Nezumi Ronin MTG Card


Nezumi Ronin - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Rat Samurai
Abilities Bushido
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number130
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byScott M. Fischer

Key Takeaways

  1. Nezumi Ronin offers strategic depth with its ability to disrupt opponents and create card advantage.
  2. The card’s efficient cost-to-power ratio enables resource acceleration, bolstering board presence.
  3. Despite its combat prowess, it poses deck-building constraints due to mana cost and color.

Text of card

Bushido 1 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

"Some nezumi became as skilled in the samurai arts as the humans and kitsune. Yet no lord would have them, so they sold their swords to the highest bidder." —*The History of Kamigawa*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delving into the strategic depths of Nezumi Ronin, this card piques the interest of players looking for utility in creature-based mechanics. Nezumi Ronin, through its innate abilities or synergies with other cards, can provide an edge by potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategies and thus indirectly generating a form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the presence of Nezumi Ronin on the battlefield can offer resource acceleration by means of its efficient cost to power ratio. This allows players to maintain a stable board presence while allocating resources to other pivotal plays, keeping the momentum in their favor.

Instant Speed: Although Nezumi Ronin itself may not be an instant, recognizing the interaction with cards that can be played at instant speed is fundamental. With the right deck, one could, for example, use instant speed spells to protect or enhance Nezumi Ronin, making it a versatile component in both offensive and defensive strategies during the heat of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Nezumi Ronin card comes with a caveat — to unlock its potential, players must fulfill a discard condition. This can be particularly challenging during the late game when hand sizes dwindle and each card’s value skyrockets.

Specific Mana Cost: Decks that could benefit from the Nezumi Ronin’s abilities might find the mana cost restrictive. Locked into a specific color, it prevents seamless inclusion in decks that don’t run black mana as a staple.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that demands three mana, the Nezumi Ronin’s impact on the battlefield may not equate to its mana investment. Competing cards at a similar cost bracket often offer more impressive effects or stats, potentially overshadowing the rat warrior’s appeal in a tightly curated deck.


Reasons to Include Nezumi Ronin in Your Collection

Versatility: Nezumi Ronin’s attributes allow it to be a solid inclusion in various deck builds, particularly those that thrive on aggressive strategies and efficient creature plays.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its creature type, it pairs well with other Rat-centric cards and tribal synergies, providing numerous opportunities for crafty combination plays within those deck themes.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based tactics or where attrition is common, Nezumi Ronin’s abilities to persevere through removal can give it a competitive edge, making it a strategic choice for both offense and resilience.


How to beat

Nezumi Ronin presents a challenge to many players in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This creature card boasts bushido 1, which means it gains a temporary power and toughness boost whenever it blocks or becomes blocked. This nifty ability can turn the tides during combat, making it harder to take down without losing your own creatures.

Defeating this samurai rat efficiently requires some strategic maneuvering. One approach is to use removal spells that circumvent combat entirely, thereby neutralizing the bushido advantage. Targeted spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can dispatch Nezumi Ronin before it causes any trouble. Alternately, evasive strategies, such as flying or unblockable creatures, can avoid triggering bushido by not engaging Nezumi Ronin in direct combat. Lastly, global effects, like board wipes, can clear the battlefield of all creatures, irrespective of combat advantages, ensuring that Nezumi Ronin is removed alongside any other potential threats.

Understanding when and how to deal with Nezumi Ronin can prevent this creature from becoming a major obstacle in your path to victory. Adapt your plan to include the methods mentioned, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle encounters with this formidable foe.


Cards like Nezumi Ronin

Nezumi Ronin brings a unique rogue vibe to the creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering. This card draws parallels with other rat ninja warriors like Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni. Both harness the aggressive and stealthy aspects typical of their tribe. However, Nezumi Ronin stands out by offering a reliable early game presence, thanks to its Bushido ability, which bolsters its power and toughness during combat.

Looking at other creatures, Throat Slitter is another Nezumi tribe member which employs the Ninjutsu ability, allowing it to replace an unblocked attacker. While it doesn’t have the Bushido ability like Nezumi Ronin, Throat Slitter compensates with a potent removal effect upon dealing combat damage to a player. Meanwhile, Nezumi Cutthroat avoids being blocked entirely as it carries fear, making it harder for opponents to deter.

Assessing Nezumi Ronin within its peer group, it becomes clear that it occupies a solid tactical position. With Bushido as trading card, this Ronin demonstrates a blend of offensive prowess and resilience, traits valued by MTG players building rat-themed decks or looking for versatile combatants in their library.

Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - MTG Card versions
Throat Slitter - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Throat Slitter - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Nezumi Ronin by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nezumi Ronin MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Nezumi Ronin and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nezumi Ronin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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