Champion of Rhonas MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Jackal Warrior
Abilities Exert
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Champion of Rhonas lets you bypass mana costs for creatures, giving you a free summon during combat.
  2. Its reliance on attacking can make it vulnerable, but it also presents a powerful tactical advantage.
  3. Comparing Champion of Rhonas to similar cards reveals its unique strategic value in MTG decks.

Text of card

You may exert Champion of Rhonas as it attacks. When you do, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. (An exerted creature won't untap during your next untap step.)

The only way to finish the Trial of Strength is with a basilisk scale in hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Champion of Rhonas may not draw you cards directly but its ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield can effectively translate into card advantage. By bypassing mana costs, you’re getting the worth of high-cost creatures for just the attack trigger of Champion of Rhonas, potentially swinging the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a form of resource acceleration by not requiring you to spend mana to cast the heavy-hitters in your deck. Although not a direct source of additional mana, it circumvents the need for it, simulating an acceleration effect in your gameplay.

Instant Speed: While Champion of Rhonas does not operate at instant speed, it embodies a threat that must be answered by your opponent before it declares an attack, which can put them in a dilemma—force them to hold back removal or risk facing a surprise creature from your hand ready to exert its influence on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Champion of Rhonas does not require a discard to activate its ability, but it can put you in a vulnerable position if your hand is already low. Summoning a creature for free is a strong effect, and your opponents will be likely to target or remove Champion of Rhonas quickly, potentially leaving you down a creature.

Specific Mana Cost: To play Champion of Rhonas, you need to have both green mana and a general mana available, making it slightly restrictive in multicolor decks that may have a more complex mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, Champion of Rhonas might be caught in an awkward spot where it is not as agile for early game tactics as other three-mana creatures nor as impactful as other four-mana options available in the green creature pool.


Reasons to Include Champion of Rhonas in Your Collection

Versatility: Champion of Rhonas excels in a variety of Green-based decks. It’s a creature that can bypass traditional casting costs, allowing you to deploy threats without using up your mana for the turn.

Combo Potential: With its unique exert ability, Champion of Rhonas can put into play high-cost creatures early in the game. It synergizes with cards that untap creatures or take advantage of summoning big creatures much earlier than usual.

Meta-Relevance: As metas evolve, having a card that can cheat into play powerful creatures is beneficial. This can swing the game in your favor against slower, controlling decks by creating sudden and unanticipated threats that opponents might not be prepared for.


How to beat

Champion of Rhonas is a unique creature in the realm of MTG that carries the potential to completely shift the battlefield in your opponent’s favor. This card sets itself apart by allowing players to cheat creatures onto the battlefield without paying their mana costs whenever Champion of Rhonas exerts as it attacks. This ability can quickly become a game-changer, leading to surprise appearances of hefty creatures that can leave opponents unprepared.

To counteract Champion of Rhonas, it’s crucial to keep up removal spells or creatures with flash that can be played when your opponent declares an attack. Instant speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can effectively deal with Champion of Rhonas before its exert ability is used. Counterspells are also effective, preventing your opponent from ever getting their Champion onto the battlefield in the first place. Additionally, keeping creatures with “reach” or “flying” can deter attacking with Champion of Rhonas due to the risk of losing it in combat.

In essence, staying one step ahead and having answers ready can neutralize the threat of Champion of Rhonas. Being proactive and attentive to the board state can ensure that this powerful card doesn’t tip the scales against you.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deciphering the intricacies of MTG gameplay is an art, from deck crafting to in-match decisions. Champion of Rhonas is a tactical asset that can slingshot your gameplay, challenging opponents with unexpected power plays. While there are considerations like its four-mana cost and susceptibility to removal, its ability to bypass mana costs for creature spells could be a game-changer in your green-based builds. Capitalizing on these strategic edges is key in elevating your MTG experience. For more insights and guidance on deck optimization and gameplay strategies, join the BurnMana community. Gain the knowledge to turn every match into a display of skill and finesse.


Cards like Champion of Rhonas

Champion of Rhonas is a distinctive creature within MTG, boasting an ability to place creatures directly onto the battlefield. Akin to Elvish Piper, which also allows placement of creatures without paying their mana costs, Champion of Rhonas requires exerting, thus it can’t be used consecutively every turn. The difference lies in the fact that Champion of Rhonas demands an attack to trigger its ability, hence it could be more vulnerable to removal compared to the passive ability of Elvish Piper.

Another card worth mentioning is Mosswort Bridge. While it doesn’t let you bypass mana costs instantly like Champion of Rhonas, it still offers an alternative way to cast hefty creatures earlier if you meet its conditions. However, Mosswort Bridge functions differently as it’s land-based and relies on the total power of creatures you control. Lastly, there’s Quicksilver Amulet, which, similar to Elvish Piper, has a mana cost associated with its activation but is usable without attacking, offering a safeguard against foe interactions during your turn.

These comparisons illustrate just how Champion of Rhonas shines with its strategic value in enabling powerful creature plays, making it a potent card for players keen on unleashing titanic threats without the usual mana expenditure.

Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Mosswort Bridge - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Mosswort Bridge - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions

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Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Champion of Rhonas MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Champion of Rhonas and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Champion of Rhonas Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 1592015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
22017-04-29Amonkhet PromosPAKH 159s2015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1852015NormalBlackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Champion of Rhonas has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Champion of Rhonas card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2017-04-18 All attackers are chosen at once. You can’t attack with Champion of Rhonas, put a creature card onto the battlefield, and then attack with that creature.
2017-04-18 All cards in the Amonkhet set that let you exert a creature let you do so as you declare it as an attacking creature, as do some of the cards in the Hour of Devastation set. You can’t do so later in combat, and creatures put onto the battlefield attacking can’t be exerted. Any abilities that trigger on exerting an attacking creature will resolve before blockers are declared.
2017-04-18 If an exerted creature is already untapped during your next untap step (most likely because it had vigilance or an effect untapped it), exert’s effect preventing it from untapping expires without having done anything.
2017-04-18 If the creature put onto the battlefield has any abilities that trigger when creatures attack or when you exert creatures, those abilities won’t trigger.
2017-04-18 If you gain control of another player’s creature until end of turn and exert it, it will untap during that player’s untap step.
2017-04-18 You can’t exert a creature unless an effect allows you to do so. Similar effects that “tap and freeze” a creature (such as that of Decision Paralysis) don’t exert that creature.

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