Maze Rusher MTG Card


Maze Rusher - Dragon's Maze
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Haste
Released2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameDragon's Maze
Set codeDGM
Power 6
Toughness 3
Number33
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byYeong-Hao Han

Key Takeaways

  1. Haste ability of Maze Rusher accelerates combat, providing a tempo advantage in multicolored decks.
  2. Despite its late game entry, it’s a cornerstone for aggressive decks needing quick, impactful plays.
  3. Strategic inclusions of removal and control can counteract Maze Rusher’s fast-paced assault effectively.

Text of card

Haste Multicolored creatures you control have haste.

"The maze seems to fight us at every turn, resisting our efforts to solve it." —Niv-Mizzet


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Maze Rusher itself doesn’t directly contribute to card advantage, it can pave the way for other creatures to get in for damage, potentially leading to card draw through other synergistic effects in your deck.

Resource Acceleration: Maze Rusher’s haste-enabling ability can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by allowing your high-impact creatures to swing in and impact the board the turn they’re played.

Instant Speed: Although Maze Rusher is a creature and not an instant, the instant speed of other spells in your hand is amplified by the pressure it puts on your opponent, forcing them to react quickly to sudden threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Maze Rusher card, despite not having a discard clause, may compel players to reconsider their hand management tactics. In a game where every card in hand could turn the tide, not having to discard can be less of an issue compared to other drawbacks.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a precise mana combination of one red and one generic to cast, Maze Rusher can present a challenge in multicolored decks that might struggle with color consistency, particularly in the early game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Maze Rusher comes into play later than many alternatives. Players might find themselves in a pinch, wishing for a creature with a lower mana cost that could be played sooner to keep up the momentum against fast-paced opponents.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Maze Rusher is a key component in decks that leverage the haste mechanic or require formidable creatures for aggressive strategies. With its ability to give other multicolored creatures haste, it meshes well with various deck builds.

Combo Potential: This card has potential in synergistic plays, particularly for decks utilizing evolve or bloodrush mechanics where speed is vital. Its role in combos can be expanded with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield with haste.

Meta-Relevance: Given its unique abilities, Maze Rusher can find its place in a meta where quick creature deployment can outpace control decks. It’s tuning towards fast-paced game strategies ensures it remains a consistent choice for players keen on maintaining tempo.


How to beat

Maze Rusher is a distinct creature in the Magic: The Gathering universe with its built-in Haste ability, allowing it to swing into action without the usual waiting. A 6/3 creature, its power lies in speed, apt for the thrill of the Izzet guild mazes of Ravnica. Yet, therein lies a strategy to undermine its strength. To effectively handle this card, prioritizing removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their speed is key. Spells such as Doom Blade or Murder can dispatch Maze Rusher before it begins its assault. Utilizing defensive creatures with high toughness will also prove effective, as they can survive its attack and possibly take it down in combat.

Controlling the pace of the game is another sound tactic. Since Maze Rusher’s effectiveness is a product of its haste, slowing down the game with counter spells or enchantments that limit its attack, such as Pacifism, can neutralize its advantage. Also, because of its hefty mana cost, employing disruption strategies early in the game will delay or even prevent your opponent from casting it, ensuring that the rusher remains trapped in the maze of your strategy.

In summary, while Maze Rusher can provide quick and potentially devastating hits, a well-prepared defense utilizing removal, control elements, or stalling tactics can effectively diminish its impact on the game.


Cards like Maze Rusher

Maze Rusher stands as a unique creature within the Magic: The Gathering universe through its embodiment of both might and swiftness. It bears semblance to creatures like Minotaur Aggressor, which also prides itself on high power and the haste attribute. Yet, Maze Rusher is distinct with its power to grant haste to other multicolored creatures, a strategic advantage Minotaur Aggressor lacks.

Another creature that can be paralleled with Maze Rusher is the Ripscale Predator. While offering substantial power, Ripscale Predator brings the menace trait to the table, compelling opponents to block with more than one creature. The trade-off is clear—Maze Rusher doesn’t hinder the opponent’s blocking options directly but instead accelerates the tempo by enabling a quicker assault from your diverse forces. Juxtaposing these cards, one sees Maze Rusher’s role in a multi-hued deck, introducing versatile attack dynamics absent in Ripscale Predator’s singular approach.

Evaluating such options in a game that cherishes swift and powerful strikes, Maze Rusher warrants attention. It may not be the standalone powerhouse, but its capacity to affect the board with haste provides a tactical edge that elevates it within the collective of comparable haste creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Minotaur Aggressor - MTG Card versions
Ripscale Predator - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Aggressor - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Ripscale Predator - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Maze Rusher by color, type and mana cost

Shivan Dragon - MTG Card versions
Firestorm Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Crater Hellion - MTG Card versions
Callous Giant - MTG Card versions
Halam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Bloodshot Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Worldgorger Dragon - MTG Card versions
Two-Headed Dragon - MTG Card versions
Iron-Barb Hellion - MTG Card versions
Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions
Ronin Cavekeeper - MTG Card versions
Oni of Wild Places - MTG Card versions
Thundermare - MTG Card versions
Pardic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Fiend - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Shivan Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Firestorm Phoenix - Legends (LEG)
Crater Hellion - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Callous Giant - Invasion (INV)
Halam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Bloodshot Cyclops - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Worldgorger Dragon - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Two-Headed Dragon - From the Vault: Dragons (DRB)
Iron-Barb Hellion - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ryusei, the Falling Star - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Ronin Cavekeeper - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Oni of Wild Places - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Thundermare - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pardic Dragon - Time Spiral (TSP)
Tectonic Fiend - Time Spiral (TSP)
Etali, Primal Storm - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Kamahl, Pit Fighter - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Sunrise Sovereign - Lorwyn (LRW)
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Inferno Titan - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Maze Rusher MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Maze Rusher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Maze Rusher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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