Throne of Bone MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 273
1993-10-04 - Number 274
1993-12-01 - Number 274
1993-12-10 - Number 274
1993-12-10 - Number 274
1994-04-01 - Number 279
1994-04-01 - Number 279
1994-06-21 - Number 279
1995-04-01 - Number 353
1995-04-01 - Number 353
1997-03-24 - Number 403
1999-04-21 - Number 316
2001-04-11 - Number 322★
2001-04-11 - Number 322
2003-07-28 - Number 317★
2003-07-28 - Number 317
2022-11-28 - Number 269
2022-11-28 - Number 566
| Card sets | Released in 18 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
o1: Any black spell cast by any player gives you 1 life.
Cards like Throne of Bone
The Throne of Bone stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an artifact that provides a specialized form of lifegain. It draws parallels to cards like Ivory Cup, which also triggers off of a specific type of spell—white spells, in this case—granting you life whenever one is cast. Both cards require an activation fee, yet Throne of Bone is more inclusive, gaining you life from any black spell cast by any player.
Moving on, we can look to Dragon’s Claw as another comparative point. This artifact follows the same pattern, but for red spells, giving it a place in different deck strategies. While the scope of these cards is limited to the color of spells cast, their consistent life gain can be a decided advantage in long games. The detail to note with Throne of Bone, however, is its broader application across a range of black spells, making it an opportune choice for life gain against decks heavy on those spells.
In sum, Throne of Bone earns its spot as a valuable utility card in decks that anticipate a high volume of black spells, offering continuous life gain that can be integral to sustaining a player throughout the match.
Cards similar to Throne of Bone by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Throne of Bone itself may not directly grant card advantage, it does impact the battlefield by offering longevity. By converting life loss into an asset, this card can set the stage for future plays that will let you gain advantage over time.
Resource Acceleration: Throne of Bone’s ability can be activated at any time, providing a steady source of colorless mana generation. This can be particularly beneficial in decks that need to filter out undesirable mana or require the ability to ramp up their mana base efficiently.
Instant Speed: The ability of Throne of Bone to intercept and utilize life loss at instant speed gives players flexibility to adapt during an opponent’s turn. This feature ensures that no spell or effect involving life loss goes unutilized, thereby maximizing its potential in any given situation.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In order to leverage the card’s ability, players must first sacrifice a valued card in hand. This is particularly troublesome during tight situations where each card’s strategic potential is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Throne of Bone requires a colorless mana investment which, while seemingly versatile, constrains deck synergy, especially in color-focused decks aiming to maximize mana efficiency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost paired with its ongoing activation expense may not yield an impressive return on investment, particularly when matched against other cards with similar yet lower cost structures.
Reasons to Include Throne of Bone in Your Collection
Versatility: Throne of Bone offers a level of adaptability, finding a place in decks that aim to profit from life gain or where artifact synergies are essential.
Combo Potential: As an artifact, it can be a key piece in combinations that trigger from gaining life or casting specific spells, furthering complex in-game strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames saturated with spellslinger decks, Throne of Bone could become more relevant by providing continuous life increments that can be the deciding factor in drawn-out matches.
How to beat
Throne of Bone presents itself as a niche card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique form of life gain in response to spells. It distinguishes itself from other life gain artifacts by its specificity – it primarily counters black spells, allowing you to gain life each time an opponent casts one, provided you have the mana to spare.
In contrast to more flexible life gain cards like Fountain of Youth, which provides life gain at any given moment or Pristine Talisman that simultaneously ramps and heals without being spell-dependent, Throne of Bone’s utility is situationally bound. To effectively minimize its impact, a switch in strategy might be necessary. Consider leveraging non-black spells, diversifying your deck’s color palette, or even employing cards that restrict opponents’ abilities to pay for triggered abilities. The objective is to render their Throne of Bone obsolete and their strategy less effective.
In essence, the key to overcoming Throne of Bone lies in crafting a multifaceted approach that reduces the dependency on black spells and disrupts the opponent’s mana efficiency. By diluting the effectiveness of their artifact, you tilt the scales in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Throne of Bone MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Throne of Bone 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 Throne of Bone Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 273 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 274 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 274 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 274 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 274 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 279 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 279 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 279 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 353 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 353 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 403 | 1997 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola | |
| 12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 316 | 1997 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola | |
| 13 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 322★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears | |
| 14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 322 | 1997 | Normal | White | Ron Spears | |
| 15 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 317★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 16 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 317 | 2003 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola | |
| 17 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 269 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 18 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 566 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Throne of Bone has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |