Runaway Boulder MTG Card

Offers card advantage by potentially removing an opponent’s nonland permanent on attack. Enables elemental and landfall synergies for resource acceleration in your deck. Demands strategic hand management due to its discard activation requirement.

Runaway Boulder - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Cycling, Flash
Released	2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set name	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set code	LCI
Number	259
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Loïc Canavaggia

Text of card

Flash When Runaway Boulder enters the battlefield, it deals 6 damage to target creature an opponent controls. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"Run, hearties, run! Or we'll end our days as pirate paste!"

Cards like Runaway Boulder

Runaway Boulder enters the arena as a notable card within Magic: The Gathering, drawing attention to the realm of self-sacrificing permanents. It can be lumped together with cards like Self-Assembled Contraption for its self-sacrificial nature, albeit the Boulder adds a twist with its damage-dealing capacity when it dies. The Contraption lacks this aggressive feature, focusing more on assembling additional contraptions when saccing is involved.

Looking at Avalanche Riders, we find a shared theme of destruction, but the Riders focus on land disruption upon entering the battlefield, demanding a higher mana investment and offering a transient presence due to echo cost. Runaway Boulder might be less flashy upon its entrance but offers consistent pressure as it looms on the battlefield, threatening to crash down upon death.

Lastly, Rumbling Slum presents as an alternative, providing a steady stream of damage at the upkeep. While the Slum is dependable in its damage output, it doesn’t carry the imminent threat of direct damage to any target that the Runaway Boulder promises once it’s forced to crumble.

In mapping out the capabilities and strategic value of similar cards, Runaway Boulder showcases its unique prowess among MTG cards that capitalize on their own destruction, making it a card worth considering in decks that embrace a more combative form of sacrifice.

Cards similar to Runaway Boulder by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Runaway Boulder’s ability to destroy an opponent’s nonland permanent on attack provides a potential swing in card economy, reducing the opponent’s board presence without expending an additional spell.

Resource Acceleration: The card can enable elemental synergies that might accelerate your resources. When paired with cards that benefit from elementals or landfall, Runaway Boulder can be an asset in ramping up your board state or triggering valuable land-based effects.

Instant Speed: While Runaway Boulder itself isn’t an instant, its ability simulates an instant-speed interaction by disrupting an opponent’s game plan during combat, a phase when they might be least expecting it. This surprise factor can serve as a tempo swing, giving you the advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of the Runaway Boulder card is the discard condition attached to its activation. This could pose a strategic setback when your hand is already dwindling, making you sacrifice potentially crucial cards for your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Runaway Boulder’s casting cost demands both colorless and red mana, which might not always align with the land resources available to a player during a match. The specific mana requirements can hinder the card’s flexibility and integration in multicolored decks that do not focus on red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing mana efficiency, Runaway Boulder’s cost may appear steep. The initial investment needed to bring this card into play can be challenging to justify, especially when considering alternative cards at a lower mana cost that could fulfill a similar role within your strategy.

Reasons to Include Runaway Boulder in Your Collection

Versatility: Runaway Boulder is a card that can adapt to numerous deck strategies, as it’s a solid removal option for both aggressive and control decks. Its ability can be pivotal in clearing a path for your creatures or disrupting your opponent’s board state.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in decks that thrive on sacrificing permanents for value, or in a Landfall deck where returning a land to your hand can trigger beneficial effects multiple times.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where larger threats dominate the game, Runaway Boulder provides a cost-effective solution, helping you keep pace with the demands of the current competitive scene.

How to beat

Runaway Boulder presents itself as a dynamic force on the battlefield. This red card is similar to other creature removal spells, yet it carries its own weight with an inherent sense of momentum. Once a player activates landfall, the Boulder takes flight, transforming into an unstoppable object intent on crushing opposing creatures in its path.

To successfully overcome this resilient monolith, a player must consider both timing and precision. Cards that can prevent landfall triggers are essential in this strategy. Tactics such as land destruction or limiting the number of lands your opponent can play each turn can effectively negate the threat posed by Runaway Boulder. Alternatively, employing instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can neutralize it before it becomes active can ensure that the boulder remains a dormant threat rather than a climactic reckoning.

Ultimately, handling Runaway Boulder boils down to proactive measures and strategic foresight. Manage your resources wisely, predict your opponent’s landfall opportunities, and always be prepared to derail the Boulder before it cascades into unstoppable annihilation.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Runaway Boulder MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Runaway Boulder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Runaway Boulder has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.