"I'm going to smash you with this tree and then grab a bite to eat – and then I'm gonna do it again!" Anyways, along the vein of Lost in the Woods, I can see some land-heavy decks in sealed that mull to Borb and then take your opponent out in two turns. Maybe have some dinky creatures along the way for defense, etc.
Dabok
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Either ramp or reanimate, whatever! I'd just love to play this so badly! :D He doesn't act the instant he comes into play, which makes him not "optimal", but DAMN those abilities are NEAT! (Neat? MEAT?! WE EAT!!)
lorendorky
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
It's like Wizards crawled into my brain and found out the exact EDH general I would like printed. He has NO ramp support in GTC sadly.
mpitcock
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(7 votes)
This thing stinks. Original is better.
0.5/5
Yozuk
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
I've been doing some playtesting with a proxy of him for commander ever since he was leaked. This thing is extremely good. Easily destroys control.
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
in edh if you cast him you win instantly since you can just discard 7 land cards and deal 21 commander damage...of course, edh is a multiplayer format...
SyntheticDreamer
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(5 votes)
He's so enraged, he throws mountains at everything!
I mean, you don't even need any other cards. I think he's one of the few Generals (other than maybe Molimo) that MIGHT work if you didn't have any other spells.
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Not Gruul? Then DIE!
Lash_of_Dragonbreath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Mighty commander of Gruul 60-lands.dec in EDH. Life from the Loam was never put to a better use than a 9-damage recurring burn spell.
Curlie-Joe
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
life from the loam and this go together perfectly.
i will never play this card...unless it's a draft...which I will probably only play it as a last resort. 8cmc? wtf. not like it has hexproof or regen, or even it's own freaking guild mechanic!
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
@ Purplerooster Excess land? Lightning Bolt!! (: We like to remember dem good ol' cards
BongRipper420
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Is it me, it does this whole set seem like it's made for EDH?
Blackworm_Bloodworm
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Sad that our guild leader is worth about $5—$10 less than every other guild leader in the set. Can't say I didn't see it coming though...
Salient
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Figures this guy would come along a solid two years after I get sick of saying HULK SMASH.
This guy would be more sensibly costed at , given that Zegana is a 7/7 draw 7 with Adaptive Snapjaw, but whatever. He pairs well with both Seismic Assault and Life from the Loam, and there's a Legacy second-tier-competitive deck built around that combo (Aggro Loam). I don't know if it really needs an 8cmc bomb, though.
I imagine there will be plenty of easier ways to exploit Omniscience + Enter the Infinite in Standard/Modern. It would be really weird to splash in a deck just because you don't know what to do after making all your spells free to cast and drawing your entire library. Just use Laboratory Maniac + Divination or something, jeez. :)
That leaves EDH -- where every two-color player has been breathing sighs of relief, finally having someone new to design around. Zegana and RageBorbor are pretty exciting just for being viable alternatives for commanders...
Flyheight
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pulled this bad boy in my simic sealed pool. Needless to say, I splashed red. I also went a bit heavy on the lands to both increase my chances of finding enough mana to cast him and to power his ability. He won me 3 games across 3 different matches with his land pitch ability. Such a boss card and I can't imagine he'd be too hard to get out in a constructed deck with focused mana ramp.
I don't really like this guy too much. I think the old one is better Borborygmos. I'd play the new one in a deck based on the old one, which I might do as I want to start making 2 color decks.
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
God they ruined Bory. What crappy abilities.
TzarChasm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is an absolutely killer card with an inexcusable mana cost--particularly when compared to all of the other guild leaders from both RtR and GTC. I pulled him at the prerelease and had the good sense not to put him in my deck because at 8 CMC Wizards crippled him even in Limited.
I agree with others here: even if he was a special case that didn't provide a full +7/+6 and trample bonus, he should have had a Bloodrush cost. Lacking one, this is just stupid.
psychichobo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I suppose he gives you something to do with all those spare lands, as at 8cmc you won't be needing many.
He'd be alright in a good ramp deck though. Probably wouldn't live long but any card that draws that much fear you can't argue with.
hot4boys
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
the le reddit r/mtg army and its leejun loves this card! 5 stars if you agree!
The_Trendkill
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I would absolutely love to see a ramp deck with this guy at its core take off in Standard. Sadly, that doesn't seem likely.
Gruul seems to have gotten the raw deal in this set. Some of them are good, but I feel like they as a whole lack potential. The guild could be extremely awesome, but I think wizards desire to distinguish them from Boros ultimately weakened them.
