Backbone
| Backbone | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | MTG Arena |
| Last used | MTG Arena |
| Reminder Text | Backbone (This creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness instead of its power.) |
| Statistics |
17 cards  5.9%  35.3%  17.6%  5.9%  11.8%  5.9%  11.8%  5.9% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| fulloracle:"combat damage equal to its toughness" | |
Backbone is a MTG Arena-specific keyword ability that causes creatures to deal damage based on their toughness. On Paper Magic, it is informally called the Doran ability.[1] It appears in white, black and green[1], often in combination with the ability to allow Defenders to attack.
History
Backbone was introduced in the March 12, 2020 Game Update (1.06.00.00).[2] According to Matt Tabak, the term will not be appearing on printed Magic cards now or in the foreseeable future.[3] It isn't part of the Comprehensive Rules.
Doran, the Siege Tower was the first card to have this effect, and uniquely amongst other Backbone cards affected all creatures, which had an impact on Standard and Extended decks by being a midrange's deck haymaker against aggressive decks.
Due to the design principles of making defenders, those that allow defenders to attack often pair with Backbone. Some of these effects are printed as draft build-arounds, and sometimes cross over into constructed. As toughness scaling cost less per point and tends to prolong a game, Backbone decks have some advantages over other build-arounds.
Zilortha, Strength Incarnate is unique with an inverted Backbone effect, where it receives damage through its power. Another pair of rare effects are Grim Contest and Steadfast Armasaur, which are the Backbone equivalents of fight and bite.
Cards granting backbone
- Creatures
- Doran, the Siege Tower
- Bedrock Tortoise
- Belligerent Brontodon
- Bill the Pony
- Arcades, the Strategist
- Ancient Lumberknot
- Baldin, Century Herdmaster
- E. Honda, Sumo Champion
- Rasaad yn Bashir
- Streetwise Negotiator
- Walking Bulwark
- Planeswalkers
- Enchantments
- Conspiracies
References
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (December 24, 2022). "Is Ancient Lumberknot's effect possible in any other color or colors?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ MTG Arenea Admin (March 12, 2020). "MAR 12 - 1.06.00.00 Game Update". MTGArena.com.
- ↑ "New" keyword for Ikoria?. Reddit (March 12, 2020).