Hellhole Rats MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Rat
Abilities	Haste
Released	2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set name	Dissension
Set code	DIS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	113
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Hellhole Rats offers card advantage by forcing opponent discards upon entry, disrupting their game plan.
Fits well in Rakdos decks, promoting aggressive play with its instant-like battlefield impact.
Though mana-restrictive, it’s a solid choice for its versatility and potential to upset slower decks.

Text of card

Haste When Hellhole Rats comes into play, target player discards a card. Hellhole Rats deals damage to that player equal to that card's converted mana cost.

"I must speak with Momir Vig about creating a water-spouting watchdog." —Mathvan, Prahv scrollwarden

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Hellhole Rats, you force your opponent to discard a card upon its arrival onto the battlefield, tipping the scales of card advantage in your favor. This disruption can be pivotal in dismantling your opponent’s strategies by removing key components from their hand before they can be used.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to traditional forms of resource acceleration like ramping mana, Hellhole Rats indirectly accelerates your resources by being a dual-colored card, thus fitting seamlessly into Rakdos decks designed to outpace opponents through aggressive tactics and efficient mana usage.

Instant Speed: While Hellhole Rats itself is not an instant, it encourages a playstyle that keeps opponents guessing. The damage dealt when Hellhole Rats enters the battlefield can be considered as instant impact, a swift effect on the game state that, much like a spell cast at instant speed, can surprise an unprepared opponent and provide immediate benefit to you.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hellhole Rats demands that your opponent discards a card when it enters the battlefield, which can potentially deplete your own hand if countered or dealt with quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: With its requisition of both red and black mana, this card is inherently restrictive, necessitating a dedicated mana base and making it less flexible in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to cast, including two that are color-specific, Hellhole Rats competes with numerous other impactful four-drop options in the MTG metagame, which might provide a better return on your mana investment.

Reasons to Include Hellhole Rats in Your Collection

Versatility: Hellhole Rats is flexible enough to slide into a variety of deck styles, particularly those looking to apply pressure with its haste ability and chip away at an opponent’s life total through discard damage.

Combo Potential: This card presents opportunities for synergy in decks that capitalize on discard effects or benefit from dealing direct damage, enabling players to craft rewarding high-impact play sequences.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where slower decks predominate, Hellhole Rats can serve as an effective tool to disrupt opponents’ plans early on and maintain a lead in life totals, making it an asset in the current competitive landscape.

How to beat

Hellhole Rats is a unique challenge in MTG with its blend of dealing damage and forcing discards upon its entry to the battlefield. This can put the opposing player on their back foot, as it instantly applies pressure both to the player’s life total and hand size. However, there are effective ways to mitigate the impact of Hellhole Rats and maintain control over the game.

One strategy is to utilize instant-speed removal spells to deal with Hellhole Rats before its ability can trigger. Cards like Path to Exile or Lightning Bolt are excellent choices for swiftly eliminating the threat. Additionally, playing creatures with abilities to block without being destroyed, such as those with higher toughness or with indestructible, can neutralize the card without sacrificing valuable resources.

Players can also focus on hand disruption to preemptively remove Hellhole Rats from their opponent’s hand before they have a chance to cast it. This approach ensures the rats never see the battlefield and the player’s life total and hand remain intact. It’s about staying one step ahead, anticipating the threats, and having answers ready to deploy. By following these tactics, players can dull the potency of Hellhole Rats and maintain an upper hand in their MTG matches.

Cards like Hellhole Rats

Hellhole Rats is an intriguing option among the discard-enabling creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When drawing parallels, there are other cards like Blightning, which also mixes damage with discard. However, Hellhole Rats takes a unique position by being a creature that incorporates the effect upon entering the battlefield, while Blightning is an instant spell without a board presence.

Looking at other comparisons, we can consider Hypnotic Specter, with its ability to deal damage and cause discarding, though this hinges on combat rather than a direct battlefield effect. Additionally, Hellhole Rats offers guaranteed discard and damage despite the more substantial mana cost involved. There’s also Liliana’s Specter, providing a similar discard effect in a creature form, but it lacks the direct damage element that defines Hellhole Rats.

In summary, Hellhole Rats stands out among its peers by delivering both immediate impact through discard and damage, making it a card to consider for those aiming to pressure opponents with multiple threats simultaneously. Its unique combination of abilities gives it an edge in certain MTG strategies focused on disruption and aggression.

Cards similar to Hellhole Rats by color, type and mana cost

Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions

Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions

Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions

Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions

Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hellhole Rats MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Hellhole Rats and other MTG cards: