A-Orcish Bowmasters MTG Card


Enhances tactical play with instant speed and direct damage for flexibly managing threats. Requires a deliberate mana base and has a high cost that necessitates strategic deck building. Adds value to collections through versatility, meta-relevance, and combo potential with other cards.
A-Orcish Bowmasters - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Orc Archer
Abilities Amass, Flash
Released2023-06-23
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
Set codeLTR
Power 1
Toughness 1
NumberA-103
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMaxim Kostin

Text of card

Flash Whenever an opponent draws a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, Orcish Bowmasters deals 1 damage to any target. Then amass Orcs 1.


Cards like A-Orcish Bowmasters

Orcish Bowmasters hold a unique space within the realm of Magic: The Gathering combat tricks and direct damage spells. When contrasting the Bowmasters with other MTG cards, Flame Slash stands out for its efficiency, offering a straightforward option to deal 4 damage to a creature at a mere one red mana cost. Unlike the Bowmasters, Flame Slash is less versatile since it doesn’t bring a creature body into play, but offers no less punch when removing threats on the board.

On another note, the renowned Lightning Bolt lives up to its reputation by delivering instant 3 damage for one red mana to any target, showcasing greater flexibility over the Bowmasters, which is restricted to targeting only flying creatures. Yet, Bolts cannot provide the board presence that comes with a creature.

In the end, while assessing Orcish Bowmasters against its peers, the card carves out its niche well for players who favor the dual utility of addressing flying creatures and developing board state. It’s these particular attributes that might make Orcish Bowmasters a considered choice for decks that benefit from its combination of reach, body, and direct damage.

Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions

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Bog Imp - 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
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Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Orcish Bowmasters card is designed to give players a tactical advantage by potentially drawing them into superior battlefield position with each use.

Resource Acceleration: This card can contribute to resource acceleration by dealing damage to creatures or planeswalkers, clearing the path for your own advances and allowing you to capitalize on your opponent’s setbacks.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Orcish Bowmasters at instant speed grants players flexibility to respond to threats immediately or during the opponent’s turn, thus optimizing the card’s strategic value in a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks of Orcish Bowmasters is the need to discard a card to activate its abilities. For players who are already struggling with maintaining card advantage, this can lead to challenging situations where the choice to utilize its full potential could compromise their hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Crafting a deck around the Bowmasters requires careful consideration of your mana base. The card’s reliance on a specific combination of mana types means it’s not universally flexible and might not fit smoothly in multicolored decks that are already stretching their mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that is on the higher side, Orcish Bowmasters competes with other cards in a similar mana range that may provide more immediate impact on the game board. This can result in the Bowmasters being a less attractive option during deck building when considering the overall mana curve and efficiency of your deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A-Orcish Bowmasters can be an excellent addition to decks seeking flexible defensive options. As a creature card with reach, it can thwart opponents’ flying creatures, providing a versatile defense that’s essential in many game scenarios.

Combo Potential: In combination with other cards that benefit from tapping and untapping creatures, the Bowmasters can be an unsuspected source of repeated damage. They synergize well with effects that allow for multiple uses in a turn or those that amplify damage output.

Meta-Relevance: Given the popularity of flying creatures and strategies in the current meta, A-Orcish Bowmasters can serve as a cost-efficient method to control the skies. Their presence on the board can help deter aerial assaults and maintain board stability.


How to beat Orcish Bowmasters

Orcish Bowmasters represents a unique challenge on the battlefield, with an ability that often catches opponents off-guard by dealing damage directly. It’s crucial for MTG players to recognize its role as a form of removal that can be activated at instant speed, making it a silent threat to smaller creatures.

To outmaneuver this card, players should focus on building a board presence with creatures that exceed the damage threshold of Orcish Bowmasters’ ability. This means deploying larger creatures that can withstand the damage or utilizing hexproof/shroud effects to prevent targeting altogether. Keeping a robust sideboard with instant-speed removal or damage prevention can be pivotal in disabling the Bowmasters’ impact. Moreover, capitalizing on the Bowmasters’ limitations, such as its activation cost and tapping requirement, gives a strategic player the upper hand as it presents opportunities to launch offensives or play spells when the Bowmasters are unable to respond.

Managing the battlefield and maintaining an awareness of the mana that your opponent has available can significantly reduce the effectiveness of cards like Orcish Bowmasters. Playing around this card requires strategic plays and a strong presence on the board to ensure your key creatures survive and sustain your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Orcish Bowmasters MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 A-Orcish Bowmasters and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Orcish Bowmasters has restrictions

FormatLegality
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.