Plague Reaver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Power 6
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Gaining card advantage, Plague Reaver turns surplus creatures into fresh hand options, potentially swinging the game.
  2. It facilitates resource acceleration by synergizing with death-triggered card effects, enhancing board presence.
  3. Instant speed play makes Plague Reaver a flexible, unpredictable force during critical gameplay moments.

Text of card

At the beginning of your end step, sacrifice each other creature you control. Discard two cards, Sacrifice Plague Reaver: Choose target opponent. Return Plague Reaver to the battlefield under that player's control at the beginning of their next upkeep.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Plague Reaver offers a strategic edge by enabling players to exchange excess creatures for new cards. This can dramatically swing the momentum in your favor by refilling your hand with more options to address the evolving battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable creature can quickly escalate game dynamics by giving you the ability to sacrifice other creatures. This action can synergize with various card effects that activate upon a creature dying, potentially accelerating your board presence or generating additional value as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: The Plague Reaver’s ability to be played at instant speed adds a layer of tactical depth. You can effectively adjust your strategy in response to your opponents’ moves, making the Reaver a flexible and surprising element during crucial game moments. This instant speed utility ensures that your gameplay remains adaptable and unpredictable.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Plague Reaver forces you to discard two cards at the beginning of your end step if it caused damage that turn. This can quickly deplete your hand, especially if you can’t mitigate the discard through other means.

Specific Mana Cost: Plague Reaver’s casting cost is quite specific, requiring one black and two generic mana which can be a hurdle for multicolored decks that don’t focus heavily on black mana. It may not fit smoothly into all strategies due to this limitation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Plague Reaver may come across as a steep investment in the early game, particularly when compared to other creatures at similar or lower mana costs that don’t come with a mandatory discard downside.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plague Reaver offers flexibility in deck building, as it can be a key piece in decks focused on creature sacrifice or reanimation strategies, potentially providing a significant advantage when placed in the right build.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to power up various combos, especially those revolving around sacrificing creatures for value or utilizing the graveyard as a resource, making it a potent enabler in combo-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks dominate, Plague Reaver can act as both a formidable threat and a way to disrupt opponent strategies, keeping it relevant and useful within the ever-evolving MTG meta.


How to Beat

Plague Reaver is an intriguing creature card that can profoundly influence the battlefield in MTG. It boasts substantial power and toughness, making it a formidable opponent. When encountering this beast, remember its unique ability that allows its controller to pass it onto an opponent by sacrificing two other creatures. To outmaneuver Plague Reaver, smart use of removal spells is key. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can remove it from the game before its ability becomes a problem. Additionally, effects that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures can drastically diminish the impact of Plague Reaver before it’s passed to your side of the field.

Another strategy is to maintain control over your creature count. By limiting the number of creatures you have on the board, you ensure that should Plague Reaver become your burden, you’ll have fewer sacrifices to contemplate. Cards that can bounce Plague Reaver back to its owner’s hand, such as Unsummon or Brazen Borrower, also provide a temporary but effective solution. Ultimately, having a plan to deal with big threats like this is essential for victory. Keep your removal ready and remember that outlasting the Reaver is a viable strategy in itself.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Plague Reaver is a card that demands respect for its potential to sculpt the battlefield to your advantage. With its strategic depth, it can lead to significant card advantage and resource acceleration, pivotal in outpacing your opponent. Its instant speed allows for unpredictable plays, fitting snugly into decks built around creature sacrifice or reanimation strategies. However, its power comes with caveats—discarding cards and a specific mana cost that may not align with every deck’s strategy. Savvy players can leverage its strengths and navigate its weaknesses for a substantial payoff in MTG. Dive deeper with us into maximizing Plague Reaver’s potential within your collection.


Cards like Plague Reaver

Plague Reaver stands out in the realm of creature cards with its unique combination of abilities. This card can be likened to Phyrexian Negator, a classic card which comes with a risk-reward factor. Both cards offer powerful stats for a relatively low mana cost, but they carry the potential for disadvantage if not utilized carefully. However, Plague Reaver’s ability to transfer itself to an opponent’s control is an intriguing twist that can play into a strategy of disruption not seen with the Negator.

Another card worth mentioning in this comparison would be Desecration Demon. While Desecration Demon also presents a deal-making aspect with its opponents, it’s more a question of crowd control rather than an abrupt shift of board control seen with the Plague Reaver. This self-transferring ability to force the opponent to make tough decisions can turn the tide of a game, especially in formats where creature control is crucial.

Ultimately, Plague Reaver adds a layer of complexity in gameplay, showcasing its potential to be a game-changer by leveraging and capitalizing on the creature-heavy meta in MTG. It requires a strategic mind to navigate its high risk for a potentially substantial reward.

Phyrexian Negator - MTG Card versions
Desecration Demon - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Negator - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Desecration Demon - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Plague Reaver 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 Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - 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 Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Dusk Imp - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plague Reaver MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Plague Reaver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Plague Reaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 860502015normalblackNicholas Gregory
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6522015normalblackNicholas Gregory
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1432015normalblackNicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plague Reaver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Plague Reaver 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 Plague Reaver is put onto the battlefield under the control of someone other than its owner, and that player leaves the game, Plague Reaver is exiled.
2020-11-10 If the chosen opponent leaves the game after the activated ability resolves but before the delayed triggered ability returns Plague Reaver to the battlefield, Plague Reaver stays in the graveyard.

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