Boon

Boon
Card Type
Statistics	17 One-time boon creation cards 41.2% 17.6% 11.8% 11.8% 5.9% 5.9% 5.9% 1 Multiple-time boon creation card 100%
Scryfall Search
o:"-time boon"

Not to be confused with Boon (slang).

A boon is a designed-for-digital, MTG Arena-specific marker introduced in Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate that represents a delayed trigger.

Description

A boon is a separate game object with a triggered ability created by cards, similar to an emblem. Boons are used for triggers that could be delayed over many turns, such as a player casting their next creature spell. The Arena software takes care of tracking this, so each boon acts as a reminder of what triggers are active. In contrast, typical triggered abilities either occur immediately or are delayed at most until the player's next turn, which requires less long-term memory by players.

There are two types of boons:

• One-time boons, originally just called "a boon" until Alchemy: Eldraine, disappear after the criteria for their trigger have been met.
• Multiple-time boons can be triggered more than once, with the boon disappearing only after the last of the predetermined number of uses.

Like emblems, there are no cards that interact with or modify an existing boon.

History

Before boons were introduced, a few digital cards used similar phrasing but did not attribute the text to a boon, such as Tenacious Pup or Molten Impact. These simply used triggered abilities delayed longer than usual.

Boons were first introduced on ten cards in Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, to replace some of the mechanics on reimagined cards.

As part of the Alchemy: Eldraine update, the boon mechanics were modified to allow a boon to be used multiple times instead of always disappearing after being triggered. While the patch notes for the update indicate all previous cards with the mechanic would be errata'd to be called a "one-time boon", only the cards in Alchemy: Eldraine featured the new wording. Underbridge Warlock from the set is the first card to check if a player has a boon.

The first use of the new multiple-time boon mechanic was introduced in Alchemy: Ixalan with Merfolk Tunnel-Guide. It allows for the next three Merfolk cast by a player to explore. The errata for previous cards is implemented, bring them in line with the new "one-time boon" wording.

Rules

Boons aren't part of the Comprehensive Rules. They operate according to the programmed rules of Magic: The Gathering Arena.

Example

Example 1

Arcane Archery
Instant
Target creature get +3/+3 and gains reach and trample until end of turn. You get a boon with "When you cast your next creature spell, that creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter, reach counter, and trample counter on it."

Example 2

Underbridge Warlock
Creature — Ogre Warlock
5/4
Deathtouch
When Underbridge Warlock enters the battlefield, you get a one-time boon with "At the begining of your end step, if three or more creatures died this turn, each opponent loses 5 life and you gain 5 life."
At the beginning of your end step, if you have a boon, you mill three cards, draw a card, and lose 2 life.

Example 3

Merfolk Tunnel-Guide
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
2/2
When Merfolk Tunnel-Guide enters the battlefield, you get a three-time boon with “Whenever one or more Merfolk enter the battlefield under your control, target Merfolk creature you control explores.”