Boulderfall MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	115
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ralph Horsley

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage by potentially clearing several threats or delivering game-ending damage.
Ramping strategies are essential to cast Boulderfall early, enhancing its game-changing impact.
Despite high mana cost and setup requirements, its potency can dominate late-game scenarios.

Text of card

Boulderfall deals 5 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or players.

"Defeating the Meletians was not so difficult. I needed only to move a mountain." —Eocles, oracle of Purphoros

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Boulderfall delivers a powerful blow, handling multiple threats at once. By being able to target up to four creatures or players, this card can potentially clear the board of smaller creatures or finish off weakened opponents, thereby swinging the balance of card presence in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Boulderfall itself does not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its high casting cost means that any deck using it will typically incorporate elements of ramping to cast it sooner. Utilizing land search spells or artifact-based mana sources can help you unleash this spell’s full potential earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Boulderfall operates at sorcery speed, the impact it has on the board can be immediate and game-changing. It forces your opponent to play cautiously, knowing that a major shift in board presence could occur on your turn. For decks that can manage the high cost, it ensures that once it’s your turn, you have the means to decisively alter the game’s state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Boulderfall necessitates a certain setup, as it requires you to have a significant number of cards in hand to leverage its potency effectively. This can be particularly challenging during late-game scenarios where hand sizes are usually diminished, making Boulderfall less reliable when you need it the most.

Specific Mana Cost: Boulderfall comes with a specific mana cost that includes two red mana symbols, which could challenge deck flexibility. This card naturally fits into red-themed decks, but in multicolored or less mana-flexible decks, casting it could pose significant difficulties, especially when resources are stretched thin.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an eight total mana cost, Boulderfall stands on the higher end of the mana curve. This steep cost makes it less appealing compared to other damage-dealing options available. In an environment where speed and efficiency are pivotal, the mana investment required to play Boulderfall could be better allocated elsewhere, making it a less viable choice for competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Boulderfall proves to be a flexible card in decks that aim to control the board. Its ability to deal damage to multiple targets allows for strategic elimination of threats or even direct player targeting.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in combinations with spell amplification or damage doublers. Its high mana cost makes it a prime candidate for setups that allow for casting without payment or at a reduced cost, making it a game-changer in late turns.

Meta-Relevance: Boulderfall can be particularly potent in metagames with crowded boards or where creatures and planeswalkers play central roles. The ability to simultaneously weaken an opponent’s forces while keeping yours intact could swing matches in your favor.

How to beat

Boulderfall is a powerful card in MTG when it comes to dealing damage directly to multiple targets. Despite its high mana cost, landing a Boulderfall can shift the board in your favor significantly. The card allows you to deal 5 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets, but its eight-mana cost makes it slower relative to other removal options.

To counter Boulderfall effectively, consider using cards that offer counter-spells, such as Negate or Dispel, to stop it before it hits the board. Additionally, maintain card advantage by utilizing cheaper removal spells, quick creature plays, or low-cost countermeasures to disrupt your opponent and deplete their resources. Maintaining a faster pace in the game can pressure the Boulderfall user before they have the chance to cast it, potentially leading to a scenario where holding such high-cost cards becomes a liability rather than a trump card.

Ultimately, pacing and proactive disruption are key in maintaining the upper hand against a Boulderfall. Denying your opponent the opportunity to use their high-impact spells through board presence and strategic counter-play ensures they are always one step behind, enabling you to secure a win.

Cards like Boulderfall

Boulderfall is an intriguing spell in the realm of MTG red mana spells. It draws parallels to cards like Meteor Blast, which also offers the ability to deal damage to multiple targets. The distinct edge of Boulderfall lies in its raw damage potential, capable of delivering a whopping eight damage split across targets. Although similar, Meteor Blast can hit more targets due to its scalable effect, though it maxes out at four damage per target.

In the same category, we discover Volcanic Geyser, another red mana spell that deals X damage to any target. Volcanic Geyser has flexibility in its mana cost, allowing players to adjust the damage output according to the available mana. In contrast, Boulderfall has a fixed high cost and damage outcome. Electrodominance is a versatile competitor, allowing damage dealing and the casting of another card with its unique effect, while Boulderfall’s advantage revolves solely around its damage delivery.

These comparisons reveal how Boulderfall finds its niche in MTG. Although it’s hefty in mana cost, the significant impact it makes by potentially clearing several blockers or finishing off opponents gives it strategic importance in the late game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Boulderfall MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Boulderfall and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Boulderfall has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	If an effect creates a copy of Boulderfall, the division of damage and number of targets can't be changed. The effect that creates the copy may allow you to change targets, however.
2013-09-15	If some but not all of Boulderfall's targets become illegal, you can't change the division of damage. Damage that would have been dealt to illegal targets simply isn't dealt.
2013-09-15	You divide the damage as you cast the spell, not as it resolves. Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage.