Merchant Raiders MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Power 2
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Merchant Raiders offers board control by detaining creatures, tipping the scales in your favor.
  2. Triggering effects with Pirate plays can rapidly advance your position without extra cost.
  3. Its synergy with instant-speed Pirates lets you disrupt opponents unexpectedly.

Text of card

Whenever Merchant Raiders or another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, tap up to one target creature. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as you control Merchant Raiders.

"Tell you what, you keep the rope."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The effect of detaining an opponent’s creature with Merchant Raiders can bend the game in your favor, essentially drawing you into a better board position by hampering your opponent’s defenses or offensive capabilities.

Resource Acceleration: Every time you play a Pirate, you trigger Merchant Raiders’ ability. This can lead to a continuous flow of detained opponent’s creatures, accelerating your resources towards a victorious board state without spending additional mana.

Instant Speed: While Merchant Raiders itself doesn’t have instant speed, it plays well with Pirates that can be cast at instant speed. This synergy allows you to surprise your opponent during their turn, disrupting their strategy and progressing your own board development seamlessly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Merchant Raiders comes with an additional cost that can be a setback. To cast it effectively, the card requires you to discard another card. This can be particularly troublesome when your hand is already depleted, leaving you to make tough decisions on which resources to sacrifice for potential gain.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements for Merchant Raiders are quite specific, demanding both blue and black mana. This restriction can hinder its inclusion in multi-colored decks that may not have the reliable mana base to consistently cast it on curve or at crucial moments in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a relatively steep mana cost, Merchant Raiders demands a significant investment to get on the board. This can be a major disadvantage, especially when other cards at a lower mana cost could provide similar or better effects, offering more flexibility and efficiency for your deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include Merchant Raiders in Your Collection

Versatility: Merchant Raiders offers a unique ability to disrupt opponents by tapping their creatures. This aligns well with control or pirate-themed decks, providing strategic advantages at different stages of the game.

Combo Potential: The tap effect synergizes with cards that capitalize on tapped enemy permanents or benefit from having various creatures controlled by opponents immobilized, enhancing combo executions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Merchant Raiders can serve as a tactical piece to thwart enemy offensives, maintaining its relevance in various MTG metas.


How to beat

Merchant Raiders can be a challenging card to face in the world of MTG as it disrupts plans by tapping your nonland permanents. Its controller can quickly gain control of the board, especially in decks that capitalize on Pirates or frequent creature plays. To circumvent this disruptive mechanism, it’s wise to reduce the targets available for Merchant Raiders to tap. This can be done by controlling the number of creatures you have on the board. Strategic removal spells or those that grant your creatures indestructible status temporarily can thwart Merchant Raiders’ ability to impact your gameplay significantly.

Additionally, cards with flash allow you to wait until your opponent’s turn to play your creatures, giving you an untapped creature during your own turn. Incorporating instant-speed removal spells that can handle creatures at the time of your choice also ensures that Merchant Raiders won’t limit your maneuvers. Consider applying pressure with fast and aggressive strategies as well, forcing the opponent to use their resources defensively rather than offensively with Merchant Raiders.

Ultimately, effectively dealing with Merchant Raiders revolves around well-timed removals, controlled board presence, and strategic plays that maintain the pace of your game plan, keeping you one step ahead of your pirate-wielding adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

Merchant Raiders presents a strategic piece in the MTG puzzle, blending control with aggression through its unique creature-tapping ability. Whether you seek to strengthen a pirate-themed deck or you are looking to disrupt your opponent’s strategy, this card can tilt the match in your favor. The versatility and combo potential make it a worthwhile addition to your arsenal, especially in a creature-heavy meta. However, balancing its advantages with its cost is key. Curious about integrating Merchant Raiders into your deck, or finding alternative strategies to counter it? Dive into our in-depth insights, and harness the full potential of your MTG gameplay.


Cards like Merchant Raiders

Merchant Raiders is an intriguing piece in the MTG arena, somewhat akin to cards such as Captivating Crew and Siren Lookout when evaluating the subset of blue creature cards designed for control and disruption. Much like Merchant Raiders, Captivating Crew allows players to exert influence over the battlefield by taking control of enemy creatures, though at a greater mana cost and without the automatic tap effect. In contrast, Siren Lookout brings a different form of board impact through its Explore mechanic, potentially drawing cards while also providing a body on the field.

Diving deeper, we stumble upon cards such as Watertrap Weaver, which shares the Merchant Raiders’ interest in incapacitating opponent’s creatures on entry. Whereas Merchant Raiders potentially taps multiple creatures over time, Watertrap Weaver delivers a one-time effect with a lower individual cost. The ongoing effect of Merchant Raiders, however, could provide consistent strategic advantages throughout the game.

In examination of these counterparts, Merchant Raiders stands out for its conditional but repeatable control aspect, offering a tactical edge that can affect multiple enemy creatures and shape the flow of combat over the course of a game. This distinguishing feature elevates its position in the blue control segment within MTG.

Captivating Crew - MTG Card versions
Siren Lookout - MTG Card versions
Watertrap Weaver - MTG Card versions
Captivating Crew - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)
Siren Lookout - Ixalan (XLN)
Watertrap Weaver - Ixalan (XLN)

Cards similar to Merchant Raiders by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Phantom Monster - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Vapor - Chronicles (CHR)
Tradewind Rider - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Archivist - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Thieving Magpie - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Inga Rune-Eyes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Laboratory Drudge - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Johnny, Combo Player - Unhinged (UNH)
Dream Prowler - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Clone - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Cytoplast Manipulator - Dissension (DIS)
Crookclaw Transmuter - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dreamborn Muse - Tenth Edition (10E)
Turtleshell Changeling - Lorwyn (LRW)
Glen Elendra Archmage - Eventide (EVE)
Fatestitcher - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Argent Sphinx - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Lumengrid Drake - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Merchant Raiders MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander, 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 Merchant Raiders and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Merchant Raiders Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 812015normalblackDeruchenko Alexander
22023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1632015normalblackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Merchant Raiders has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 If another player gains control of Merchant Raiders, the creature will no longer be affected by the ability stopping it from untapping, even if you later regain control of Merchant Raiders.
2020-11-10 The ability stopping the creature from untapping will continue to apply to it even if the creature changes controllers.
2020-11-10 The triggered ability can target any creature, including one that is already tapped. In that case, the creature stays tapped and won't untap during its controller's untap step.

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