Bone Shredder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Minion
Abilities Echo,Flying
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Bone Shredder provides card advantage by combining removal and creature presence, optimizing deck space.
  2. Its flexibility comes at a cost through an upkeep echo, demanding sacrifices and strategic planning.
  3. While versatile, the specific mana needs and targeting restrictions may hinder its inclusion in multi-color decks.

Text of card

Flying; echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) When Bone Shredder comes into play, destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bone Shredder enables you to deal with an opponent’s creature and leave behind a body on the battlefield. This two-for-one potential is a classic example of card advantage, allowing you to affect the board state while maintaining resources in hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Bone Shredder does not directly accelerate resources, it effectively fulfills the role of both a removal spell and a creature, potentially saving you a slot in your deck and accelerating your strategy by dealing with threats immediately.

Instant Speed: While Bone Shredder does not operate at instant speed, its echo cost provides flexibility, letting you decide whether to keep the creature on the board for further combat rounds or sacrifice it and use your mana elsewhere. The choice this provides can be as strategically valuable as having an instant in your hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bone Shredder demands a sacrifice each upkeep, which can be a strain on your array of creatures. This echo cost can set you back in terms of board presence, particularly if you’re running low on creatures or facing an attrition-based strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The colored mana requirement for this card is double black. In decks not heavily invested in black or those running multiple colors, securing the necessary mana can become a real challenge, especially in the early game when establishing a mana base is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total of three mana for a creature that is primarily used for its enter-the-battlefield effect, Bone Shredder might not be as mana-efficient compared to other removal options available in the format. Especially in a fast-paced game, the cost could be a setback when trying to manage more urgent threats on the board.


Reasons to Include Bone Shredder in Your Collection

Versatility: Bone Shredder is adaptable to various deck archetypes, excelling in strategies that appreciate creature control. Its ability to destroy nonartifact, nonblack creatures upon entry offers both offensive and defensive value.

Combo Potential: Its echo cost triggers leave the battlefield effects when left unpaid which can be synergized with death-triggered or reanimation mechanics, making Bone Shredder a cog in combo engines.

Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment where creature-heavy decks are prominent, Bone Shredder’s targeted removal can be a game-changer, providing crucial tempo swings and board control.


How to beat

Bone Shredder, a utility creature in MTG, presents itself as a valuable asset for any deck utilizing creature removal strategies. Positioned similarly to other removal creatures like Nekrataal, Bone Shredder offers a unique echo cost, providing players with a choice to keep it around or use it for a one-time effect. Much like Shriekmaw, Bone Shredder can target nonartifact, nonblack creatures, limiting its utility slightly but still proving effective within those confines.

A strategy against Bone Shredder involves leveraging indestructible or hexproof creatures which it cannot target. Cards like Darksteel Myr or Vine Mare stand strong against it. Additionally, since Bone Shredder cannot target black creatures, it might be beneficial to incorporate a higher number of black or artifact creatures in your deck, knowing they deny Bone Shredder its primary function.

Ultimately, when faced with Bone Shredder, evaluating your deck’s creature composition and implementing protection mechanics can effectively negate the threat posed by this potent creature, ensuring your gameplay remains uninterrupted by its removal capabilities.


BurnMana Recommendations

Rounding up the analysis on Bone Shredder, it’s evident that it can be a keystroke in the MTG metaverse for those who value precision removal. Synthesizing its pros and cons, the card provides dynamic play choices, and when coupled with the right deck components, can contribute to formidable board control strategies. Its niche targeting can be an important tactical move in certain meta conditions. If the echoes of this creature’s potential resonate with your MTG aspirations, consider integrating Bone Shredder into your repertoire. Embark on a journey with us to delve deeper into Magic the Gathering. Discover decks, strategies, and more as you refine your gaming prowess.


Cards like Bone Shredder

Bone Shredder is an intriguing creature in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to the likes of Nekrataal and Ravenous Chupacabra – all are creatures that can eliminate opposing threats upon entering the battlefield. Bone Shredder is distinctive in its ability to only target a nonartifact, nonblack creature, making it a more specialized removal tool as opposed to the broader applicability of Ravenous Chupacabra, which can target any creature.

Another card worthy of comparison is Shriekmaw. Both the Shredder and Shriekmaw offer the same kind of targeted removal, but Shriekmaw brings the added versatility of Evoke, allowing it to be used as a removal spell for a lower mana cost. While the Bone Shredder also has Echo, this requires full payment on the next turn, which makes it less flexible compared to Shriekmaw’s immediate impact for less mana.

Altogether, while assessing the potential and limitations of creature-based removal in Magic: The Gathering, Bone Shredder demonstrates considerable value with its selective removal approach, especially in environments where artifacts and black creatures are less prominent.

Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - Visions (VIS)
Ravenous Chupacabra - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Shriekmaw - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Bone Shredder by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Bone - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bone Shredder MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Urza's Legacy, 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 Bone Shredder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bone Shredder Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-01-02Media InsertsPMEI 452015normalblackRon Spencer
21999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 491997normalblackRon Spencer
32010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 52003normalblackRon Spencer
42021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2722015normalblackRon Spencer
52023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2472015normalblackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bone Shredder has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 Paying for echo is always optional. When the echo triggered ability resolves, if you can't pay the echo cost or choose not to, you sacrifice that permanent.
2021-06-18 Your permanent's echo ability will trigger at the beginning of your upkeep if it entered the battlefield since the beginning of your last upkeep, or if you gained control of it since the beginning of your last upkeep.

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