Capricious Hellraiser MTG Card
2023-02-03 - Number 353
2023-02-03 - Number 310
2023-02-03 - Number 125p
2023-02-03 - Number 125
2023-02-03 - Number 125s
2023-02-03 - Number 444
2023-02-03 - Number 73
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast if you have nine or more cards in your graveyard. Flying When Capricious Hellraiser enters the battlefield, exile three cards at random from your graveyard. Choose a noncreature, nonland card from among them and copy it. You may cast the copy without paying its mana cost.
Cards like Capricious Hellraiser
Capricious Hellraiser joins the ranks of red creatures with a penchant for randomness in Magic: The Gathering. It reminds seasoned players of cards like Scab-Clan Berserker, but with a unique twist. Both creatures share the red color’s energy and chaotic potential yet, Capricious Hellraiser takes this a step further by adding the unpredictability of its discard and draw ability, similar to the concept of looting. Scab-Clan Berserker, meanwhile, offers the Renown ability and deals damage whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, lacking the card cycling benefit.
Another comparable card is Goblin Dark-Dwellers. While Goblin Dark-Dwellers allows for an immediate one-off spell recast, Capricious Hellraiser provides an ongoing cycling effect, potentially offering more sustained value over time. However, Goblin Dark-Dwellers has a more immediate impact on the board with its ability to cast an instant or sorcery from the graveyard right as it enters the battlefield.
Ultimately, Capricious Hellraiser stands out for those who appreciate a bit of chaos and the opportunity to churn through the deck, potentially drawing into the game-changing cards they need to secure victory. Its similar counterparts each have their distinctive advantages, but for a player who enjoys a dynamic playstyle, Capricious Hellraiser could be a thrilling inclusion.
Cards similar to Capricious Hellraiser by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Capricious Hellraiser. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Land Destruction | Modern | Land Destruction | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-13 |
 | Grixis Combo | Standard | Grixis Control | ~~ Izzet Explosive Experiment Event |
 | Grixis Dragons | Standard | Grixis Dragons | 15 Day3 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When delving into the strengths of Capricious Hellraiser, card advantage comes to the forefront. This dynamic card allows you to sift through your deck efficiently. Each turn, it offers the chance to swap out a specific instant or sorcery card from your graveyard with one you’d prefer in your hand, ensuring the resources you have are the ones you need.
Resource Acceleration: Capricious Hellraiser is not just about swapping cards; it’s also a powerhouse when it comes to boosting your available resources. The inherent ability of this card to pull an instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand effectively cuts down the mana cost on your next play. This acceleration is invaluable for staying ahead of the curve and pressuring opponents.
Instant Speed: Instant speed interactions are where Capricious Hellraiser truly shines. The flexibility to adjust your hand at the end of your opponent’s turn positions you to make more informed and impactful decisions during your own turn. It keeps your game plan adaptable, making plays that can respond to an ever-changing battlefield without missing a beat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sporting a mechanic that mandates discarding a card can be detrimental. Players may find this unwelcome during late-game scenarios or when in a position where each card in hand is a critical piece of their strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Capricious Hellraiser requires a precise blend of mana, including red, to be cast. This can present a challenge in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is essential, potentially leading to a bottleneck in your mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the mana expenditure, Capricious Hellraiser’s casting cost is relatively steep. Considering this investment, players often seek a more immediate or impactful board presence than what the card offers, which may lead to preference for alternatives with a lower cost or more substantial effects.
Reasons to Include Capricious Hellraiser in Your Collection
Versatility: Capricious Hellraiser is a flexible addition to decks that can leverage the chaos it brings on the board. Its ability to shuffle itself into its owner’s library after use ensures that it can resurface when you least expect it, making it a wildcard for you and a headache for opponents.
Combo Potential: The random discard and card draw mechanic of Capricious Hellraiser can synergize well with graveyard-based strategies or decks that capitalize on card cycling. It can turn an otherwise disadvantageous situation into a combo-enabling one, often to the surprise of your competitors.
Meta-Relevance: Meta where unpredictability is key and more traditional strategies don’t always cut it, Capricious Hellraiser can shine. Its potential to disrupt opponent’s strategies while advancing your own makes it a card worth considering when the meta is fluctuating or as a unique tech choice.
How to Beat
Capricious Hellraiser is a unique card that can bring an unpredictable element to the game of Magic: The Gathering. When facing this card, timing and control are key strategies for overcoming its chaotic abilities. It’s essential for players to manage their resources carefully and maintain pressure on their opponent to mitigate the impact of this card’s effects.
One way to counter the chaotic potential of Capricious Hellraiser is to utilize removal spells effectively. Swift responses such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can eliminate the Hellraiser before its ability becomes a significant problem. Additionally, playing spells that limit an opponent’s actions, like Damping Sphere or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can restrict the Hellraiser’s influence on the game.
It’s also advantageous to employ strategies that bypass the Hellraiser altogether. This can be achieved through direct damage spells, evasive creatures, or by establishing a board presence that can withstand its random discard and re-casting effects. By maintaining board control and being judicious with spell casting, players can reduce the impact of Capricious Hellraiser and steer the game towards a favorable outcome.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Capricious Hellraiser MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Capricious Hellraiser and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Capricious Hellraiser Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 353 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Steve Ellis | |
| 2 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 310 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Kekai Kotaki | |
| 3 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos | PONE | 125p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Durion | |
| 4 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 125 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Durion | |
| 5 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Art Series | AONE | 73 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 6 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos | PONE | 125s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Durion | |
| 7 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 444 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Kekai Kotaki |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Capricious Hellraiser has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Capricious Hellraiser card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-02-04 | If the spell you cast has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2023-02-04 | If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those. |
| 2023-02-04 | If you don't want to cast the copy, you can choose not to; the copy ceases to exist the next time state-based actions are checked. |
| 2023-02-04 | The three cards you exile are chosen at random from among all cards in your graveyard. If all three cards you exile this way are creature and/or land cards, you won't be able to choose one of them to copy and cast. Capricious, indeed. |
| 2023-02-04 | You cast the copy while the ability is resolving and still on the stack. You can't wait to cast it later in the turn. |