Death Pits of Rath MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 127
2003-07-28 - Number 125s
2003-07-28 - Number 125★
2003-07-28 - Number 125
2005-07-29 - Number 123★
2005-07-29 - Number 123
2015-05-06 - Number 99
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Whenever any creature is dealt damage, destroy it. That creature cannot be regenerated this turn.
As the sludge below began to shift and take shapes, Gerrard turned from the railing to Orim. "I suppose," he said, "it's a little too late for prayer, isn't it?"
Cards like Death Pits of Rath
Death Pits of Rath carves a unique niche within Magic: The Gathering’s array of enchantments that interact with creature survivability. Notably, it turns any damage dealt into a deadly event for creatures, ensuring their destruction. This effect parallels cards like Pestilence, which allows players to damage all creatures and players, potentially leveraging the Death Pits of Rath’s ability across the board.
Slightly different yet with a similar vein is Pyrohemia, which bears resemblance to Pestilence, offering repeated damage capabilities to all creatures. It plays well with Death Pits of Rath’s mechanic, too. Another comparable card is Night of Souls’ Betrayal, which decreases the power and toughness of all creatures, often rendering the board into a fragile state poised for destruction. However, while these cards provide similar outcomes, they lack the straightforward inevitability of Death Pits of Rath’s straightforward ‘damage equals death’ equation.
Examining the strategic implications, Death Pits of Rath offers an undiscriminating board control tool, shaping the battlefield with every point of damage. Conclusively, among MTG enchantments impacting creature durability, Death Pits of Rath stands out as a potent and fear-inducing force, synergizing with a multitude of damage-inflicting strategies.
Cards similar to Death Pits of Rath by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Death Pits of Rath on the battlefield, any damage dealt to creatures becomes lethal, which can drastically shift the balance of creatures in your favor. This control element means you’re likely to weaken your opponent’s board presence while maintaining yours, indirectly leading to a form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Even though Death Pits of Rath doesn’t directly provide mana or accelerate resources, it can quicken the game’s pace to your advantage. By transforming even the smallest of damage sources into deadly threats, this card ensures efficient use of your damage-dealing resources, maximizing their potential to control the game.
Instant Speed: While Death Pits of Rath is an enchantment, its effect at instant speed creates a persistent threat. Any instant-speed damage source you control becomes a potential creature removal tool. Opponents must consider the deadly combo of instant damage spells or abilities with Death Pits of Rath’s effect before committing to any significant plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Death Pits of Rath requires careful play, as it can lead to unintentional destruction of your own creatures due to its global effect. This can force you into unfavorable decisions, potentially discarding creatures you would prefer to keep on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a combination of black and generic mana, this card can be restrictive for decks not heavily invested in black mana sources. It may not fit into multi-color decks where the mana base is stretched across various colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, the Death Pits of Rath can be a slow addition to your game strategy. In many cases, players might opt for lower cost cards that offer more immediate board impact or cards that do not carry the potential downside of affecting your own creatures adversely.
Reasons to Include Death Pits of Rath in Your Collection
Versatility: Death Pits of Rath offers a unique dynamic to any deck, as it transforms all damage into deadly outcomes. This enchantment allows for a new level of interaction with damage-based spells and abilities, making it an exciting inclusion for decks that can control or manipulate damage distribution.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, particularly with cards that can deal damage to multiple creatures at once. Pairing Death Pits of Rath with pingers or cards like Pyrohemia can help clear the board, while leaving your strategy aligned and your opponents’ plans in disarray.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s creature heavy, Death Pits of Rath can be a game-changer. It turns even the most minimal damage sources into lethal removal tools, shifting the landscape of creature-based matchups and giving you a significant advantage over decks that rely on creature synergies and swarms.
How to beat
The Death Pits of Rath is a notorious enchantment in MTG, revered for its ability to turn any damage into a deadly outcome for creatures. It’s a game-changer on the board, where even the slightest scratch becomes lethal. Navigating around this card requires a strategic shift, focusing on creature removals that don’t deal damage or using damage prevention tactics to shield your creatures from harm. Cards with indestructible become key, as they remain unaffected by Death Pits of Rath’s rule.
Cornerstone strategies include sideboarding enchantment removal such as Disenchant or using hexproof to keep your creatures safe. Additionally, keep in mind the symmetry of this card’s effects—it applies to all creatures, meaning an opponent’s board is just as vulnerable. Building your deck with creatures that benefit from being destroyed, such as those with “when this creature dies” triggers, can turn the tables in your favor. Thus, while Death Pits of Rath can dominate the board, a well-prepared player can exploit its potential to their advantage.
Ultimately, outlasting Death Pits of Rath lies in a combination of sturdy creatures, protective spells, and tactical removal. Understanding your deck’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to such a potent enchantment can secure you the upper hand, transforming a perilous pitfall into a path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Death Pits of Rath MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Eighth Edition, 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 Death Pits of Rath and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Death Pits of Rath Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 127 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Joel Biske | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 125s | 2003 | Normal | White | Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 125★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Joel Biske | |
| 4 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 125 | 2003 | Normal | White | Joel Biske | |
| 5 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 123★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 6 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 123 | 2003 | Normal | White | Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt | |
| 7 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 99 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joel Biske |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Death Pits of Rath has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |