Bonescythe Sliver MTG Card


Bonescythe Sliver’s double strike can drastically shorten games by increasing sliver damage output. It fosters quick board development, making every sliver drawn an immediate threat. Despite its power, it demands careful mana and hand resource management in play.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Sliver creatures you control have double strike. (They deal both first-strike and regular combat damage.)

"Their appendages are sharper than our swords and quicker than our bows." —Hastric, Thunian scout


Cards like Bonescythe Sliver

Bonescythe Sliver is a renowned creature card in MTG that buffs any Sliver under your control with double strike, a potent ability that allows creatures to deal damage twice each combat phase. It draws a parallel to Battle Sliver, which gives Slivers you control a more straightforward power boost. While Bonescythe Sliver focuses on enhancing the offensive capability with the double strike feature, Battle Sliver focuses on increasing the survivability and damage of Slivers through an additional +2 to power.

Comparing it further, we find another Sliver enhancer, the Sinew Sliver, offering a +1/+1 bonus to all Sliver creatures. This bonus is not as impactful as double strike in terms of potential damage output, but it’s cheaper, making it easier to deploy early in the game. Similar to this is the Predatory Sliver, which also confers a +1/+1 advantage and can be as game-altering as Bonescythe Sliver when considering the synergy across the board.

All in all, while there are various ways to augment a Sliver-based deck, Bonescythe Sliver maintains a unique status with its offensive power-up in MTG, making it a formidable card against opponents when played strategically alongside other Slivers.

Battle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sinew Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions
Battle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sinew Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bonescythe Sliver by color, type and mana cost

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Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions
Kor Cartographer - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Bonescythe Sliver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
SliversSlivers Legacy100 / The 100th Legacy at Home

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bonescythe Sliver offers a unique advantage by empowering every Sliver creature you control with double strike. This means that each of your slivers has the potential to deal twice the amount of damage, allowing for quicker depletion of your opponent’s life points. The ability to essentially double the value of your creatures on the battlefield is a strategic boon, leading to increased pressure and the potential to overwhelm your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: In a Sliver deck, Bonescythe Sliver acts as a force multiplier, turning every new Sliver you cast into an immediate threat. This acceleration in your board presence can lead to a rapid and decisive tipping point in the game. Instead of investing resources into individual creatures to make them stronger, Bonescythe Sliver ensures each creature’s natural power is doubled, representing an optimal use of the resources at your disposal.

Instant Speed: While Bonescythe Sliver itself is not an instant-speed spell, it complements cards that are. By allowing your slivers to deal lethal damage more quickly, you can keep mana available for instant-speed interaction, confident in the knowledge that your slivers can handle the offensive without requiring additional mana for buffs or combat tricks during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Bonescythe Sliver delivers a potent ability to any Sliver deck, it doesn’t come without its weaknesses. Although there is no direct discard obligation tied to this card, building up a powerful board presence with Slivers often means using up valuable cards in hand, which can lead to depleted resources without careful strategy and pacing.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s specific mana requirement—a blend of one colorless and two white mana symbols—can present a challenge in multicolor Sliver builds. Ensuring the right mana base to cast this creature consistently requires a well-tuned land mix, which can impose limitations on deck flexibility and composition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, this Sliver is positioned at a higher spectrum compared to others in the tribe. Commanding a double-white mana in its cost, it also occupies a slot that competes with numerous other impactful four-mana spells and creatures in the same color identity, demanding a calculated deck building to justify its inclusion and timing within a game.


Reasons to Include Bonescythe Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Bonescythe Sliver is a remarkable addition for Sliver fans as it grants all Slivers the double strike ability. This card seamlessly fits into Sliver tribal decks, enhancing the offensive capabilities of each creature on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Double strike is a powerful ability that can be combined with numerous other Sliver abilities, such as those provided by Predatory Sliver or Sinew Sliver. This leads to overwhelming combat phases and potential quick victories.

Meta-Relevance: With the right strategy, Bonescythe Sliver can stand strong in a meta that favours aggro decks. It increases the lethality of your creature swarm, often outpacing opponent’s defenses and closing games promptly.


How to beat Bonescythe Sliver

Bonescythe Sliver is a powerhouse card capable of turning any sliver deck into a fearsome combatant due to the double strike ability it confers to all sliver creatures. Dealing with this creature can be challenging, but there are strategies to tilt the game in your favor. Against Bonescythe Sliver, it’s essential to keep their battlefield clear, preventing the synergy between slivers from overwhelming you.

Removal spells that can target multiple creatures, such as board wipes, are particularly effective. Consider options like Supreme Verdict or Damnation, which can sweep the board clean regardless of creatures’ indestructible status, if any. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push also help manage the growth of slivers before they become too menacing. Additionally, countering the spell as it’s cast, with responses such as Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto, can save you from the double-strike onslaught. In multiplayer games, don’t underestimate the power of politics—convince your opponents to join forces and address the common threat. By employing these tactics, you’ll increase your chances of overcoming the aggressive sliver strategy centered around Bonescythe Sliver.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the value of a powerful card like Bonescythe Sliver is crucial in mastering MTG. It’s not just about enhancing your Sliver deck but also about making moves that can shift the balance of the game in your favor. The strategic depth and board impact of Bonescythe Sliver make it a compelling choice for those looking to press the offensive. For sliver aficionados and those intrigued by the prolific creature type, embracing this card can lead to a dynamic and formidable deck. Step up your game by including Bonescythe Sliver in your collection, optimizing your strategies, and outmaneuvering your opponents. Engage with the content we’ve crafted for more insights and strengthen your position as a discerning MTG player.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bonescythe Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 Promos and Magic 2014, 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 Bonescythe Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bonescythe Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2013-01-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-01-01Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 PromosPDP14 12003NormalBlackBrad Rigney
22013-07-19Magic 2014M14 92003NormalBlackTrevor Claxton
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6102015NormalBlackTrevor Claxton
42021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 562015NormalBlackTrevor Claxton
52023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 752015Art seriesBorderlessLius Lasahido
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8152015NormalBlackLius Lasahido

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bonescythe Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If Bonescythe Sliver leaves the battlefield after other Sliver creatures you control have dealt first-strike damage but before regular combat damage, those Slivers won’t deal regular combat damage (unless they still have double strike for some other reason).
2013-07-01 If you change the creature type of a Sliver you control so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures you control.