Iron Bully MTG Card

War of the Spark (WAR)
2019-05-03 - Number 240

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 262

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 778

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Golem
Abilities	Menace
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Iron Bully provides minimal card advantage through its modular ability, enhancing creature forces early on.
Its mana cost is reasonable for its utility, although it lacks traditional resource acceleration features.
Versatility in synergistic decks makes Iron Bully a worthwhile inclusion for varied MTG strategies.

Text of card

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) When Iron Bully enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

"Why would someone have built ... wait, never mind. Send it to the front lines!" —Commander Grozdan

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Iron Bully doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it does provide minimal card advantage by including a modular ability. When you cast Iron Bully, you can place a +1/+1 counter on itself or another artifact creature you control, potentially beefing up your forces without needing an additional card.

Resource Acceleration: Iron Bully is not a source of resource acceleration in the traditional sense, as it doesn’t produce mana or hasten your access to it. However, its modest mana cost makes it a decent addition to your battlefield in the early phases of the game, allowing you to establish a presence without depleting your resources heavily.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Iron Bully doesn’t have flash and can’t be played at instant speed. What it does offer is a solid presence that can hold the fort and become especially valuable in decks that utilize artifact synergies or need additional +1/+1 counters to support larger strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This artifact creature doesn’t inherently demand a discard upon casting, but in decks focused on leveraging modularity or using certain affinity strategies, having to potentially discard other cards to enable combos can inhibit its effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: Iron Bully requires three generic mana to play, which can be limiting early in the game when you’re aiming to deploy multiple spells or creatures. Its cost doesn’t help affinity for artifacts, and it doesn’t reduce in any way, unlike other artifact creatures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Iron Bully only costs three mana, within the scope of artifact creatures, its stats are modest, and other options might provide more impact or versatility for a similar mana investment. For example, cards like ‘Silver Myr’ might be preferred for mana acceleration or ‘Perilous Myr’ for potential damage.

Reasons to Include Iron Bully in Your Collection

Versatility: Iron Bully’s modular ability adds a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield, which can be pivotal in decks focusing on counter strategies or proliferate mechanics, making it a flexible addition across multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Iron Bully synergizes well with cards that interact with artifacts or counters. It’s a key piece in combinations that exploit +1/+1 counters or need an artifact on the field to kickstart a combo.

Meta-Relevance: Its low mana cost and inherent synergies allow it to adapt well to various metagames. Iron Bully can often find a place in artifact-centric decks that are prevalent in certain metas, ensuring it remains a relevant choice for collectors and competitive players alike.

How to Beat Iron Bully

Iron Bully may seem like a minor threat in MTG due to its low power, but its menace ability and the +1/+1 counter it brings to the party can sometimes catch players off guard. Countering this artifact creature efficiently requires strategic planning. Removal spells are your best friends against Iron Bully. Since it’s a creature with only one base power, spells like Fatal Push or Shatter can dispatch it without a significant investment.

Another excellent tactic is employing creatures with greater toughness to absorb the bullying. Once you put a sturdy blocker in place, Iron Bully’s menace becomes less menacing, forcing it to stay back or be traded off unfavorably. Besides, keeping an eye out for opportunities to limit your opponent’s artifact synergies is key, as Iron Bully can play a role in enhancing other creatures or various artifact-focused strategies.

Remember, disruption goes a long way against cards that rely on counters. Negating the initial placement of a +1/+1 counter or using bounce spells to reset its enhancements can tilt the scales in your favor. Anticipating the supporting cast and preparing for them can diminish Iron Bully’s impact on the game.

Cards like Iron Bully

Iron Bully carves out a niche within the artifacts in Magic: The Gathering due to its Menace ability and potential to buff another creature with a +1/+1 counter upon entering the battlefield. A similar artifact creature, Gingerbrute, also offers a unique form of evasion, making it unblockable except by creatures with haste. However, while Gingerbrute is more about dodging defenders, Iron Bully helps strengthen your other creatures.

Another analog is Foundry Inspector, which reduces the cost of your artifact spells, thus accelerating your strategy. Unlike Iron Bully, Foundry Inspector doesn’t contribute to the force of an individual creature but rather smooths the deployment of your entire artifact arsenal. Then there’s Myr Enforcer, a larger creature that could potentially be cast for less mana due to its Affinity for Artifacts.

In essence, while Iron Bully may not stand out for its raw power or cost efficiency, its versatility in providing menace and strengthening other creatures through +1/+1 counters makes it a sound choice in the right build, particularly in limited formats or as part of a synergistic artifact-centric strategy.

Cards similar to Iron Bully by color, type and mana cost

Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Iron Bully MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Double Masters, 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 Iron Bully and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Iron Bully Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Aaron Miller.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2019-05-03	War of the Spark	WAR	240	2015	Normal	Black	Aaron Miller
2	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	262	2015	Normal	Black	Aaron Miller
3	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	778	2015	Normal	Black	Aaron Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Iron Bully has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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