I find this version underrated. Yes stand alone he is not as good as the previous but with the support cards that came with the set like any of the blood rush abilities or gruul charm. It's important to keep mana ramp in mind so farseek or Ranger's path if you want him in a deck. But I see potential in this card,
Amusingly, he provides an excellent use for the generally terrible "Sweep" mechanic from Kamigawa. If you ramp into him and then drop Barrel Down Sokenzan the next turn, fun things will happen.
klauth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Monkeypantsa: you do know that EDH is played with 40life and more commonly multiplayer, right?
Biglonty
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Ok so originally I didn't like him but I built a deck around him. Mwonvuli Beast Tracker to tutor him up.
and then mana elves to get him out turn 4 or 5 to blast them in the face.
Kindulas
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
A fun EDH general. Best combos Life from the Loam: 1G for 3 bolts, every turn Groundskeeper: 1G: bolt, as much as you have the mana for Praetor's Council: Get back every land searcher/anything in your graveyard, which is what it always does for anyone... oh yeah, and every land you've pitched or sacrificed Creeping Renascence: Rebolt everything you've done with him, every land you might have sacrificed if you're doing that. Then do it again.
Creeping really is the star player. Best example was when my opponent was playing Mimeoplasm and didn't know I had this. I had Bor out, and he decided to traumatize me instead of himself for the fun of it. Well, he milled about 12 lands and Creeping Renascence. Flashback, Facenuke.
It's just too bad commander damage is combat damage now :P
TheWallinator74
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I prefer the original Borborygmos over this new version, but this one definitely has merit. I like having land ramp and extra burn capabilities should I need them, but I'm not a fan of my other cards going to the graveyard, even with cards like Wildwood Rebirth in the same set. Flipping his power and toughness was probably a good idea too.
I wasn't so sure I liked the idea of throwing my lands away for damage but once I play-tested a proxy, I found out just how good he is. By the time you have 8 mana, what more could you need? will be especially good with a boros reckoner and harvest pyre... not that you really need it tho. super stoked i finally pulled one out of a booster!
packleader
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
would've liked it better as a 7/7, the 6 toughness makes him too susceptible in combat. Otherwise, a great gruul leader!
gamexpert1990
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ravnica rule #1: Never make Borborygmos mad. Rule #2: If Borborygmos gets mad, then - Oh NO! WHO made Borborygmos angry?!?!
Thrashhard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's boris now. Like Boris you shall fall down crushed
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Geez, so many great cards in Gatecrash have such mediocre ratings. Are there that many haters nowadays? This guy deserves at least 3.8, even if he's not quite as good as his former self. He's like a Valakut in creature form that doesn't care if those lands are Mountains, and gets around the one-land-per-turn restriction.
mdakw576
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm testing him in standard reanimator, a deck that usually runs 4 Mulch. Borborgymos can turn lategame mulches into bolts. However it's mostly just a 1-of as you don't want to see multiples; you will only have so many lands in your hand.
One of the cool things about him is how his abilities interact with each other. None of them are that good on their own, but the synergy they have makes him worth looking into. For example, when he attacks and an opponent tries to set up blocks (say he blocks with a restoration angel and a thragtusk), you can bolt something to not only keep borborgymos alive, but trample over damage to do his mini mulch.
rexagon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Solid card if a little over-costed, though not much of a problem in . Can deal damage once on the battlefield, reusable almost mulch, a 7 damage trampler and can hurl MOUNTAINS and FORESTS at people. I'd say that he's the kind of guy, cyclops, beast, barbarian, warlord to rip through control like wet tissue paper. 5/5
He gets both red and green when he gets angry...don't make him angry, you wouldn't LIKE him when he's angry. All that being said, this guy is awesome and with Creeping Renaissance and some sifting, he is also a potential game winner. Oh yeah, and the art...awesome, I mean hitting someone with a tree now that is clearly what Bobo would do for a Klondike bar.
Discard a Mountain card: Gurgley Man throws a rock at 'em. Discard a Forest card: Gurgley Man throws a tree at 'em.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Flavor seems to be that the lands the Planeswalker knew were destroyed by him, and that the carnage to it's inhabitants is represented by the "lightning bolts" you get in the game.
Quite good if you can provide him fuel. Nothing fancy needed, just good ol' card draw. Fancy stuff does make him a near-instant win con.
