Throne of Bone MTG Card


It turns life loss into strategic gain, setting up advantageous board states over time. Provides flexibility in mana generation and has instant speed adaptability in play. Strategic asset in metagames with heavy black spell usage, enhancing life gain.
Card setsReleased in 18 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

o1: Any black spell cast by any player gives you 1 life.


Cards like Throne of Bone

The Throne of Bone stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an artifact that provides a specialized form of lifegain. It draws parallels to cards like Ivory Cup, which also triggers off of a specific type of spell—white spells, in this case—granting you life whenever one is cast. Both cards require an activation fee, yet Throne of Bone is more inclusive, gaining you life from any black spell cast by any player.

Moving on, we can look to Dragon’s Claw as another comparative point. This artifact follows the same pattern, but for red spells, giving it a place in different deck strategies. While the scope of these cards is limited to the color of spells cast, their consistent life gain can be a decided advantage in long games. The detail to note with Throne of Bone, however, is its broader application across a range of black spells, making it an opportune choice for life gain against decks heavy on those spells.

In sum, Throne of Bone earns its spot as a valuable utility card in decks that anticipate a high volume of black spells, offering continuous life gain that can be integral to sustaining a player throughout the match.

Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Claw - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Dragon's Claw - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Throne of Bone by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Barbed Sextant - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Barbed Sextant - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Throne of Bone itself may not directly grant card advantage, it does impact the battlefield by offering longevity. By converting life loss into an asset, this card can set the stage for future plays that will let you gain advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Throne of Bone’s ability can be activated at any time, providing a steady source of colorless mana generation. This can be particularly beneficial in decks that need to filter out undesirable mana or require the ability to ramp up their mana base efficiently.

Instant Speed: The ability of Throne of Bone to intercept and utilize life loss at instant speed gives players flexibility to adapt during an opponent’s turn. This feature ensures that no spell or effect involving life loss goes unutilized, thereby maximizing its potential in any given situation.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to leverage the card’s ability, players must first sacrifice a valued card in hand. This is particularly troublesome during tight situations where each card’s strategic potential is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Throne of Bone requires a colorless mana investment which, while seemingly versatile, constrains deck synergy, especially in color-focused decks aiming to maximize mana efficiency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost paired with its ongoing activation expense may not yield an impressive return on investment, particularly when matched against other cards with similar yet lower cost structures.


Reasons to Include Throne of Bone in Your Collection

Versatility: Throne of Bone offers a level of adaptability, finding a place in decks that aim to profit from life gain or where artifact synergies are essential.

Combo Potential: As an artifact, it can be a key piece in combinations that trigger from gaining life or casting specific spells, furthering complex in-game strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames saturated with spellslinger decks, Throne of Bone could become more relevant by providing continuous life increments that can be the deciding factor in drawn-out matches.


How to beat

Throne of Bone presents itself as a niche card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique form of life gain in response to spells. It distinguishes itself from other life gain artifacts by its specificity – it primarily counters black spells, allowing you to gain life each time an opponent casts one, provided you have the mana to spare.

In contrast to more flexible life gain cards like Fountain of Youth, which provides life gain at any given moment or Pristine Talisman that simultaneously ramps and heals without being spell-dependent, Throne of Bone’s utility is situationally bound. To effectively minimize its impact, a switch in strategy might be necessary. Consider leveraging non-black spells, diversifying your deck’s color palette, or even employing cards that restrict opponents’ abilities to pay for triggered abilities. The objective is to render their Throne of Bone obsolete and their strategy less effective.

In essence, the key to overcoming Throne of Bone lies in crafting a multifaceted approach that reduces the dependency on black spells and disrupts the opponent’s mana efficiency. By diluting the effectiveness of their artifact, you tilt the scales in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Throne of Bone MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Throne of Bone and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Throne of Bone Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2731993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 2741993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 2741993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 2741993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 2741993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 2791993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 2791993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 2791993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3531993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3531993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 4031997NormalWhiteDonato Giancola
121999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 3161997NormalWhiteDonato Giancola
132001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 322★1997NormalBlackRon Spears
142001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 3221997NormalWhiteRon Spears
152003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 317★2003NormalBlackDonato Giancola
162003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 3172003NormalWhiteDonato Giancola
172022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2692015NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
182022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5661997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Throne of Bone has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal