I bought half a box on release night at my LGS and got three Birds (one in foil!) It was my first time ever pulling a Birds, since I hadn't started until 2015 :)
I bought my husband a shirt with the plant "Birds of Paradise" because many years ago he taught me about the magic of the plant and I discovered the lore of the bird itself. Fantastic personal history of mine. Glad to see MTG picking up the idea
WOTC went stupid in the brain. When the BOP was given the ablity of any color. If it would have remained just Green. I don't think it would be going anywhere.
@@Dead-Dog-Rising yeah I mean it'd be fine if it was just green, it would be an elves that couldn't attack. Any color mana is what made this thing OP. It basically became a must have in every deck and if you didn't have them you could never keep up with someone who did.
Wasn't it Volcanic island that was the alpha land and not Tropical island? that's why there is smoke on the island. and why there is no alpha volcanic island. the red blue, not green blue. I love your content btw.
ive played mtg since 2003 off and on and have beem playing steadily for 5 years. i have never heard "bolt the bird". but as soon as i heard you say it i immediately knew.
Really nice piece. I always refer to it as BOP, sounding out the letters. But there was one time when my opponents would play a turn one Bird, and I was playing Red, so I'd respond with "Mmm, Bop, uhm, ah, burn Bop...", and proceed to continue with the Hanson imitation for upwards of five to ten seconds. I've been advised never to do that again by judges. With dire consequences if it were to happen again.
3:40 "and wizards seeks now to drift away from this tradition" *prints llanowar elves in core 19* Me: "so that was a fucking lie" nah jk, love your videos, huge respect for the format that you occupy!
The origin for birds of paradise’s original art reminds me of how in the very early days of yugioh there would be monsters that would just be alternate arts of the same creature, but with different names. Sometimes if they looked too similar they would put a #1 or #2 after the name, just to save money I guess.
I honestly thought this video was going to bring up the fact that the alpha version of BOP is still 1000 bucks, whereas a newer playset can be bought for ~20 bucks, as an argument for reprinting power and/or getting rid of the reserve list haha
Not sure if you'll read this... I rarely comment on youtube, but I am VERY intrigued at your videos. I've only watched Thoughtsieze/Thraggytusk/Sygg EDH so far; But theres ALOT of interesting information/very good visuals & evidence backed up in all of your videos. I subscribed. Keep pumping out the material man. I think it's SWEET.
I'm not really into magic anymore, but damn these videos are fun to watch. I don't really enjoy actually playing the game, but I love the lore, the philosophy and such both in card design and how it affects deck building, gameplay, and such.
Birds has been my favorite card since I built my first Magic deck (Tooth and Nail during original Mirrodin). I mostly play Standard and it’s sad I don’t get to play with it anymore. Also, someone from R&D said during GP (or PT?) coverage last year that Llanowar Elves in Dominaria was initially Birds of Paradise but they changed it during set design because they didn’t want to enable too many 5c strategies. So close, yet so far...
With the reintroduction of Core sets and the new commander product including a 5-color deck, I'm actually sure that we'll see more of the birds within at least a year or two.
Dude you need to work for Wotc- you are so knowledgeable and in-depth with the cards. Like, this beautiful insight prevalent in every single video you are a part of. You are no joke the most cool, spiritual person on TH-cam.
This video is obviously pre-Conspiracy2, but I still think it's a great video for it's time, and is still totally worth watching today. Great content. I subscribed. Keep up the good work.
You should make a video about Force of Will and the impact of cards you can cast for free. It would be interesting to go through all the ways they have impacted the gam and with the printing of two very powerful free spells back to back (Once Upon a Time and Force of Negation) it is topical and relevant and would be interesting to look at through your very in depth and thorough lens. Early on in my Magic experience, your videos really got me connected to the past of magic and how the game has evolved and it helped me learn about why certain things are important (always bolt the bird) or why cards that seem innocuous to a new player are $50 a pop (snapcaster mage). Free spells are a good example of that sort of mechanic that a new player might not fully understand the benefit of. "Why is a spell that makes me pay a life and exile a card from my hand to just counter a spell $100??" Just a thought.
Great video on one of my favourite cards. At the end BDM called out Jacob Wilson as being younger than the card. Magic has reached a tipping point now where it's first generation have begun to retire and this will be the case more and more, as seen with Oliver Tui winning the last Vintage Super League.
They should bring in all the iconic cards into standard. Such as bolt, birds, thoughtseize and pithing needle. It would make for an interesting standard and these cards cost would go down as well. These cards could work against each other and also help each other. It would be interesting to see what other iconic cards they could put with these cards as well.
B.O.P should have a Modern Horizons or EDH reprint, even if it isn't in Standard. I feel a real sense of happiness when I pull an iconic card like this.
I play Eternal now, but there's a creature called Initiate of the Sands which is basically a BOP, turn 1 ramp. Bolt the bird lives on in Torch the Initiate.
i would say that beastcaller savant isnt neccesarily slower than bop, and its better if you have a different one drop that would benefit you on turn one
Maybe they come back in next Ravnica Set... Perhaps with a Hoser like Bird Hunter (1) servo* Haste T: destroy target Bird or thopter 0/1 *Yes its not Kaladesh but i want it reprintable in a kaladesh set
So I'm guessing some of those tropical island cards are so expensive because they were printed during that tiny timeframe when Mark was still credited? It'd make sense. I've seen some of those go upwards of around $200.
No, Tropical Island (like all of the original Dual lands printed in Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised) is expensive because the power it has. It comes into play untapped, unconditionally, can produce 2 colors of mana, and has two basic land types, making it possible to find with fetch lands. They also can never be printed again, as they are on the Reserved List. Alpha Tropical Islands (the ones that have Mark Poole's name on them) are more like $3,000, not $200. Even Revised Tropical Islands (the newest, and most readily available printing) are getting close to $250 now. Unfortunately Sam kind of got the story wrong, in that the original art for Birds of Paradise was intended for *Volcanic Island*, the Red/Blue Dual land, not Tropical Island. This is why the island the birds are flying near is also an active volcano. If you look for an Alpha printing of Volcanic Island, you won't find one... because they were left out of the set, because the art wasn't there. The reason the art that would become Birds of Paradise was not used for Volcanic Island is that Dr. Garfield and co. felt that the birds themselves were too prominent, and that the eponymous land seemed to be an afterthought, hence the need for a new piece of art to be commissioned.
Dual Lands are funny. Plateau had to be redone because the lost the artwork from the ABU printing. Cornelius Brudi did the revised edition but was credited to Drew Tucker. That's a weird story! Cornelius Brudi was commissioned to paint the DUAL LANDS in ICE AGE. Yep, Ice Age were going to have dual lands and Plateau is the only one that seen a printing with the new artwork.
This hasn't been comfirmed.. Poole's Bird of Paradise could of been part of this Island set from Alpha or his Island Sanctuary. People might think Volcanic Island but that was Brian Snoddy .. another fun card is Demonic Tutor and Volcanic Eruption.. both share the Eruptions in the back ground. Don't know if Douglas Shuler meant to do it that way or not
"Turn 1, land, bird, pass."
"Turn 1, land, bolt, pass."
Ahhhh nostalgia.
As Garfield Intended
The peaceful sound of animal abuse.
Noice
"Been spending most our lives tapping all our birds of paradise."- Coolio
I love you.
I said a bird, bird, bird, bolt is the word
RIP Coolio. Never forget
*stevie wonder
@Mandolorian1001 love pastime paradise and its message!
That poor bird gets hit by lightning so many times, and they say lightning never hits the same spot twice!
hahahaha
xD
Pokémon was right, birds are scared of lightning.
"Bolt the bird!" it's been such a long time since i've heard that!
Lmao, watching a random magic video and I see a comment from my favourite overwatch youtuber, Kappa.
Nateson Wait you play/played MTG!!!
The original art for BoP was for Volcanic Island, not Trop. That's why there is no Volcanic Island in Alpha.
And why there is a freaking volcano billowing out of the island.
with Gilded Goose being spoiled for Eldraine, it only seems fair to come back and watch this video. welcome back, golden boy!
It’s not as good, obviously. But it is pretty damn good!
And now you can shock the goose!
I know this video is old, but Birds did get that long awaited reprint in Conspiracy: Take the Crown.
I was so pumped!
I bought half a box on release night at my LGS and got three Birds (one in foil!)
It was my first time ever pulling a Birds, since I hadn't started until 2015 :)
Wish it'd get another, it's getting expensive. 😅
I bought my husband a shirt with the plant "Birds of Paradise" because many years ago he taught me about the magic of the plant and I discovered the lore of the bird itself.
Fantastic personal history of mine. Glad to see MTG picking up the idea
Llanowar elves is still a thing in 2018
this came out in 2015
and llanowar elves only taps for green, not for any color. it's still good, of course, but not as good as this.
WOTC went stupid in the brain. When the BOP was given the ablity of any color.
If it would have remained just Green. I don't think it would be going anywhere.
@@Dead-Dog-Rising yeah I mean it'd be fine if it was just green, it would be an elves that couldn't attack. Any color mana is what made this thing OP. It basically became a must have in every deck and if you didn't have them you could never keep up with someone who did.
@@nemo5335 yes sir your correct
super interesting channel. love the history of these iconic cards
+Magic Learning thank you!
much love from T.Woo!
Except that the information here is completely false... BoP was originally Volcanic.
Wasn't it Volcanic island that was the alpha land and not Tropical island? that's why there is smoke on the island. and why there is no alpha volcanic island. the red blue, not green blue. I love your content btw.
ive played mtg since 2003 off and on and have beem playing steadily for 5 years. i have never heard "bolt the bird". but as soon as i heard you say it i immediately knew.
Love the pro tour flashbacks
Really nice piece. I always refer to it as BOP, sounding out the letters. But there was one time when my opponents would play a turn one Bird, and I was playing Red, so I'd respond with "Mmm, Bop, uhm, ah, burn Bop...", and proceed to continue with the Hanson imitation for upwards of five to ten seconds.
I've been advised never to do that again by judges. With dire consequences if it were to happen again.
+japaneli mmm, bop, uhm, ah, ba, burn, BoP, shooby, dap-bah, burnnn Bop, sheebadapada, doooo. yeahee, yeah!
My legal advisors have recommended me not to comment further on this particular subtopic.
Oops.
That was very well produced. Great job with the research on the artists, history of the card, and footage of the bolting in action :)
+FLY1NGSQU1RR3L76 thank you!
Recently moved from standard into modern. And this video struck a beautiful chord with me. Thanks for the video. "Bolt the bird" still makes me sad :(
+WhiteKnightAngel I'm glad you enjoyed!
3:40
"and wizards seeks now to drift away from this tradition"
*prints llanowar elves in core 19*
Me: "so that was a fucking lie"
nah jk, love your videos, huge respect for the format that you occupy!
The origin for birds of paradise’s original art reminds me of how in the very early days of yugioh there would be monsters that would just be alternate arts of the same creature, but with different names. Sometimes if they looked too similar they would put a #1 or #2 after the name, just to save money I guess.
I'm pretty sure the #1 and #2 thing only happened in TCG cards when they were translated over
Excellent video for an equally excellent card!
+Raaanch greetings, fellow northerner!
TheMagicManSam
Are you a Canuck, Sam? I had no idea.
oh not at all. I suppose I meant: "greetings, my fellow friend from the north!"
Ahhhh! hahahaha. :)
Your channel has a huge replay value :)
I don't get tired coming back
Never head BOP. I just hear "Birds"
R.I.P. Jimmy Buffet. May you rest in paradise.
I honestly thought this video was going to bring up the fact that the alpha version of BOP is still 1000 bucks, whereas a newer playset can be bought for ~20 bucks, as an argument for reprinting power and/or getting rid of the reserve list haha
even of reserve list goes away power will never see a reprint
Wrong, because if Birds were reserved, the alpha would be 4000 and not 1000, and even fourth probably over 100.
@@hermodnitter3902 yeah, but he's saying get rid of the reserve list, unless you're a card investor too.
They recently printed paradise druid, i never knew it was referencing this card but it must be
neither the bolt nor bird will be heard of from again #bringbackmodernprotour
wow, i got randomly recommended this and thought it was about actual birds-of-paradise
Fun fact: I bought my first play set of Birds of Paradise right before they rotated and were never reprinted.🙃
Awesome story. That original tropical island also looked like a volcanic island.
Amazing video! I discovered your channel just recently and I am watching each and everyone of your videos. They are all gems. Cheers!
Not sure if you'll read this... I rarely comment on youtube, but I am VERY intrigued at your videos. I've only watched Thoughtsieze/Thraggytusk/Sygg EDH so far; But theres ALOT of interesting information/very good visuals & evidence backed up in all of your videos.
I subscribed. Keep pumping out the material man. I think it's SWEET.
I read every comment. thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you're enjoying the show.
I'm not really into magic anymore, but damn these videos are fun to watch. I don't really enjoy actually playing the game, but I love the lore, the philosophy and such both in card design and how it affects deck building, gameplay, and such.
*The Ravnica: City of Guilds printing was in 2005, and not in 2003.
+Tasty Snackies whoops! I done goofed.
+TheMagicManSam All in another day's work for Captain Correction!
Fantastic video as always from this channel.
+Dallas Coker thank you! *fist bump*
No thank you for the wonderful content of these videos. Fist bump!
Awesome, informative and entertaining. I love your vids.
I love this serie about 1 iconic card at the time.
Wonder video as always on a fun card to play. Winnning with a kessig wolfed BOP is always fun.
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing.
+Jazz Mann thank you!
Awesome awesome awesome video, directly to my favourite videos
+MtgOmniscience thank you!
Great Video! They're always so interesting, keep it up.
Sam! Where have you been! i miss watching the regular videos you put up. I guess i'll take what i can get xD great work as usual! Keep it up!
You gained a new subscriber. Magic forever!
+Luis Hernández welcome to the *League of Extraordinary Izzetmen*
Your editing is looking a lot better! Keep it up
"Bolt the bird, twenty two years and counting" Superb commentary!
Birds has been my favorite card since I built my first Magic deck (Tooth and Nail during original Mirrodin). I mostly play Standard and it’s sad I don’t get to play with it anymore.
Also, someone from R&D said during GP (or PT?) coverage last year that Llanowar Elves in Dominaria was initially Birds of Paradise but they changed it during set design because they didn’t want to enable too many 5c strategies. So close, yet so far...
2:54 the mad lad predicted the errata 5 years in advance
Great videos! So much great information.
Got so many new printings now!
I play old school and we still call it birds
Never heard bop before
You are my favorite mtg channel!
great vídeo! You should try make a pack lore vídeo for each expansion of Magic ever made! It would be an incredible content!
+Antonio Tadeu Ferreira Sobrinho give me ten years!
Okay! The Deadline is November 29, 2025!
Bop it
tap it.
Ramp it
88Hyo Bolt it
pull it.
twist it.
With the reintroduction of Core sets and the new commander product including a 5-color deck, I'm actually sure that we'll see more of the birds within at least a year or two.
love it, I love that your back making videos, I felt something was missing from TH-cam.
Awesome as always.
Dude you need to work for Wotc- you are so knowledgeable and in-depth with the cards. Like, this beautiful insight prevalent in every single video you are a part of. You are no joke the most cool, spiritual person on TH-cam.
I love Mark Poole's art!
Thank you, Mark Pool. Thank you so much
Bolt that bird! Bolt that Bird! Great video!
This video is obviously pre-Conspiracy2, but I still think it's a great video for it's time, and is still totally worth watching today.
Great content. I subscribed. Keep up the good work.
thanks! I still really enjoy this video, too, and come back to it every month or so.
Great video! Great card!
You should make a video about Force of Will and the impact of cards you can cast for free. It would be interesting to go through all the ways they have impacted the gam and with the printing of two very powerful free spells back to back (Once Upon a Time and Force of Negation) it is topical and relevant and would be interesting to look at through your very in depth and thorough lens.
Early on in my Magic experience, your videos really got me connected to the past of magic and how the game has evolved and it helped me learn about why certain things are important (always bolt the bird) or why cards that seem innocuous to a new player are $50 a pop (snapcaster mage). Free spells are a good example of that sort of mechanic that a new player might not fully understand the benefit of. "Why is a spell that makes me pay a life and exile a card from my hand to just counter a spell $100??"
Just a thought.
please make more videos like this and the snapcaster mage video
I'm broke so I don't donate to patreon, but I've gone through your videos twice. Thank you for you love for art and the art of the video
He's back!
+Gavin Robertson I've never left ;)
TheMagicManSam :O you really are magic
Great video dude
Like this card so much more than power9
RIP Llanowar elves in Standard. It never got a reprint after game night. Core 2019 was the last time the card got reprinted into standard.
Great video on one of my favourite cards.
At the end BDM called out Jacob Wilson as being younger than the card. Magic has reached a tipping point now where it's first generation have begun to retire and this will be the case more and more, as seen with Oliver Tui winning the last Vintage Super League.
Sam, one word - great!
Ornithopter of Paradise has reared it's head as a great any-color BOP
Congrats on 15k Sam!
+Rogue Deckbuilder woo woo! thank you Kev.
I love your videos so much, im commenting on all of them to assist with the TH-cam Algorithm.
actually volcanic island was the card it came from
hence the volcano in the background of birds
haha jimmy buffet refference +1 but also -5
+Ian White cheeseburger in paradise, on repeat, forever in my head.
