Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Legendary Planeswalker — Bolas
+3: Destroy target noncreature permanent.
−2: Gain control of target creature.
−9: Nicol Bolas deals 7 damage to target player or planeswalker. That player or that planeswalker's controller discards seven cards, then sacrifices seven permanents of their choice.
- CMC
- 8
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- BRU
- Rarity
- mythic
- Set
- Media and Collaboration Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #7399
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker hits the board and immediately threatens to destroy a permanent, strip a hand, or steal a creature — all from eight loyalty on a nine-mana investment. The cost is the real story: nine mana across three colors is a serious ask, and Nicol Bolas, the Ravager exists to make that ask feel less painful.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is the natural home — his flip condition puts a planeswalker directly onto the battlefield, letting you cheat the nine-mana cost entirely and land Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker without ever paying full price.
Esika, God of the Tree
Esika, God of the Tree's The Prismatic Bridge flips into a permanent-cheating engine that can drop Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker straight into play, making five-color good-stuff shells a legitimate second home for a card that would otherwise demand a dedicated ramp package.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker actually sees play — the format's slower pace and abundance of ramp make nine mana achievable, and the political upside of pointing minus abilities at opponents matters in a multiplayer game. In Legacy and Vintage, nine mana is a non-starter; those formats end before you untap with this in play, and neither format has incentive to try. Oathbreaker is the one fringe exception: running Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker as your oathbreaker is a thematic choice, and the compressed game plan can occasionally support the cost with enough acceleration.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Current pricing data for Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker isn't available here — check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for the most accurate number across its printings. It has been reprinted multiple times, so copies exist at a range of price points; the prestige reprint versions carry a premium that the gameplay doesn't justify over a cheaper edition.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
- Esika, God of the Tree
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.