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really like this card. He's just a little overcosted, or a little too weak. At that mana, he could have haste, or he could cost 1 less mana and not be broken. 4.5/5
raptorman333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
pfft, more like Borborygmos Engorged. every time i play this card, i just wish he was something more. mana ramping to get him out hurts the fact that i'm suppose to be pulling out lands from my deck when he hits people. so basically, it just reads, "mill the top three cards of your library". i can see his use with pyrewild shaman and flashback cards, but in extended right now it's tough to play this card, even with possibility storm--you don't want to have too many of him in the deck because then you can't play other creatures without killing him off.
Put a bunch of Creature cards in the GY, then play Grim Flowering and you should have a nice amount of lands to activate his ability with! Smash!
Flyinpenguin117
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use him as my EDH Commander. Lots of things to add lands to my hand, give him Madcap Skills and Alpha Authority, make him 10 unblockable. I use a 50/50 split of lands and others, get him out quickly, then CRUSH THEM! WE EAT! Even better if I can give him double strike and Illusinists Bracers. Reveal 6 cards (optimally all a re lands) discard them, SMASHY SMASH EVERYTHING.
It screws up everyone else's day and gives you many free lands to pitch.
This in addition to all of the other suggestions here.
Basically only playable in EDH, though. 8 mana is a lot.
DritzD27
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So, apparently this guy's name is a medical term. Interesting. :P
borborygmos pl., borborygmi Etymology: Gk, borborygmos, bowel rumbling an audible abdominal sound produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis. Borborygmi are audible abdominal sounds produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis. Borborygmi are very loud rumbling, gurgling, and tinkling noises heard in auscultation, often without a stethoscope. The increased intestinal activity noted at times in cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea result in borborygmi that do not have the intensity or the episodic character of "normal borborygmi." Borborygmi that are high-pitched and accompanied by vomiting, distension, and intestinal cramps suggest a mechanical obstruction of the small intestine and often precede complete bowel obstruction.
CptStormCrow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Sheesh! Tough crowd...
Sure he isn't going to be in any eternal decktypes. But as a reanimation target in EDH? He rocks!
Firstly, 7/6 trample is decent. Any lands you ever get in your hand are not dead cards (in the late game), they will be mana-free bolts. In the early game (yes, he is a reanimation target and so can be played fairly early), you can keep the land he fetches, meaning that he can help with dropping a land every turn. Also, seeing as you're playing him in a reanimation deck, his self-mill ability helps with the deck strategy. Not to mention the fact that with cards like Life from the Loam he becomes epic. If you can draw cards, you can recast Loam and spray 9 to the face each time. Unlike the other Borborygmos, he can win the game on his own. The other bororygmos needs a bunch of other creatures to go off.
This guy is a win con, versatile and fun.
4/5
Ruaranicus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
His mana cost is 4RRGG... ARRGG!!!
MCcreator
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
His name literally means the sound of one's stomach grumbling. That's how you know he's a badass Gruul leader.
car2n
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I used to hang with Ol' Borby back in the day when he was a roadie for Danzig. We would go out to a bar, just to start a fight with a Serra's Angels biker gang member and wind up totally trashing the place to the ground. Good times.
Kodanshi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He’s such a huge badass, and yet move to a different plane and it only takes a single {B} to kill him. Bobo: keep away from Theros, lest you suffer an Eye Gouge.
Comments (66)
Anyways, along the vein of Lost in the Woods, I can see some land-heavy decks in sealed that mull to Borb and then take your opponent out in two turns. Maybe have some dinky creatures along the way for defense, etc.
He doesn't act the instant he comes into play, which makes him not "optimal", but DAMN those abilities are NEAT!
(Neat? MEAT?! WE EAT!!)
Original is better.
0.5/5
Nope. Commander damage only counts combat damage.
80 lands, Horn of Greed, Font of Mythos, Howling Mine, Temple Bell, all other overall draw mechanics, possibly have Azusa, lost but seeking (if you want)...
I mean, you don't even need any other cards. I think he's one of the few Generals (other than maybe Molimo) that MIGHT work if you didn't have any other spells.
i will never play this card...unless it's a draft...which I will probably only play it as a last resort. 8cmc? wtf. not like it has hexproof or regen, or even it's own freaking guild mechanic!
Can't say I didn't see it coming though...
This guy would be more sensibly costed at
I imagine there will be plenty of easier ways to exploit Omniscience + Enter the Infinite in Standard/Modern. It would be really weird to splash
That leaves EDH -- where every two-color player has been breathing sighs of relief, finally having someone new to design around. Zegana and RageBorbor are pretty exciting just for being viable alternatives for commanders...
