Out of Bounds MTG Card

Out of Bounds disrupts opponents by countering spells, critical for breaking enemy momentum and gaining card advantage. Instant speed allows flexibility and surprise, offering powerful game state control and opponent strategy interruption. Despite its strengths, the card’s higher mana cost and strict color requirements may limit its inclusion in some decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Assist
Released	2018-06-08
Set symbol
Set name	Battlebond
Set code	BBD
Number	38
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dmitry Burmak

Text of card

Assist (Another player can pay up to of this spell's cost.) Counter target spell.

The wardens watch for illegal tactics and protect spectators from the occasional rogue fireball.

Cards like Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds is an intriguing counterplay option in the Magic: The Gathering repertoire. It invites comparison to traditional counters like Cancel, as both serve the purpose of nullifying enemy spells. What sets Out of Bounds apart is the Assist feature, allowing another player to help pay its casting cost—a strategic depth not present in Cancel’s straightforward approach.

Contrasting Out of Bounds with other similar spells, we find Disallow. Disallow not only counters spells but can also counter abilities, offering greater versatility at the same three mana cost. However, it lacks the collaborative potential of Assist found in Out of Bounds. There’s also Mana Leak, which, for a lower cost, can effectively counter spells unless the opponent can pay additional mana. While cheaper, Mana Leak’s efficacy diminishes as the game progresses and opponents amass more resources, unlike the consistent counter capability of Out of Bounds.

To sum up, Out of Bounds commands a unique position with Assist, offering players joint strategic maneuvers. In a game where allies and resource flexibility matter, Out of Bounds may be an advantageous pick over its counterparts within the control archetype.

Cards similar to Out of Bounds by color, type and mana cost

Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Out of Bounds is adept at disrupting the flow of the game by letting you counter a target spell unless its controller pays 4 extra mana. This can be valuable for breaking opponents’ momentum and can contribute to card advantage by making their play more resource-intensive.

Resource Acceleration: While Out of Bounds itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, successfully countering a crucial spell of an opponent can set them back, indirectly accelerating your comparative resource position and leading to board control.

Instant Speed: The power of Out of Bounds lies in its operational speed. The flexibility to cast it at instant speed allows you to adapt to the evolving game state, interrupting opponents’ strategies during their turn or at the end of their turn to keep your options open and maintain the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Out of Bounds demands discarding a card, which might deplete your hand quicker than desirable. This could leave you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re struggling to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Out of Bounds comes with a stringent mana cost, including both blue and red mana. This specificity can pose a deck-building challenge, as it may not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks that don’t support these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although offering a potent counter ability, the card’s cost is on the higher end. With the magic community valuing efficiency, there are alternatives that accomplish similar goals without the steep investment, making it a sometimes less appealing option in fast-paced matches where every mana point counts.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Out of Bounds is a flexible card that can slot into numerous deck archetypes, serving as a reliable counterspell with the added benefit of learning – allowing you to fetch a Lesson card from outside the game.

Combo Potential: The learn mechanic opens up strategic options, enabling synergies with Lesson cards that complement your existing strategy or disrupt your opponent’s game plan.

Meta-Relevance: Control decks gain an edge with Out of Bounds in a meta dense with spellslingers or combo decks, empowering you to disrupt pivotal plays while shaping your hand to better navigate the match.

How to beat

Confronted by the disruptive force of the Out of Bounds card in Magic: The Gathering, players must adapt their strategies to overcome this unique challenge. This blue instant spell has the capability to counter not just one, but potentially multiple spells for a reasonable cost, potentially turning the tide of a duel. Despite its power, this card is not unbeatable.

One effective tactic is leveraging uncounterable spells which bypass the conditional countering effect of Out of Bounds. By incorporating cards like Supreme Verdict or Cavern of Souls, players can assure their critical spells resolve. Deck-building choices can also tilt the scales, emphasizing either low-cost spells to outpace the mana requirements of Out of Bounds or high-impact spells that demand immediate answers.

Additionally, consider constructing your plays to bait out the Out of Bounds early, leaving your opponent’s defenses weakened. This strategy often forces the use of Out of Bounds on your terms, opening a window for your more valuable spells to hit the battlefield unchallenged. Thus, while Out of Bounds poses a formidable obstacle, understanding and anticipating its use can nullify its advantage and secure your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Out of Bounds MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond, 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 Out of Bounds and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Out of Bounds has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-06-08	Assist allows another player to pay for any amount of generic mana. If an effect changes the cost of the spell, the amount that player may pay will be more or less than the amount in the spell’s reminder text.
2018-06-08	If an effect allows a player to cast a spell spending mana “as though it were mana of any color” or “of any type,” that player must still pay for the colored mana in that spell’s total cost. That cost doesn’t become generic.
2018-06-08	Only the generic mana portion of a spell’s cost can be paid with assist. Any colored mana costs must be paid by the spell’s controller, even if the assisting player paid mana of that color.
2018-06-08	You may reveal a card with assist and discuss how to pay for it before you begin to cast the spell. Targets are chosen for that spell before you choose another player to help you pay for it and before that player has committed any mana to doing so.