Barrage of Boulders is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Barrage of Boulders deals 1 damage to each creature you don't control. Ferocious — If you control a creature with power 4 or greater, creatures can't block this turn.
Complete guide
Barrage of Boulders is a versatile red sorcery designed to clear the path for your attackers while softening up your opponent's board. By utilizing the Ferocious mechanic, this card shifts from a simple mass-damage spell into a powerful evasion tool that prevents all blocking.
What It Does
Barrage of Boulders has two distinct components that happen in order. First, it deals 1 damage to every creature you do not control. Second, it checks if you meet the Ferocious requirement—controlling a creature with power 4 or greater—to apply a lingering effect that prevents any creatures from blocking for the rest of the turn.
Resolving the Spell Step-by-Step
When Barrage of Boulders resolves, the game first checks which creatures your opponents control and deals 1 damage to each of them. Immediately after, the game checks your board for a creature with power 4 or greater. If you have one, the 'creatures can't block' effect is applied to the entire turn. Note that because this specific spell does not use the word 'instead', the Ferocious effect is an addition to the damage, not a replacement.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking the blocking restriction only applies to creatures currently on the battlefield. According to official rulings, the Ferocious effect applies to the entire turn; even creatures that enter the battlefield after Barrage of Boulders has resolved will be unable to block. Additionally, remember that the Ferocious check happens only as the spell resolves, not when you cast it.
Strategic Timing
This card is best played during your first main phase before you declare attackers. Since it prevents all blocking, it allows you to swing freely with your entire army. It is particularly effective against 'weenie' strategies where your opponents have many 1-toughness creatures that would be destroyed by the initial damage.
Interaction examples
If your opponent has three 1/1 tokens and you cast Barrage of Boulders while controlling a 4/4 creature, the 1 damage will destroy all three tokens, and your Ferocious trigger will ensure no other creatures they might have can block your incoming attack.
Jeska's WillIf you need more mana to cast your high-power creatures to enable Ferocious, you can cast Jeska's Will first. The red mana generated can help you cast a large creature and then Barrage of Boulders in the same main phase, ensuring the blocking restriction is active.
Wheel of FortuneIn a scenario where you have a large creature but no way to push through, you might cast Wheel of Fortune to find Barrage of Boulders. Once drawn, casting it will deal damage and, thanks to your high-power creature, prevent the new blockers your opponent just drew from stopping your lethal damage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Barrage of Boulders
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Barrage of Boulders deals damage only to creatures you don’t control as it resolves. However, the ferocious ability affects all creatures, including ones you control and ones that weren’t on the battlefield as Barrage of Boulders resolved.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Some ferocious abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word “instead.” These spells have an upgraded effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve. For these, you only get the upgraded effect, not both effects.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Ferocious abilities of instants and sorceries that don’t use the word “instead” will provide an additional effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Barrage of Boulders
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