Bower Passage MTG Card


Bower Passage - Avacyn Restored
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameAvacyn Restored
Set codeAVR
Number170
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCliff Childs

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient at two mana, Bower Passage swiftly alters the battlefield dynamic, best in flying-focused decks.
  2. Great combo potential with cards that grant flying, enhancing token strategies for relentless assaults.
  3. Meta-relevant, it helps circumnavigate flying defenses, offering a strategic edge in many match-ups.

Text of card

Creatures with flying can't block creatures you control.

In the darkest hours, some denied Avacyn. Now the Kessig wilds are their only haven.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Enhances your battlefield by making creatures with flying unable to block, which can turn the tide by allowing uninterrupted attacks, especially in decks looking to win through combat.

Resource Acceleration: At only two mana, Bower Passage is an efficient enchantment that can be deployed early, keeping your mana available for other spells and not slowing down your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Bower Passage is not an instant itself, it works exceptionally well with creatures and spells that can be played at instant speed, providing an unanticipated edge during combat on your turn or even during your opponent’s turn if you have flash creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Bower Passage doesn’t directly require discarding, its effectiveness can necessitate having other creature cards in hand to maximize its utility, potentially leading to a disadvantageous discard situation in order to deploy fliers that benefit from its passive.

Specific Mana Cost: Bower Passage requires a specific blend of mana, one green and one colorless, which means it caters to decks with a green mana base. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to primarily green or multicolor decks focused on flying creatures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Bower Passage might initially seem economical, but when considering the niche application of making creatures with flying unblockable by creatures without flying, the cost might outweigh the benefits, especially when other cards with broader protective effects are available at a similar or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include Bower Passage in Your Collection

Versatility: Bower Passage is a unique enchantment that can seamlessly slip into decks that prioritize flying creatures. Its ability to allow creatures with flying to be essentially unblockable makes it a superb addition to decks focusing on aerial superiority. Moreover, it’s a countermeasure against decks heavily reliant on flying defense.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with card effects that grant flying temporarily or permanently. It elevates the impact of token-generating strategies that produce flying creatures, multiplying your offensive capabilities without the fear of opposing blockers stopping your swarm.

Meta-Relevance: As flying creatures are commonplace in many competitive formats, Bower Passage has the potential to tilt the match in your favor. It grants an advantage in metas where flying defenders are prevalent, thus allowing you to bypass enemy lines and deliver direct strikes more consistently.


How to overcome Bower Passage

Bower Passage is a unique enchantment in the world of MTG that can significantly alter the dynamics of creature combat. This two-mana cost card hailing from the Avacyn Restored set creates a scenario where creatures with flying can’t be blocked except by creatures with reach. At first glance, this effect may seem insurmountable for those facing an aerial onslaught. But don’t let Bower Passage clip your wings – there are strategies to navigate this obstacle confidently.

One effective approach is to include removal spells that target enchantments directly. Cards like Nature’s Claim and Disenchant can dismantle the Passage, restoring balance to the battlefield. Alternatively, shifting focus to non-combat strategies such as direct damage or effects that reduce an opponent’s life total regardless of creature attacks can circumvent the Passage’s effect altogether. It’s also beneficial to fortify your board with creatures that have reach, ensuring that the skies remain contested. Every card in MTG has a counter, and Bower Passage is no exception. By adjusting your deck and strategy, you can turn a seeming disadvantage into a triumph.

Ultimately, it’s about embracing flexibility in your deck building and playing adaptively to the challenges on the board, ensuring no single card like Bower Passage dictates the tide of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

The art of deck construction in MTG thrives on understanding individual card strengths and synergies, which is where Bower Passage can be a game-changer. With its ability to make your aerial threats unblockable, it leverages the flight advantage to a whole new level, especially in green-centric or multicolor flyers decks. Mastering MTG means adapting to the evolving battlefield, and Bower Passage is an asset worth considering. Dive into the strategic depth of MTG with us—fine-tune your deck, discover powerful combos, and outmaneuver opponents in the skies. Elevate your collection and gameplay—learn the secrets to conquering the board with Bower Passage.


Cards like Bower Passage

Bower Passage gives your creatures with flying an unblockable status against creatures without flying, which is a strategic advantage in Magic: The Gathering. It is reminiscent of existing enchantments like Glaring Spotlight that negate the protection and hexproof abilities, allowing creatures to be targeted and blocked as usual. However, Bower Passage is unique in its specific utility against creatures without flying, establishing a clear pathway for airborne assaults.

Another card in this category is Magi’s Bridge, providing your flying creatues the ability to dodge being blocked by creatures with lesser power. While Bower Passage makes all non-flying defenders obsolete, Magi’s Bridge still requires your creatures to outmatch the power of potential blockers. Conversely, there’s Eternal Thirst which, although differently functioning by granting lifelink and growth, focuses on keeping your creatures unassailable by empowering them rather than circumventing the confrontation like Bower Passage does.

Stacking Bower Passage against these variations shows its merit in aerial-focused decks, making it a formidable tool for players who capitalize on high-flying creatures to bypass grounded defenses. These comparisons elucidate why Bower Passage has its place in a player’s arsenal, especially when orchestrating strategies that revolve around unimpeded air strikes.

Glaring Spotlight - MTG Card versions
Eternal Thirst - MTG Card versions
Glaring Spotlight - MTG Card versions
Eternal Thirst - MTG Card versions

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Night Soil - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Library - MTG Card versions
Primal Rage - MTG Card versions
Survival of the Fittest - MTG Card versions
Crosswinds - MTG Card versions
Fortitude - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Grove - MTG Card versions
Treetop Bracers - MTG Card versions
Root Cage - MTG Card versions
Elfhame Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Compost - MTG Card versions
Thoughtleech - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Harmony - MTG Card versions
Shigeki, Jukai Visionary - MTG Card versions
Fertile Ground - MTG Card versions
Quiet Disrepair - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bower Passage MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Bower Passage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bower Passage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 Bower Passage won’t affect a blocking creature that gains flying after blockers are declared.
2012-05-01 Creatures with reach can still block creatures you control.

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