"WoTC have been more careful introducing fast mana dorks"
Delighted Halfling: Let me Introduce myself
Thanks for the vid!
Link to the live games you put in it?
The lack of one mana mana dorks is the death of standard
They should bring in all the iconic cards into standard. Such as bolt, birds, thoughtseize and pithing needle. It would make for an interesting standard and these cards cost would go down as well. These cards could work against each other and also help each other. It would be interesting to see what other iconic cards they could put with these cards as well.
I always heard it was Volcanic Island not Tropical Island, hence the smoking island in the background. Is that just a misconception?
B.O.P should have a Modern Horizons or EDH reprint, even if it isn't in Standard. I feel a real sense of happiness when I pull an iconic card like this.
I have to admit that I have never heard anyone ever refer to Birds as "BOP" and I've been playing since '94.
I'm glad to be the first!
lol... you are, indeed. :-)
Mmmmmm, BOP
I play Eternal now, but there's a creature called Initiate of the Sands which is basically a BOP, turn 1 ramp. Bolt the bird lives on in Torch the Initiate.
Is that why we now have Paradise Druid that can't be bolted untapped?
Interesting story.
First! Great video! Always great content Sam!
I'm guessing this will show up in Iconic Masters.
WotC just doesn't wanna print good cards anymore. Oh hi BfZ - those are sure nice expeditions! Good thing you're in there to move product.
I never heard about that story on the origin of the birds... interesting
And now, we have Gilded Goose.
I ran Fyndhorn Elves, Llanowar and Birds in an anti land deck back in the day. Good times. 😳
And for the power level, I must (atleast in our kitchen table) BoP was the best creature to put on the "roxodon warhammer" (aka loxodon) :D
I thought this was gonna be a video of why reprinting the card doesn't actually ever significantly decrease the price of Birds of Paradise.
i would say that beastcaller savant isnt neccesarily slower than bop, and its better if you have a different one drop that would benefit you on turn one
Maybe they come back in next Ravnica Set...
Perhaps with a Hoser like
Bird Hunter
(1)
servo*
Haste
T: destroy target Bird or thopter
0/1
*Yes its not Kaladesh but i want it reprintable in a kaladesh set
Ramp is a green color “thing” they WOTC would be changing the color spectrum forever if the get rid of our llanowar elves for example.
“Bolt the bird”
I don't even play Magic and I watch these videos.
Now the term is actually mana value!
Bolting the bird is the MTG equivalent of the Sicilian opening, it just sets the tono for the rest of the game...
So I'm guessing some of those tropical island cards are so expensive because they were printed during that tiny timeframe when Mark was still credited? It'd make sense. I've seen some of those go upwards of around $200.
No, Tropical Island (like all of the original Dual lands printed in Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised) is expensive because the power it has. It comes into play untapped, unconditionally, can produce 2 colors of mana, and has two basic land types, making it possible to find with fetch lands. They also can never be printed again, as they are on the Reserved List. Alpha Tropical Islands (the ones that have Mark Poole's name on them) are more like $3,000, not $200. Even Revised Tropical Islands (the newest, and most readily available printing) are getting close to $250 now.
Unfortunately Sam kind of got the story wrong, in that the original art for Birds of Paradise was intended for *Volcanic Island*, the Red/Blue Dual land, not Tropical Island. This is why the island the birds are flying near is also an active volcano. If you look for an Alpha printing of Volcanic Island, you won't find one... because they were left out of the set, because the art wasn't there. The reason the art that would become Birds of Paradise was not used for Volcanic Island is that Dr. Garfield and co. felt that the birds themselves were too prominent, and that the eponymous land seemed to be an afterthought, hence the need for a new piece of art to be commissioned.
Dual Lands are funny. Plateau had to be redone because the lost the artwork from the ABU printing. Cornelius Brudi did the revised edition but was credited to Drew Tucker. That's a weird story! Cornelius Brudi was commissioned to paint the DUAL LANDS in ICE AGE. Yep, Ice Age were going to have dual lands and Plateau is the only one that seen a printing with the new artwork.
This hasn't been comfirmed.. Poole's Bird of Paradise could of been part of this Island set from Alpha or his Island Sanctuary. People might think Volcanic Island but that was Brian Snoddy .. another fun card is Demonic Tutor and Volcanic Eruption.. both share the Eruptions in the back ground. Don't know if Douglas Shuler meant to do it that way or not
We'll be returning to Innistrad in the spring!! Are you as pumped as I am?