Phoberos Reaver MTG Card

Type	Token Creature — Minotaur
Abilities	Haste
Released	2014-03-01
Set symbol
Set name	Battle the Horde
Set code	TBTH
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	4
Frame	2003
Layout	Token
Border	Black
Illustred by	Michael Komarck

Key Takeaways

Grants card optimization by strategic discards, enhancing hand quality and battlefield tactics.
Can rapidly amplify board presence, playing extra creatures swiftly and unexpectedly.
Instant speed ability responds quickly to threats, adapting plays during critical moments.

Text of card

Haste Phoberos Reaver attacks each turn if able.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Phoberos Reaver enables you to potentially discard a lesser card to draw a more useful one, optimizing your hand and bolstering your strategy on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to bring an additional creature to play, Phoberos Reaver can effectively expedite your board presence, giving you an edge in summoning power.

Instant Speed: The swift nature of Phoberos Reaver’s abilities can catch an opponent off-guard, allowing you to react to threats or adapt your game plan at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Phoberos Reaver is the necessity to discard a card upon its ability activation. This cost can be especially taxing when your hand is already stretched thin, potentially forcing you to lose valuable resources to leverage this reaver’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for decks with a strong red mana base, the Phoberos Reaver may pose a challenge for inclusion in multicolored or color-flexible strategies. Its red-specific cost demands a committed deck design, sometimes at the detriment of versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost positioned on the higher side, Phoberos Reaver faces stiff competition from other cards in the same mana range that might provide a better balance of impact and flexibility. In the dynamic landscape of MTG, efficient mana utilization is key, and this card may fall short against alternatives.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Phoberos Reaver slots into an array of aggressive decks that prize early board presence. Its capacity to exert immediate pressure on opponents is an asset in both casual and competitive play.

Combo Potential: The reaver works synergistically with cards that benefit from creature deaths or sacrifice mechanics, offering a strategic edge when crafting a deck with a focus on recursive or aristocrat strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of the game, Phoberos Reaver is a noteworthy inclusion for its potential to disrupt opponent strategies reliant on establishing early control. Its presence can challenge meta decks leaning on setup and stabilization, making it a timely addition to your arsenal.

How to beat

The Phoberos Reaver is a card that commands attention on the battlefield. Its prowess can be daunting, but there are tried-and-true strategies to mitigate the threat it poses. Firstly, consider employing removal spells that can target the Reaver before it becomes too large of a nuisance; spells like Murder or Doom Blade can be particularly effective here. Additionally, counterspells such as Negate or Essence Scatter play a pivotal role in thwarting the Reaver’s deployment altogether, thereby preserving your life total and board state.

Utilizing deathtouch creatures is another efficient way to handle the Phoberos Reaver should it land on the field. These creatures make it risky for your opponent to attack, as they can lead to a favorable trade for you. Furthermore, don’t underestimate the value of board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, which can reset the playing field and eliminate the Reaver regardless of any buffs it may have accumulated.

Effectively managing a game against the Phoberos Reaver involves a blend of foresight and timely responses. Keep these strategies in mind, and you’ll increase your chances of dismantling any plans your opponent may have for their menacing Reaver.

Cards like Phoberos Reaver

Phoberos Reaver carves its niche in the pantheon of fiery creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other red creatures, such as Anax, Hardened in the Forge, which also thrives on aggressive strategies. However, Phoberos Reaver brings its own unique flair to the battlefield; it typically provides a solid body that can apply early pressure much like Anax.

When putting it side by side with Rakdos Cackler, another comparable creature, Phoberos Reaver stands out in terms of resilience and late-game relevance with its potential size growth. Rakdos Cackler offers a straightforward aggression from the outset but doesn’t scale as the game progresses. Moving to another known creature, the Ash Zealot, we see an immediate impact thanks to haste and a deterrent against graveyard strategies, yet it doesn’t have the beefier stats that Phoberos Reaver may exhibit as the game unfolds.

Assessing the relative merits of Phoberos Reaver involves recognizing its capability to become a substantial threat if left unchecked. When competing against equivalents in red creature spells, Phoberos Reaver clearly demonstrates its value through potential power progression and an imposing presence on the board.

Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Phoberos Reaver MTG card by a specific set like Battle the Horde, 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 Phoberos Reaver and other MTG cards: