Bog Imp MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 16 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Imp
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Bog Imp provides consistent early-game pressure and can trade with larger creatures, boosting attrition tactics.
  2. Its specific mana cost limits deck versatility, yet it fits perfectly into black or black-intensive decks.
  3. Despite modest competitive use, Bog Imp’s flying ability and type synergies offer diverse deck inclusion benefits.

Text of card

Flying

On guard for larger dangers, we underestimated the power and speed of the Imp's muck-crusted claws.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bog Imp offers a steady presence on the battlefield that can consistently apply pressure and potentially trade with more powerful creatures over time, effectively allowing you to maintain parity or even tip the scales in the war of attrition against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While the Bog Imp itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, it has a low casting cost, which means it can seamlessly fit into your curve and leave mana available for other crucial spells, thereby indirectly aiding in managing your resources efficiently.

Instant Speed: The ability to use spells and abilities at instant speed isn’t intrinsic to the Bog Imp. However, its presence may coerce your opponent into playing more cautiously, holding back removal or board wipes to deal with your threats, which could give you the upper hand in reacting to their plays on your terms.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bog Imp’s playability is hampered as it provides no additional ability or effect aside from flying. This can lead to inefficient use of your hand, limiting strategic options during game play.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a specific combination of one black mana and one additional mana. This can be restrictive and makes the card less versatile, as it fits primarily into black or black-dominated decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells at a similar cost offering more utility or stronger stats, the Bog Imp’s mana investment often doesn’t match its utility on the battlefield, making it a less optimal choice for many deck builds.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Bog Imp offers a straightforward role in many types of black-based decks, commonly fitting into strategies centered around flying creatures or those benefiting from early board presence.

Combo Potential: This card can work well with synergies that revolve around creatures with flying. It can also complement sacrifice mechanics, where you may benefit from inexpensive creatures that can be easily deployed and utilized for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: While the Bog Imp might not be at the forefront of competitive play, it holds a place in nostalgic or casual collections. Its relevance can increase in a casual meta where slower games allow it to shine or in specific formats that capitalize on its creature type or flying ability.


How to beat

Bog Imp is an intriguing creature card with flying that can become a pesky blocker in the early to mid-game stages of Magic: The Gathering. Although its low toughness makes it an easy target for most removal spells, its flying ability allows it to evade many ground-based defenders. To effectively remove Bog Imp from the battlefield, consider using direct damage spells that can target creatures in the air, such as Lightning Bolt or Shock. Alternatively, spells that can debuff or -1/-1 counters are particularly effective since they can quickly negate the Imp’s already minimal defenses.

Enchantment-based removals, such as Pacifism or Bound in Silence, can also neutralize Bog Imp without triggering any potential death effects that some creatures have. For those who prefer fighting creatures with creatures, any low-cost flyer with a power of 1 or greater can battle and eliminate the Bog Imp. Moreover, as a Black creature, the Imp is susceptible to color-specific hate cards, which are prevalent in many sideboards. Employing any of these tactics should keep Bog Imp from causing mischief on your opponent’s side of the field.


Cards like Bog Imp

The Bog Imp offers a unique set of strengths and challenges when considering its placement among other flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Standing side by side with Flying Men, both share the nimble nature of one-mana creatures equipped with flying. Nevertheless, Bog Imp’s requirement for two mana, one of which is specifically black, makes it less versatile than its counterpart, despite having the added advantage of one additional point of toughness.

Comparing it to Skittering Skirge, we notice similarities in the mana cost, but the Skirge’s sacrifice mechanic triggered by another spell casts a shadow on Bog Imp’s straightforwardness. Furthermore, Vampire Bats emerges as a somewhat akin creature, capable of heftier damage despite its initial fragility since it can pump its attack at the cost of mana. Each of these flying creatures caters to different strategic alignments, whether it’s the simplicity and resiliency of Bog Imp or the potential for increased aggression found in Vampire Bats.

While Bog Imp might not stand out for its power or dynamic abilities, its steady presence in a deck, particularly for new players, helps establish early board control and offers invaluable learning experiences in aerial combat strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Skittering Skirge - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Skittering Skirge - Urza's Saga (USG)
Vampire Bats - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Bog Imp by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bog Imp MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Bog Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bog Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 411993normalblackRon Spencer
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1231993normalblackRon Spencer
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1231993normalwhiteRon Spencer
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 491993normalblackRon Spencer
51996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 151993normalwhiteRon Spencer
61996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 161993normalwhiteRon Spencer
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1451997normalwhiteRon Spencer
81997-05-01PortalPOR 811997normalblackChristopher Rush
91999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1161997normalwhiteChristopher Rush
101999-07-01Starter 1999S99 651997normalwhiteChristopher Rush
112001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 122★1997normalblackCarl Critchlow
122001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1221997normalwhiteCarl Critchlow
132003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 119★2003normalblackCarl Critchlow
142003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1192003normalwhiteCarl Critchlow
152005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1162003normalwhiteCarl Critchlow
162005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 116★2003normalblackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bog Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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