I wanna try this deck:
Non-Creatures (18)
2x Scouting Trek
4x Life from the Loam
1x Mulch/autocard
3x Harrow
4x Cultivate
4x Seismic Assault
Creatures (16)
4x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
4x Werebear
4x Yavimaya Elder
4x Borborygmos Enraged
Lands (26)
4x Stomping Ground
4x Rootbound Crag
4x Wooded Foothills
7x Forest
7x Mountain
If I need more creatures pitchstone wall and Figure of Destiny are the first cards I'd look to depending on what angle I need to reinforce.
I agree with others here: even if he was a special case that didn't provide a full +7/+6 and trample bonus, he should have had a Bloodrush cost. Lacking one, this is just stupid.
He'd be alright in a good ramp deck though. Probably wouldn't live long but any card that draws that much fear you can't argue with.
General: Borborygmos Enraged
Deck: 45 Mountains
44 Forests
Enjoy your victory turn 8
Mwonvuli Beast Tracker to tutor him up.
Gatecreeper Vine
Borderland Ranger
Elvish Visionary
Soul of the Harvest For the land engine he needs
and then mana elves to get him out turn 4 or 5 to blast them in the face.
Life from the Loam: 1G for 3 bolts, every turn
Groundskeeper: 1G: bolt, as much as you have the mana for
Praetor's Council: Get back every land searcher/anything in your graveyard, which is what it always does for anyone... oh yeah, and every land you've pitched or sacrificed
Creeping Renascence: Rebolt everything you've done with him, every land you might have sacrificed if you're doing that. Then do it again.
Creeping really is the star player. Best example was when my opponent was playing Mimeoplasm and didn't know I had this. I had Bor out, and he decided to traumatize me instead of himself for the fun of it. Well, he milled about 12 lands and Creeping Renascence. Flashback, Facenuke.
It's just too bad commander damage is combat damage now :P
If nothing else, at least he wasn't a remake of the original, like Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius or Obzedat, Ghost Council.
Forest, Plains, Mountain, Breeding Pool, Stomping Grounds, Temple Garden and Razorverge Thicket is the best starting hand I've ever had.
Rule #2: If Borborygmos gets mad, then - Oh NO! WHO made Borborygmos angry?!?!
One of the cool things about him is how his abilities interact with each other. None of them are that good on their own, but the synergy they have makes him worth looking into. For example, when he attacks and an opponent tries to set up blocks (say he blocks with a restoration angel and a thragtusk), you can bolt something to not only keep borborgymos alive, but trample over damage to do his mini mulch.
EDIT: Have been fighting a
Discard a Forest card: Gurgley Man throws a tree at 'em.
Quite good if you can provide him fuel. Nothing fancy needed, just good ol' card draw. Fancy stuff does make him a near-instant win con.
every time i play this card, i just wish he was something more. mana ramping to get him out hurts the fact that i'm suppose to be pulling out lands from my deck when he hits people. so basically, it just reads, "mill the top three cards of your library". i can see his use with pyrewild shaman and flashback cards, but in extended right now it's tough to play this card, even with possibility storm--you don't want to have too many of him in the deck because then you can't play other creatures without killing him off.
It screws up everyone else's day and gives you many free lands to pitch.
This in addition to all of the other suggestions here.
Basically only playable in EDH, though. 8 mana is a lot.
borborygmos
pl., borborygmi
Etymology: Gk, borborygmos, bowel rumbling
an audible abdominal sound produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis. Borborygmi are audible abdominal sounds produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis. Borborygmi are very loud rumbling, gurgling, and tinkling noises heard in auscultation, often without a stethoscope. The increased intestinal activity noted at times in cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea result in borborygmi that do not have the intensity or the episodic character of "normal borborygmi." Borborygmi that are high-pitched and accompanied by vomiting, distension, and intestinal cramps suggest a mechanical obstruction of the small intestine and often precede complete bowel obstruction.
Sure he isn't going to be in any eternal decktypes. But as a reanimation target in EDH? He rocks!
Firstly, 7/6 trample is decent. Any lands you ever get in your hand are not dead cards (in the late game), they will be mana-free bolts. In the early game (yes, he is a reanimation target and so can be played fairly early), you can keep the land he fetches, meaning that he can help with dropping a land every turn. Also, seeing as you're playing him in a reanimation deck, his self-mill ability helps with the deck strategy. Not to mention the fact that with cards like Life from the Loam he becomes epic. If you can draw cards, you can recast Loam and spray 9 to the face each time. Unlike the other Borborygmos, he can win the game on his own. The other bororygmos needs a bunch of other creatures to go off.
This guy is a win con, versatile and fun.
4/5
Good times.