River Boa MTG Card
1997-02-03 - Number 118
1997-08-13 - Number sg118sb
1999-04-21 - Number 249
1999-08-04 - Number ml249
1999-11-12 - Number 59
2009-10-02 - Number 180
2010-06-04 - Number 80
2014-03-14 - Number 49
2019-11-07 - Number 1315
2000-01-01 - Number 1
2002-06-24 - Number 36014
2020-09-26 - Number ZEN-180
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Snake |
| Abilities | Islandwalk,Landwalk |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Islandwalk (If defending player controls an island, this creature is unblockable.) oo G Regenerate
"But no one heard the snake's gentle hiss for peace over the elephant's trumpeting of war." —Afari, *Tales*
Cards like River Boa
River Boa stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a resilient and adaptable creature. It’s often likened to other two-cost creatures with the same “can’t be blocked except by black creatures” trait, such as Graceful Antelope. However, River Boa’s Islandwalk ability specifically makes it a threat in blue-dominated metas. Additionally, its Regenerate ability gives it a distinct survival advantage; for a single green mana, it can be saved from destruction, a trait not found on the Antelope.
Comparing River Boa to another serpent, the Blighted Agent, reveals a trade-off between unblockable prowess and resilience. While the Agent is unblockable by any creature, it lacks River Boa’s regenerative capability, making it more vulnerable to removal. Similarly, Slippery Bogle provides hexproof but can’t regenerate, meaning the Boa has a better chance of sticking around against targeted spells or abilities that would otherwise remove the Bogle from the battlefield.
Ultimately, River Boa’s mix of evasion and durability offers a unique combination in Magic: The Gathering, slotting effectively into decks that benefit from consistent board presence and those looking to exploit specific terrain advantages.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using River Boa. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Green Stompy | Pauper | Mono-Green Aggro | Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 2^ tappa MILANO 2024 |
 | Mono-Green Aggro | Pauper | Mono-Green Aggro | Pauper Challenge 32 2023-11-12 |
| Rogue Decklists | Pauper | Mono-Green Aggro | Nacional Pauper 2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Boasting the ability to regenerate, River Boa ensures that you maintain presence on the board, protecting your investment and potential for continued pressure against opponents. This card is cost-efficient and when used effectively, can deter opponent’s actions, indirectly preserving your hand.
Resource Acceleration: With a low casting cost of one colorless and one green mana, River Boa enables a rapid deployment onto the battlefield. This speedy introduction often translates to early game dominance, and in green decks that focus on ramp, it maintains your pace of resource acceleration without delay.
Instant Speed: The regeneration ability of River Boa can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility and resilience. In the face of removal spells or combat surprises, instant activation ensures that your valuable asset remains a constant threat while maneuvering through complex board states.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The River Boa card doesn’t inherently have a discard requirement, but in decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies, River Boa might not interact optimally or contribute to these synergies.
Specific Mana Cost: River Boa has a specific mana cost that demands green mana, potentially making it less versatile in multicolor decks where mana fixing is not optimized or in situations where green mana sources are constrained.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a creature with good baseline abilities, River Boa’s mana cost might be considered high compared to other two-mana creatures that provide additional value or versatility within the same mana range, particularly considering the competitive nature of this mana slot in green creature decks.
Reasons to Include River Boa in Your Collection
Versatility: River Boa is highly adaptable to a variety of green-based decks. Its ability to regenerate makes it an excellent defensive creature that can persist through sweepers and targeted removal. This flexibility ensures that River Boa remains a relevant card in numerous deck builds, from casual play to more competitive environments.
Combo Potential: With its Islandwalk ability, River Boa becomes unblockable as long as your opponent controls an Island, pairing well with land-affecting strategies that may turn your opponent’s lands into Islands to ensure a direct hit. It can also serve as a consistent blocker in multiplayer formats where Islands are prevalent.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where blue decks with Islands dominate, River Boa’s evasive ability shines, making it a particularly potent card in your collection. Moreover, with its low casting cost, River Boa fits into early game aggression, enabling a swift tempo playstyle that can pressure an unprepared opponent.
How to beat
River Boa is an intriguing creature within MTG that has seen its share of play across varying formats. Its resilience stems from its ability to regenerate, coupled with islandwalk, which allows it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls an Island. This makes River Boa a persistent threat, especially in control matchups where Islands are common.
To outmaneuver the River Boa, the key is in disrupting its regenerative capability. Since regeneration requires mana, keeping the opponent’s mana tapped out can render the Boa vulnerable. Cards that force a sacrifice, like Diabolic Edict, can also effectively bypass regeneration. Additionally, altering the combat dynamics through enchantments that prevent the Boa from attacking or blocking, or utilizing spells that exile it instead of destroying it, can neutralize this slithery nuisance.
The importance of adapting your strategy to handle creatures with unique defensive measures such as the River Boa cannot be understated. Recognizing and employing the appropriate countermeasures is vital in ensuring that the Boa’s time on the battlefield is as fleeting as a ripple on the water.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase River Boa MTG card by a specific set like Visions and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 River Boa 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The River Boa Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-02-03 | Visions | VIS | 118 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steve White | |
| 2 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | sg118sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Steve White | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 249 | 1997 | Normal | White | Steve White | |
| 4 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | ml249 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Steve White | |
| 5 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 59 | 1997 | Normal | White | Steve White | |
| 6 | Friday Night Magic 2000 | FNM | 1 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steve White | ||
| 7 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36014 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steve White | ||
| 8 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 180 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 9 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 80 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 10 | 2014-03-14 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska | DDM | 49 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 11 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1315 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | ZEN-180 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where River Boa has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |