Nicol Bolas MTG Card


Nicol Bolas provides card advantage, enabling players to outpace their opponents with additional draws. Ability to act at instant speed makes Nicol Bolas a persistent threat and tactical asset. While powerful, Nicol Bolas’s specific mana requirements and high cost pose notable deckbuilding challenges.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Elder Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 7
Toughness 7

Text of card

Flying An opponent damaged by Nicol Bolas must discard entire hand. Ignore this effect if opponent has no cards left in hand. Pay o Uo Bo R during your upkeep or Nicol Bolas is buried.


Cards like Nicol Bolas

Nicol Bolas is an incredibly potent card in MTG, showcasing immense power and value across multiple formats. It parallels cards such as Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, which both offer a diverse range of abilities and control over the game’s progression. However, Nicol Bolas outshines them with its transformative ability, escalating from a planeswalker card to a god-like entity, an aspect that both Jace and Ugin lack.

In addition, Nicol Bolas shares common themes with the Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas card. Both cards possess prominent abilities that can manipulate the game, providing significant card advantage. However, Nicol Bolas is superior in that it can trigger much more devastating effects and ultimately lead to an opponent’s defeat.

Comparatively, Liliana, the Last Hope can compete with Nicol Bolas in terms of causing direct damage to opponent life totals, but Nicol Bolas surpasses once again with its broader range of destructive powers. On careful examination of the impactful features, we can readily comprehend why Nicol Bolas is considered a heavyweight in MTG’s card pool, peerless in its combination of versatility, power, and influential presence on the battlefield.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Nicol Bolas by color, type and mana cost

Prince of Thralls - MTG Card versions
Sauron, Lord of the Rings - MTG Card versions
Prince of Thralls - MTG Card versions
Sauron, Lord of the Rings - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Nicol Bolas. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sneak SurvivalSneak Survival PremodernMisty Premodern Winter Finals

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nicol Bolas is a force to be reckoned with in any MTG game. He offers a distinct card advantage, allowing the player to draw an extra card each turn. This exceptional advantage gives Nicol Bolas users the upper hand, keeping the gameplay tilted in their favor.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to produce abundant mana, Nicol Bolas stands as a major source of resource acceleration. The card also supports color fixing, making it a versatile addition to a diverse deck. Having access to rapid resources can be instrumental for staging a late-game comeback or accelerating the game’s tempo.

Instant Speed: Nicol Bolas’s capabilities aren’t limited to permanents. Its triggered ability operates at instant speed, thereby leaving the opponent constantly on edge. This strategic benefit allows you to respond swiftly and decisively to enemy actions, making Nicol Bolas a valuable asset. Your opponents will need to stay one step ahead or risk falling prey to this dragon planeswalker.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Nicol Bolas requires you to discard a card as an additional condition of its summon. This can prove quite costly, particularly if resources are scarce, making it a hard choice for players faced with a slim hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Nicol Bolas commands a specific mana cost of red, blue, and black. This combination restricts the card’s deployment to certain decks and can pose a stumbling block to seamless gameplay, especially if these mana colors aren’t readily available within your deck configuration.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost for unleashing Nicol Bolas is comparatively hefty. This cost, totaling eight mana (including three of any type), may sidetrack your strategic planning by consuming resources that could potentially fuel more efficient spells or creature cards.


Reasons to Include Nicol Bolas in Your Collection

Versatility: Nicol Bolas, an elder dragon Planeswalker, fits into myriad deck types. The character’s abilities allow for a broad spectrum of gameplay, making Nicol Bolas a multifaceted card to have.

Combo Potential: Nicol Bolas is adept at card advantage mechanics, which couple well with combos focusing on discarding and drawing cards. His ability to destroy opposing creatures or force opponents to discard hands opens a window for numerous exciting gameplay prospects.

Meta-Relevance: Nicol Bolas is consistently relevant in mtg meta due to his potent mix of aggression and control. His blend of damaging abilities keeps Nicol Bolas in a strong position, especially in control strategies where he can significantly impact the game.


How to beat

Overpowering Nicol Bolas, the notorious elder dragon in Magic: The Gathering, can be a challenging feat. This MTG card, with its abilities to wreak havoc on opponents, is a force to reckon with. However, understanding its mechanics and devising strategies accordingly is the key to overcoming this fearsome adversary.

Firstly, the battlefield positioning can be manipulated to counter Nicol Bolas. One way is to maintain a robust defense line to tackle the card’s fierceness. Secondly, employ removal tools with precision to disrupt Bolas’s strategy. Efficient removal spells such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dampen the card’s power.

Furthermore, exploiting the card’s high casting cost can be effective. Play aggressive decks that apply pressure early in the game, forcing Nicol Bolas race to stay in the competition. Lastly, leveraging counterspell cards impairs Nicol Bolas’s potential to exercise control, thus enhancing your chances of outmaneuvering the card.

To sum up, mastering to beat Nicol Bolas stems from careful planning, proactive playstyle, and effective utilization of game resources. It’s indeed a vigorous tug of war in Magic: The Gathering designed to test the players’ strategic skills.


BurnMana Recommendations

The prowess of Nicol Bolas in MTG is undeniable, casting a long shadow in the MTG realm with card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed actions. Despite his strengths, savvy play can bend the arc of the game to your will. Whether you’re fascinated by his raw power or seeking ways to counter his influence, there is much to explore. Harnessing Nicol Bolas effectively or outsmarting him on the battlefield presents a rewarding challenge. Delve deeper into strategies, counters, and the potent abilities of this iconic planeswalker with us. Your MTG arsenal is just a click away from this legendary upgrade.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nicol Bolas MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Nicol Bolas and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Nicol Bolas Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 2461993NormalBlackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
21995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 811993NormalWhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.
32006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 981997NormalBlackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
42008-08-29From the Vault: DragonsDRB 102003NormalBlackD. Alexander Gregory
52009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1631997NormalBlackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
62018-03-16Masters 25A25 2092015NormalBlackD. Alexander Gregory
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10692015NormalBlackBenjamin Ee
82020-09-26The ListPLST A25-2092015NormalBlackD. Alexander Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nicol Bolas has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nicol Bolas 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 Nicol Bolas’s third ability triggers whenever it deals damage to an opponent for any reason. It’s not limited to combat damage.