Blue, Loyal Raptor MTG Card


Blue, Loyal Raptor excels in creating card advantage and applying early pressure in gameplay. Its synergy with instant-speed spells adds strategic depth to matches, making it a flexible threat. Despite its strengths, it faces limitations in multicolored decks and can strain mana resources.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dinosaur
Abilities Partner,Partner with
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Partner with Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Owen into their hand from their library, then shuffle.) For each kind of counter on Blue, Loyal Raptor, each other Dinosaur you control enters the battlefield with a counter of that kind on it.


Cards like Blue, Loyal Raptor

Blue, Loyal Raptor carves a niche within Magic: The Gathering as a creature card with a suite of abilities that cater to decks centered around loyalty and synergy. When you dive into the realm of similar cards, Skyknight Legionnaire stands out with its own blend of haste and flying, offering an aggressive play right off the bat. Despite the prowess in the air, Skyknight Legionnaire doesn’t boast the intricate bond with planeswalkers that Blue, Loyal Raptor does.

Stepping into the zone of vigilance, we can’t overlook the Alert Heedbonder. This card also serves as a valuable companion by bolstering your defensive line while curating your life total. Yet, what it offers in stability, it lacks in the offensive acceleration seen in the swiftness of Blue, Loyal Raptor’s attack. Aerial Responder is another comparable card, a vigilant flier capable of life gain, but again it misses the unique synergy with planeswalkers that our feathered friend provides.

Thus, Blue, Loyal Raptor stands out for its distinct alliance with planeswalker strategies, making it an impactful choice for players who seek to forge an alliance between creatures on the board and potent mages.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Alert Heedbonder - MTG Card versions
Aerial Responder - MTG Card versions
Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Alert Heedbonder - MTG Card versions
Aerial Responder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blue, Loyal Raptor by color, type and mana cost

Living Airship - MTG Card versions
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - MTG Card versions
Parcelbeast - MTG Card versions
Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Omnibian - MTG Card versions
Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Grazing Kelpie - MTG Card versions
Swirling Spriggan - MTG Card versions
Jungle Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Horizon Chimera - MTG Card versions
Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - MTG Card versions
Altered Ego - MTG Card versions
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - MTG Card versions
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - MTG Card versions
Sharktocrab - MTG Card versions
Living Airship - MTG Card versions
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - MTG Card versions
Parcelbeast - MTG Card versions
Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Omnibian - MTG Card versions
Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Grazing Kelpie - MTG Card versions
Swirling Spriggan - MTG Card versions
Jungle Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Horizon Chimera - MTG Card versions
Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - MTG Card versions
Altered Ego - MTG Card versions
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - MTG Card versions
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - MTG Card versions
Sharktocrab - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blue, Loyal Raptor provides value by replacing itself in your hand when it enters the battlefield. This interaction is crucial to outpace your opponents by ensuring your resources remain plentiful.

Resource Acceleration: This feathery companion can offer indirect resource acceleration. By applying pressure early on, your opponent must respond, potentially diverting resources that could have been used for their game plan. In that way, Blue, Loyal Raptor helps you stay ahead in the resource race.

Instant Speed: While Blue, Loyal Raptor doesn’t have an instant speed ability itself, its synergies with other cards that can be played at instant speed make it a versatile threat. It forces opponents to be cautious about when to use their removal, thereby allowing you to navigate the game more strategically and keep them guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness the potential of Blue, Loyal Raptor, you need to discard another card. This can lead to difficult decisions and potentially depleted hands, especially if your deck isn’t built to capitalize on discard strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Blue, Loyal Raptor comes with a mana cost that requires blue mana. This can make it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that may struggle to generate the specific mana necessary consistently, thereby limiting its flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the abilities of Blue, Loyal Raptor against its mana cost, it becomes evident that there are alternative creatures that could provide a better cost-to-benefit ratio. This could impact deck efficiency, particularly in formats where mana curve is crucial.


Reasons to Include Blue, Loyal Raptor in Your Collection

Versatility: Blue, Loyal Raptor can seamlessly adapt to various strategies, and its flying trait allows it to take on multiple roles in gameplay, from being an early-game defender to a consistent attacker in the air.

Combo Potential: This card’s loyalty-triggered ability can mesh well with planeswalker-centric decks. By protecting your planeswalkers, it enables longer-term strategies and combos to flourish with each loyalty counter that’s added.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right deck, Blue, Loyal Raptor has the potential to significantly impact games. Particularly in a meta where smaller creatures are prevalent, this card can offer enduring board presence and recurring value that may tip the scales in your favor.


How to Beat Blue, Loyal Raptor

Blue, Loyal Raptor presents a unique challenge as a creature card in Magic: The Gathering. This card distinguishes itself with its loyalty and resilience, often compelling opponents to think twice before attacking. Unlike other creatures, the raptor thrives on unity and becomes stronger when paired with a supportive planeswalker. Overcoming it requires not just power, but strategy.

One effective method is to use removal spells that bypass its defensive capabilities. Cards that exile, such as Path to Exile, can be pivotal in this situation. Board sweepers too, like Wrath of God, can clear the field without targeting Blue, Loyal Raptor directly. Another approach is to limit the raptor’s advantages by controlling the presence of planeswalkers. The use of counterspells or direct damage spells can keep the battlefield in your favor and negate the raptor’s loyalty-dependant boosts.

To summarize, while Blue, Loyal Raptor can be a formidable foe, understanding and interrupting the synergy it relies upon can turn the tide of the game. Utilizing spot removal, board clearers, and planeswalker control can help dismantle the advantages of this loyal creature, paving the way to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blue, Loyal Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Jurassic World Collection and Jurassic World Collection, 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 Blue, Loyal Raptor and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Blue, Loyal Raptor Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-11-17 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Maaz Ali Khan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-11-17Jurassic World CollectionREX 332015NormalBorderlessMaaz Ali Khan
22023-11-17Jurassic World CollectionREX 82015NormalBorderlessMaaz Ali Khan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blue, Loyal Raptor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-11-10 "Partner with
-ame]" represents two abilities. The first is a triggered ability: "When this permanent enters the battlefield, target player may search their library for a card named
-ame], reveal it, put it into their hand, then shuffle their library."
2023-11-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2023-11-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2023-11-10 If Blue, Loyal Raptor enters the battlefield with one or more kinds of counters on it at the same time as other Dinosaurs you control, those other Dinosaurs won't get additional counters from Blue, Loyal Raptor's last ability.
2023-11-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Blue, Loyal Raptor and Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with green, blue, and/or red in their color identity, but not white or black.
2023-11-10 Note that the target player searches their library (which may be affected by effects such as that of Stranglehold) and that the card they find is revealed, even though these words aren't included in the ability's reminder text.
2023-11-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from one of them, not from both of them combined. Command Beacon's effect puts one into your hand from the command zone, not both.
2023-11-10 The second ability represented by the "partner with
-ame]" keyword modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant and has no function outside of that variant. If a legendary creature card with "partner with
-ame]" is designated as your commander, the named legendary creature card can also be designated as your commander.
2023-11-10 The triggered ability of the "partner with" keyword still triggers in a Commander game. If your other commander has somehow ended up in your library, you can find it. You can also target another player, whether or not they have that card in their library.
2023-11-10 To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability or corresponding "partner with" abilities as the game begins. A creature with a "partner with" ability can't partner with any creature other than its designated partner. Losing a partner ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.