untap Leonin Bola, you must discard an artifact card, which could deplete valuable resources and reduce your hand options, potentially slowing down your gameplay momentum.
Specific Mana Cost: Leonin Bola requires a specific activation cost that includes generic mana. This cost must be paid each time you want to use its ability, making it less flexible and harder to incorporate into a strategy that demands diverse mana expenditure.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Leonin Bola’s ability to tap target creature can be useful, its equip cost may not always justify the mana investment, especially when there are other equipment cards available that provide more impactful abilities or buffs for a similar or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Leonin Bola offers adaptability across various deck types, positioning it as an optimal choice for players who value flexible control options. It excels at temporarily neutralizing opponent threats without committing to permanent removal.
Combo Potential: This equipment card pairs well with creatures that have tap abilities or with untap mechanics, creating the possibility for repeated use within a single turn and setting the stage for potent combinations that can disrupt your opponent’s plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creatures are key to victory, Leonin Bola maintains relevance by providing a tactical advantage. It’s particularly effective against decks that rely on combat abilities or singular, powerful creatures.
How to Beat Leonin Bola
Leonin Bola stands out as an equipment card that allows players to tap an opponent’s creature by unattaching it from the equipped creature. Similar to effects seen in cards like Icy Manipulator, Leonin Bola can disrupt an opponent’s combat strategies and create openings for advantageous attacks or defenses.
The key to overpowering the impact of Leonin Bola lies in its requirement to attach and unattach to creatures. Instant-speed creature removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can be highly effective by eliminating the equipped creature before it becomes a threat. Artifact destruction is another route; cards like Naturalize or Abrade can directly target and remove Leonin Bola from the battlefield.
In essence, maintaining control over the board and being prepared to respond to equipment-based tactics is essential for navigating around the constraints that Leonin Bola introduces. By utilizing removal tools strategically, you can preserve your creatures’ ability to engage in combat and continue pressuring your opponent, thus muting the influence of Leonin Bola in your games.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Leonin Bola MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Salvat 2005, 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 Leonin Bola and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Leonin Bola Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Christopher Moeller.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 127 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | L16 | 2003 | Normal | White | Christopher Moeller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Leonin Bola has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Leonin Bola card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-12-01 | Leonin Bola grants an ability to the equipped creature. The ability can target a creature with protection from artifacts (unless the equipped creature is an artifact creature). |
| 2004-12-01 | The equipped creature’s controller chooses whether or not to activate the activated ability. It doesn’t matter who controls Leonin Bola. |
| 2004-12-01 | “Unattach Leonin Bola” means just that — Leonin Bola moves off the creature it was equipping and remains on the battlefield. |