Bonescythe Sliver 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
Sliver creatures you control have double strike. (They deal both first-strike and regular combat damage.)
Complete guide
Bonescythe Sliver is a powerful anthem for Sliver enthusiasts, transforming your hive into a flurry of blades. By granting double strike to every Sliver you control, it ensures your creatures strike twice in every combat phase.
What It Does
Bonescythe Sliver provides a static ability that grants double strike to all Sliver creatures under your control, including itself. Double strike allows these creatures to deal damage in both the first-strike combat damage step and the regular combat damage step. This effectively doubles the damage output of your Slivers and makes them incredibly difficult to block profitably.
How It Resolves Step by Step
Once Bonescythe Sliver enters the battlefield, the effect is immediate and does not use the stack. During the combat phase, the game checks for creatures with first strike or double strike. Your Slivers deal their first round of damage in the initial damage step. Then, in the second damage step, the game checks again; your Slivers, still possessing double strike, deal damage a second time alongside any creatures without first strike.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake involves the timing of removal. If Bonescythe Sliver is destroyed after first-strike damage is dealt but before the regular damage step, your remaining Slivers lose double strike. Because they have already dealt damage during a combat damage step this combat, they will not deal damage again in the regular step. Additionally, while Sliver abilities are cumulative, double strike is redundant; having two Bonescythe Slivers does not allow a creature to strike three times.
When to Play It
This card is best played when you have an established board of Slivers ready to attack. It acts as a finisher, as doubling the damage of a wide board usually results in a lethal swing. It is also an excellent defensive tool, as double strike allows your Slivers to kill attackers before they can strike back.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Sliver' as the creature type, it becomes a Sliver and gains double strike from Bonescythe Sliver. Note that while Roaming Throne doubles triggered abilities, Bonescythe Sliver's effect is a static ability, so the Throne does not cause Slivers to gain double strike twice.
Solemn SimulacrumIn a combat scenario where you control both creatures, only Bonescythe Sliver has double strike. Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem, not a Sliver, so it deals damage only once during the regular combat damage step. Bonescythe Sliver will deal its damage in both the first-strike and regular damage steps.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Bonescythe Sliver
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Bonescythe Sliver leaves the battlefield after other Sliver creatures you control have dealt first-strike damage but before regular combat damage, those Slivers won’t deal regular combat damage (unless they still have double strike for some other reason).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If you change the creature type of a Sliver you control so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures you control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Bonescythe Sliver
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.