Ward of Bones MTG Card

Restricts opponents’ permanents to level the board, potentially causing card deadlocks. Indirectly accelerates your resources by throttling opponent board development. Despite its cost, it offers a constant deterrent effect, shaping gameplay significantly.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Number	174
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Martin

Text of card

Each opponent who controls more creatures than you can't play creature cards. The same is true for artifacts, enchantments, and lands.

Mages dare not attempt magic in its grotesque presence.

Cards like Ward of Bones

Ward of Bones is a unique artifact in MTG, sticking out as a control piece capable of restricting opponents’ ability to outpace you on the battlefield. It shares a kinship with other control artifacts, such as the infamous Ensnaring Bridge, which also limits the number of creatures that can attack based on cards in hand, effectively protecting you from swarms of enemies.

There’s also the comparison to Damping Sphere, which inhibits players from chaining spells together and paying extra for their lands’ outputs beyond their first spell each turn. Although different in application, both Ward of Bones and Damping Sphere reign in opponents, creating strategic chokepoints. Meekstone, a long-standing control piece, runs parallel to this theme by preventing creatures with high power from untapping, thus contributing to the same overarching strategy of controlling the tide of the game through permanent constraints.

While these cards provide similar strategic roles in MTG, Ward of Bones stands out by applying a multi-faceted approach to limiting opponents across all permanent types, not just creatures or lands. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to craft a game plan that slowly tightens the grip on the opponents’ ability to develop their board state.

Cards similar to Ward of Bones by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the critical strategic benefits of the Ward of Bones is its ability to restrict opponents from outnumbering you on the battlefield and in terms of other permanents. By limiting the number of creatures, artifacts, enchantments, and lands your opponent can control to the number you have, it maintains parity and can indirectly cause your opponent to have dead cards in their hand if they can’t play them due to the restriction.

Resource Acceleration: While Ward of Bones doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it hinders your opponents’ ability to develop their board, which can give you a relative advantage. This allows you to maximize your use of mana and resources while they are potentially throttled by the card’s effect, thus giving you a pseudo-acceleration by comparison.

Instant Speed: Although Ward of Bones is an artifact that doesn’t function at instant speed, its static ability affects the game at all times once it’s on the battlefield. Its imposing presence can be seen as a form of deterrent, similar to how an instant would impact your opponent’s decisions, by making them consider their plays to avoid hitting the constraints the card enforces.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ward of Bones doesn’t have an immediate discard requirement, it’s essential to consider that maintaining card advantage is crucial. If your deck runs out of options while trying to uphold Ward of Bones’ restrictions, you may find yourself at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Ward of Bones requires a very specific mana investment of six mana, where one must be generic. This can be a hefty cost, particularly in decks that look for a faster or more color-diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six mana value, Ward of Bones is a significant investment. In matches where pace is vital, this card can come out too late to effectively lock down an opponent’s strategy. Alternative lock pieces or control elements might prove more cost-effective in faster-paced gameplay.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ward of Bones is a unique artifact that can seamlessly integrate into numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to limit opponents from overextending on any type of permanent makes it an excellent inclusion in control-oriented strategies seeking to maintain a balanced board state.

Combo Potential: The card shines in environments where you can manipulate the number of permanents you have, allowing for potential lockout combinations. It becomes even more powerful when paired with cards that bounce or exile your opponent’s permanents, solidifying its role in decks that are crafted to exploit such synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where players are constantly seeking to outpace each other by amassing significant numbers of creatures, lands, and other permanents, Ward of Bones can become a crucial asset. It’s especially relevant in those metas where players rely on flooding the board, thereby giving this card a chance to keep such strategies in check.

How to beat

Ward of Bones is a notorious artifact in the world of MTG with a potent lockdown ability that can restrict opponents from outpacing you in terms of permanents on the battlefield. Rarely facing off against a card of this caliber, it’s crucial to have a strategy to counteract its strong board control. To navigate this challenge, it’s essential to handle your board state with caution. Equalizing the number of creatures and other permanents is one approach, as Ward of Bones only prevents playing more cards of a type than the player controlling it.

Enchantment removals or artifact destruction cards can be quite effective. Almost every color in MTG offers some form of removal capable of dismantling artifacts, such as Disenchant or Reclamation Sage. Furthermore, playing cards that don’t add to the battlefield, like instants or cards with flash, can bypass Ward of Bones’ restraining effect. Flexibility in strategy and a well-assembled deck can turn the tides against the game-warping potential of Ward of Bones.

In essence, beating Ward of Bones demands foresight and an adaptable gameplay style. Prioritize removals and carefully consider the type and number of permanents you play to ensure you can maintain control and overcome the constraints set by this formidable artifact.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ward of Bones MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Ward of Bones and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ward of Bones has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-08-01	Spelling this out completely: — Each opponent who controls more creatures than you can’t play creature cards. — Each opponent who controls more artifacts than you can’t play artifact cards. — Each opponent who controls more enchantments than you can’t play enchantment cards. — Each opponent who controls more lands than you can’t play land cards.