Bonethorn Valesk MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 82 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Alan Pollack |
Key Takeaways
- Bonethorn Valesk is durable, offers card advantage, and can shift board control through its death-triggered damage.
- It accelerates resources effectively, providing mana efficiency while introducing an early-game threat.
- The card’s instant-speed ability can be pivotal, neutralizing threats or disrupting enemy defenses at critical times.
Text of card
Whenever a creature is turned face up, Bonethorn Valesk deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Barbarians weave its spurs into ceremonial charms to proclaim their hardiness in battle.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bonethorn Valesk provides you with a durable creature that can withstand removal, ensuring that you sustain card presence on the battlefield. Its ability to deal damage to any target upon death also gives you a latent threat that can shift board control in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: With its moderate casting cost and potential to disrupt early game plays, Bonethorn Valesk acts as resource acceleration by helping you maintain mana efficiency while putting a threat on the board.
Instant Speed: Bonethorn Valesk’s triggered ability can be a strategic asset at instant speed, allowing you to eliminate key threats or weaken your opponent’s defenses at critical moments during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Bonethorn Valesk requires the player to sacrifice another creature, which can be detrimental if your board presence is already weak or you’re aiming to maintain creature control.
Specific Mana Cost: Bonethorn Valesk demands a specific hybrid mana (black/green), which may be problematic if you’re running a multicolor deck and facing mana constraints.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana, this card comes with a significant investment. Players need to consider if the benefits it provides outweigh cheaper alternatives that could be played sooner.
Reasons to Include Bonethorn Valesk in Your Collection
Versatility: Bonethorn Valesk is a dynamic addition to any collection due to its flexible utility. Able to seamlessly fit into a variety of decks, it shines in builds that capitalizes on direct creature damage or benefits from its deathtouch ability.
Combo Potential: With its ability to assign damage as though it weren’t blocked, Bonethorn Valesk contributes to synergies that turn combat calculations on their head. Transforming unused attack power into direct player damage opens up creative combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creatures are key, having Bonethorn Valesk can be a game-changer. Its presence can deter opponents’ strategies, making it a strategic pick for surviving and thriving within the current meta.
How to beat
Bonethorn Valesk can pose quite the challenge on the battlefield as it bolsters every other creature you control with an added sting whenever they’re blocked. This green creature card ambushes opponents with additional damage, making blocking a risky move for them. However, remember that the key to overcoming Bonethorn Valesk lies in controlling the pace of the game and being selective about your attacks and blocks.
Direct removal spells are solid solutions, swiftly taking Bonethorn Valesk out of the equation. Cards like Murder, Doom Blade, or Path to Exile are excellent choices to dispatch it without causing a ripple effect. Another tactic is to manage the number of creatures your opponent controls. Board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, neutralizing the threat posed by the Valesk. Lastly, remember to limit your opponent’s creature growth. Counter spells and control elements can maintain your dominance, allowing you to maneuver around this prickly adversary.
Overall, Bonethorn Valesk requires strategic forethought to dispatch. By leveraging creature removals, board control, and countering the growth of enemy forces, you’ll neutralize this threat and maintain the upper hand in your duel.
Cards like Bonethorn Valesk
Bonethorn Valesk is an intriguing creature in MTG that joins the ranks of powerful beasts with a presence in both attack and defense strategies. Its similarities with other creatures such as Thornweald Archer are apparent through the deathtouch ability. Both creatures can eliminate any opponent they deal damage to, regardless of size. Bonethorn Valesk, however, stands out due to its higher toughness, providing an edge in surviving longer battles.
Comparatively, Vampire Nighthawk is another creature that sports deathtouch, but it also brings flying and lifelink to the table. While Bonethorn Valesk lacks these additional abilities, it compensates with potentially higher damage output, making it formidable against a broad array of threats. Then there’s Typhoid Rats, a more economical option with deathtouch at a single mana cost. Despite the allure of its low cost, Bonethorn Valesk’s superior stats justify a higher mana investment for a sturdier battlefield contender.
Evaluating these similar creatures, Bonethorn Valesk proves itself as a card that packs a punch with deathtouch, serving as an exceptional defender in a player’s arsenal. Its capacity to serve as a reliable obstacle for opponents gives it a respected position in creature-based strategies within the MTG universe.
Cards similar to Bonethorn Valesk by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bonethorn Valesk MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Bonethorn Valesk and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bonethorn Valesk has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bonethorn Valesk card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | Triggers when any permanent is turned face up, not just a creature. |