Boros Reckoner MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Minotaur Wizard
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Boros Reckoner’s damage redirection strengthens both offensive and defensive gameplay, impacting board state significantly.
  2. Specific mana needs and higher casting costs can limit the card’s inclusion and immediate impact on play.
  3. Its versatility and combo potential make Boros Reckoner a valuable addition to various MTG deck strategies.

Text of card

Whenever Boros Reckoner is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player. {GU}: Boros Reckoner gains first strike until end of turn.

"Imagine a thunderstorm that's also a tactical genius. That's him." —Dars Gostok, Firefist captain


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Boros Reckoner shines in combat scenarios, effectively deterring attacks or forcing unfavorable blocks for your opponent. Landing this creature on the battlefield can be akin to drawing multiple cards worth of value over the course of a game due to its ability to eliminate multiple adversaries while surviving or causing direct damage.

Resource Acceleration: While the Reckoner itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its presence can lead to board state advantages that indirectly accelerate your strategic plays. By effectively acting as a deterrent or removal tool, it can conserve the resources you’d typically spend on controlling the board, allowing you to allocate mana and cards towards more aggressive tactics.

Instant Speed: Boros Reckoner’s ability doesn’t inherently operate at instant speed, but it greatly complements instant-speed strategies. Able to inflict damage when dealt damage, it interacts favorably within scenarios typically reserved for instant-speed interactions, such as during combat or on your opponent’s turn. This gives the Reckoner a tactical flexibility in both offensive and defensive postures, making it a versatile card in fast-paced games.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Boros Reckoner does not require a discard itself, using it effectively may necessitate the inclusion of other cards that impose a discard cost. This can potentially strain your overall hand and resource management, particularly if you’re aiming to optimize the Reckoner’s damage reflection ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Boros Reckoner’s mana cost requires both red and white mana, which can complicate your mana base, especially in multi-colored decks. This specific need may restrict its inclusion in decks that can’t reliably generate both colors of mana within the first few turns.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one red and one white, Boros Reckoner can be a substantial early game investment. In scenarios where the board state is rapidly evolving, or against decks that prioritize speed, the Reckoner’s cost may outweigh its immediate impact on the game.


Reasons to Include Boros Reckoner in Your Collection

Versatility: Boros Reckoner is a flexible card that can serve several roles within various deck types. Its ability to deal damage back to creatures or opponents makes it a strong defensive play, while also being aggressive in its attack due to its decent power and toughness. Whether you’re running a red-white aggro deck or a more control-oriented build, Boros Reckoner fits snugly into your strategy.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique damage reflection ability opens up opportunities for numerous combos. For instance, pairing Boros Reckoner with cards that increase damage or with indestructibility grants allows for potentially game-winning plays. The synergy it has with lifelink and damage amplifiers can also turn the tide of battle quickly in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Boros Reckoner shines as a deterrent to attackers. Its presence on the board can inhibit opponent’s aggression and shift the flow of the game. Additionally, as a multicolor card, it benefits from any meta where mana-fixing is readily accessible, allowing it to be played with relative ease.


How to beat

Boros Reckoner is a formidable card often seen in decks that thrive on resilience and interactions with damage. It can be a significant challenge due to its ability to redirect damage dealt to it. A viable way to overcome this card involves using spells that do not deal damage but rather exile or cause the creature to be sacrificed. Cards like Path to Exile or Merciless Eviction bypass the Reckoner’s damage-triggered abilities and remove it from play without triggering any harmful effects.

An alternative strategy is to prevent it from dealing damage in the first place. This can be achieved by using cards that tap the Reckoner or otherwise keep it from attacking or blocking effectively. Utilizing enchantments that pacify such as Pacifism or cards that restrict abilities like Silent Arbiter can neutralize the threat posed without directly engaging in the damage redirection game that Boros Reckoner excels in. Employing these methods carefully will allow players to mitigate the impact of Boros Reckoner and push the game towards victory.

Understanding the workings of your opponent’s strategy and the core capabilities of their cards such as Boros Reckoner is crucial. An effective game plan that includes exile spells or control elements ensures a higher success rate against decks featuring this powerful multicolored Minotaur.


BurnMana Recommendations

As an MTG enthusiast, mastering your deck means understanding every card’s potential. The Boros Reckoner is no exception, acting as a strategic linchpin in many MTG matches. With its damage reflection and board control advantages, this fiery Minotaur excels in the heat of battle. It’s essential for players to recognize both its strengths and how to counteract them, ensuring a well-rounded approach to the game. We encourage you to deepen your MTG tactics and card knowledge. Dive into our comprehensive guides for strategic insights and expert tips to harness the full power of Boros Reckoner in your deck. Discover how to optimize your game today.


Cards like Boros Reckoner

Boros Reckoner has earned its place as a formidable force in the realms of MTG. This multicolored minotaur mirrors the capabilities of cards such as Spitemare and Truefire Paladin. Like Spitemare, Boros Reckoner possesses the potential to redirect damage, turning enemy tactics against them. However, Boros Reckoner’s strength lies in its flexibility. It can act as both a defensive and aggressive asset, dealing damage back to the opponent or to their creatures.

Comparably, Truefire Paladin offers versatility in combat with its pump-up abilities, yet it doesn’t provide the unique damage-redirection mechanic the Reckoner is celebrated for. Swiftness is another aspect where it stands distinct. The Reckoner can immediately impact the game upon entry, unlike other creatures that may need a set-up or specific conditions to shine. Furthermore, its synergistic prowess within the Boros legion makes it a staple in many decks focused on this guild.

Ultimately, Boros Reckoner’s unique blend of offense and defense, coupled with its damage-redirection, positions it as a considerable choice for players looking to build around this strategy. It’s this combination that keeps the Reckoner in tournament play long after its release.

Spitemare - MTG Card versions
Truefire Paladin - MTG Card versions
Spitemare - Eventide (EVE)
Truefire Paladin - Gatecrash (GTC)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Boros Reckoner MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Boros Reckoner and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Boros Reckoner Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Howard Lyon.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 2152003normalblackHoward Lyon
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2062015normalblackHoward Lyon
32018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 852015normalblackHoward Lyon
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15182015normalblackHoward Lyon
52020-09-26The ListPLST GK1-852015normalblackHoward Lyon
62024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2012015normalblackHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Boros Reckoner has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-03-14 Boros Reckoner’s first ability will trigger even if it is dealt lethal damage. For example, if it blocks a 7/7 creature, its ability will trigger and Boros Reckoner will deal 7 damage to the target.
2017-03-14 Damage dealt by Boros Reckoner due to its first ability isn’t combat damage, even if it was combat damage that caused that ability to trigger.
2017-03-14 If Boros Reckoner is dealt damage by multiple sources at once, such as by two creatures blocking it, its ability triggers once and one target is dealt that much damage.

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