Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 218
2018-07-13 - Number 218s
2021-01-01 - Number 9
2019-12-02 - Number 1211
2019-12-02 - Number 1158
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying,Transform |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying When Nicol Bolas, the Ravager enters the battlefield, each opponent discards a card. : Exile Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Cards like Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, is an iconic creature card that transforms into Nicol Bolas, the Arisen, offering a multifaceted toolkit for players. Its closest analogues include other transforming cards like Huntmaster of the Fells, which switches into Ravager of the Fells. While Huntmaster provides immediate value by creating a token and granting life upon entering the battlefield, it lacks the direct impact on opponents’ hands that Nicol Bolas wields when it demands a discard upon entry.
Another comparable card is Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy, which transforms into Jace, Telepath Unbound. Jace has the advantage of a lower casting cost and the ability to recast spells from the graveyard, but it doesn’t offer the same board presence or versatility as Nicol Bolas, which can act as a creature, planeswalker, and control tool rolled into one.
Examining the capabilities of these alternatives, it’s clear that Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, not only stands out for its ability to disrupt opponents early on but also for its longevity in the game as it becomes Nicol Bolas, the Arisen, wielding significant card draw, creature control, and resurrection powers – a true power play in the right deck.
Cards similar to Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nicol Bolas, the Ravager flips into Nicol Bolas, the Arisen which grants you the power to draw two cards, ensuring that your hand remains full and increasing your strategic choices during the game. Moreover, its ability to force each opponent to exile cards from their hand or graveyard can deplete their resources while boosting your own arsenal.
Resource Acceleration: Once transformed, Nicol Bolas, the Arisen’s plus ability lets you reclaim a creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard, effectively accelerating your resource base without expending additional cards from your hand.
Instant Speed: Nicol Bolas, the Ravager’s transformative ability may not be at instant speed, but his sheer presence demands an immediate answer from opponents. When he becomes the Arisen, instant-speed interaction is available through his -4 ability, providing an immediate and disruptive impact on the battlefield by returning a creature card to its owner’s hand, at any time during your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Nicol Bolas, the Ravager requires each opponent to discard a card, which could backfire if you’re facing a deck designed to benefit from a full graveyard. It’s crucial to be aware of the current board state and the composition of your opponent’s deck before deploying this action.
Specific Mana Cost: Nicol Bolas, the Ravager’s casting cost demands one blue, one black, and one red mana, making it a demanding card to utilize outside of dedicated Grixis decks. This specificity in mana coloring places constraints on deck building and restricts the card’s versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial four mana needed to summon Nicol Bolas, the Ravager can be a steep investment in the early game. While its ability to transform into Nicol Bolas, the Arisen with a potent range of abilities is alluring, reaching the seven total mana required for the transformation can be a struggle, especially in fast-paced matches where swiftness and efficiency are key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Nicol Bolas, the Ravager offers not just a powerful creature presence on the board but also transforms into Nicol Bolas, the Arisen, providing a plethora of abilities. This adaptability makes it a formidable choice for various strategies, fitting seamlessly into control, midrange, or even more aggressive decks.
Combo Potential: Upon transformation, Nicol Bolas, the Arisen becomes a hub for combo interactions. Drawing cards, reanimating creatures, or wreaking havoc with its direct damage to any target, this card provides numerous ways to synergize with other cards and set up game-winning plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to adapt to opponents’ moves and impact various facets of the game, Nicol Bolas remains relevant in ever-shifting metagames. Its impact on both the board state and the player’s options can disrupt many prevalent strategies, keeping it a top-tier card in competitive play.
How to beat
Overcoming the challenge posed by Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen in MTG requires strategic planning and precise execution. This formidable card transitions from a creature to a planeswalker, escalating its threat level. Key to defeating it starts with managing its initial creature form. Tactics such as using removal spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can eliminate Nicol Bolas before its transformation. Additionally, countering the spell upon casting with Disallow or Thoughtseize prevents the creature from hitting the battlefield altogether.
Once Nicol Bolas becomes Nicol Bolas, the Arisen, you should prioritize disrupting its loyalty abilities. Direct attacks combined with pressure using creatures can force your opponent to protect their planeswalker, diverting resources away from their offensive strategies. Utilizing instant-speed direct damage spells like Lightning Bolt on the planeswalker after it transforms helps to swiftly reduce its loyalty counters. Don’t overlook the role of enchantments like Cast Out or Oblivion Ring, which can effectively handle both sides of this dual-card threat.
Overall, the key lies in anticipation and immediate action, whether through removal, counterspells, or direct damage. Properly timing these responses can mitigate the transformative power of Nicol Bolas and secure your victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2021-01-01. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 218 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 Promos | PM19 | 218s | 2015 | Transform | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1211 | 2015 | Transform | Borderless | Nana Qi | ||
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1158 | 2015 | Transform | Borderless | Nana Qi | ||
| 5 | 2021-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2021 | PJ21 | 9 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Lie Setiawan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | A double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up. The back face of a double-faced card can’t be played. |
| 2018-07-13 | Each face of a double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a double-faced card is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that’s currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored. |
| 2018-07-13 | If Nicol Bolas leaves the battlefield after his creature face’s activated ability has been activated but before it resolves, the card remains in whichever zone it moves to. It won’t be exiled or return transformed. |
| 2018-07-13 | If another permanent that isn’t a double-faced card (such as Mirror Image) becomes a copy of Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, activating the ability to exile it and return it transformed will only exile it. It won’t return to the battlefield at all. |
| 2018-07-13 | In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any permanents you control from Nicol Bolas’s third loyalty ability that came from other players’ graveyards are exiled. |
| 2018-07-13 | In some rare cases, a spell or ability may cause Nicol Bolas to transform while it’s a creature on the battlefield. If this happens, the resulting planeswalker won’t have any loyalty counters on it and will subsequently be put into its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2018-07-13 | Nicol Bolas, the Arisen has a color indicator on its typeline. This color indicator means that it’s a blue, black, and red permanent. |
| 2018-07-13 | The converted mana cost of a double-faced card is the converted mana cost of its front face, even while it’s on the battlefield with its back face up. For example, the converted mana cost of Nicol Bolas, the Arisen is 4. |
| 2018-07-13 | When Nicol Bolas’s enters-the-battlefield triggered ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order (or, if it’s an opponent’s turn, that opponent) chooses a card in their hand without revealing it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. Then all the chosen cards are discarded at the same time. |
| 2018-07-13 | While a double-faced card isn’t on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. For example, Nicol Bolas has the characteristics of its creature face in the graveyard, even if it was a planeswalker on the battlefield before it was put into the graveyard. |
| 2018-07-13 | You can activate one of the planeswalker’s loyalty abilities the turn it enters the battlefield. |