Frost Raptor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Snow Creature — Bird
Abilities	Flying
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	34
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Lars Grant-West

Key Takeaways

Evasion through morphing provides strategic advantage, with the potential to surprise as blocker or attacker.
Instant speed flip enhances adaptability and can influence battle outcomes during any turn.
Requires careful mana base planning due to reliance on snow mana for optimal play.

Text of card

Flying {S}{S}: Frost Raptor can't be the target of spells or abilities this turn. ({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)

The Rimewind wizards strove to perpetuate a magical winter. Their unnatural snows birthed unnatural beasts.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the realm of MTG, the Frost Raptor shines by offering the benefit of evasion. Its morph ability can give you a strategic edge, allowing you to unveil the card when most advantageous, often giving you an unexpected blocker or attacker.

Resource Acceleration: While the Frost Raptor isn’t directly involved in resource acceleration, its low morph cost can facilitate a quicker setup for your board presence. This can indirectly lead to a form of resource acceleration by helping to preserve mana for other uses.

Instant Speed: The versatility of the Frost Raptor is augmented by its ability to be flipped face-up at instant speed. This feature permits you to adapt swiftly to the changing tides of the game, potentially creating favorable interactions on the fly during either player’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Frost Raptor necessitates having snow mana available, which can potentially disrupt your mana base or limit its playability to snow-themed decks specifically.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a blend of colorless and blue mana, which could potentially clash with multicolor deck strategies that lean towards other colors or demand a broader mana base flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a two-power flyer, the investment of three mana might be considered steep, especially when there are alternative creatures in the format that could offer a better cost-to-power ratio.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Frost Raptor shines in environments where evasion is key. Its ability to become unblockable by controlling a snow land makes it a solid choice for decks that capitalize on direct damage and sneaky combat strategies.

Combo Potential: With the recent rise of snow-related mechanics, Frost Raptor pairs well with cards that benefit from having snow permanents in play, amplifying its impact within synergistic decks and enabling frosty combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the metagame, Frost Raptor can be a smart sideboard card against opponents unprepared for snow-centric tactics. Its dominance in specific matchups makes it a noteworthy contender in certain metas.

How to Beat Frost Raptor

Overcoming a Frost Raptor in a game of Magic: The Gathering hinges on recognizing its Morph ability as a strategic factor. This creature, when turned face up, gains protection from spells or abilities – a formidable defensive trait. Yet, its reliance on snow lands for this ability provides a tactical opening for opponents.

Addressing the challenge of Frost Raptor can be approached from several angles. One strategy is resorting to board wipes that don’t target individual creatures, thus bypassing its protective feature. Sweeping effects found in cards like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict can clear the field, including the elusive Frost Raptor.

Alternatively, when facing a snow land-based deck, land destruction or land alteration strategies can be potent. Transforming or removing the opponent’s snow lands can render Frost Raptor’s abilities ineffective, putting the creature within reach. Direct removal may not always be an option, but manipulating the game’s basic resources can level the playing field against protective creatures like the Frost Raptor.

Cards like Frost Raptor

Frost Raptor shares the icy battlefield with a flock of similar creatures within MTG. As a flying creature with an arresting ability to become untargetable, it draws parallels with cards like Glacial Stalker. Both creatures flourish in a frosty environment, and while Glacial Stalker requires a morph cost to become unblockable, Frost Raptor uses snow mana to shield itself from spells or abilities. This distinction in mana usage is crucial for deck synergy, espeically in a snow-focused deck.

Another card worth comparing is Boreal Griffin. Like Frost Raptor, the Griffin also benefits from the use of snow mana. However, it trades the untargetable ability for vigilance, offering a different style of play where defense becomes as important as offense. The comparison doesn’t end there; Chillwind Yeti also manipulates the lesser-trodden snow paths, with a power to tap creatures but at the cost of tapping itself. Unlike Frost Raptor, it does not have flying, which could limit its defensive capabilities.

Ultimately, while Frost Raptor may not stand out for its power and toughness, its unique snow-based shielding ability adds a strategic layer for MTG players, carefully planning maneuvers with a creature that can repeatedly evade targeted threats.

Cards similar to Frost Raptor by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions

Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frost Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Frost Raptor and other MTG cards: