Dread Reaper MTG Card

Dread Reaper excels in card advantage and can accelerate resource gap by imposing discard on opponents. However, its casting requires player discard and three black mana, potentially restricting its versatility. The card’s raw power and meta impact make it a formidable addition to certain MTG deck strategies.

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 89

Starter 1999 (S99)
1999-07-01 - Number 76

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 78

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Horror
Abilities	Flying
Power	6
Toughness	5

Text of card

Flying When Dread Reaper comes into play from your hand, you lose 5 life. (The person who plays Dread Reaper loses the life.)

Cards like Dread Reaper

Dread Reaper is a menacing force within creature cards in MTG, much like other high-power creatures that intimidate any opponent. Like Dread Reaper, Phyrexian Obliterator is another card that immediately comes to mind due to its potential for devastating effects on the game. Although the Obliterator does not have flying or trample, its unique ability to wreak havoc whenever it takes damage makes it fearsome in its own right.

Another card of note is Abyssal Persecutor, a heavyweight with a twist. While offering immense power and toughness at a lower cost, much like Dread Reaper, it comes with a downside: its controller cannot win the game while it’s in play. This can present quite the conundrum, as the sheer force provided by this card must be carefully navigated to secure victory. In contrast, Dread Reaper’s straightforward yet sizeable mana cost and life point requirement make for a more predictable play but demands significant resources.

In conclusion, Dread Reaper stands out in the lineup of towering MTG creatures due to its formidable presence on the battlefield, demanding both strategic planning and resource management to effectively harness its power.

Phyrexian Obliterator - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dread Reaper by color, type and mana cost

Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions

Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions

Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dread Reaper lets you draw a card upon dealing combat damage to a player, keeping your hand filled and ensuring a steady flow of options.

Resource Acceleration: When Dread Reaper successfully hits an opponent, it ramps up your available resources by forcing the defending player to discard a card, potentially disrupting their strategy and accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Dread Reaper can be a beneficiary of instant speed spells that clear the way for its damage to connect, or in response to removal, you can use instant speed tricks to save it and preserve your threat on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dread Reaper requires the player to discard a card upon casting. This can be particularly taxing in game scenarios where your hand is already depleted, diminishing your ability to maintain options and react to opponents’ moves. Given that card advantage is vital in MTG, this prerequisite can often position you at a disadvantage against opponents who are able to capitalize on your reduced hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: Costing three black mana makes Dread Reaper less flexible compared to creatures with a more generic mana requirement. This cost structuring narrows its inclusion to primarily mono-black or heavy black-colored decks, potentially limiting its adaptability across the wide array of deck archetypes found in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three black mana and the additional discard cost, the overall investment to get Dread Reaper onto the battlefield can be relatively steep. In the dynamically evolving battlefield of MTG, where tempo and efficiency are crucial, there might be other creatures or spells that offer more immediate impact or value for the same or lower mana investment, making Dread Reaper a sometimes ponderous choice in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include Dread Reaper Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Dread Reaper offers the capability to act as both an offensive threat and a formidable blocker. Its flying ability allows it to bypass ground defenses and become a consistent source of damage.

Combo Potential: As a creature with a significant power and toughness, Dread Reaper works well with various strategies that capitalize on death triggers or high-powered creatures. This synergy can lead to powerful combinations and finishers in a game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where slower, control-type decks are prominent, Dread Reaper’s aggressive nature can apply pressure and force opponents to deal with it immediately, making it a valuable asset for dictating the pace of play.

How to beat

Dread Reaper is a potent threat in the MTG battlefield that demands a strategic response. Facing this menacing creature, one should prioritize removal spells, which are the simplest and most direct method to handle such a force. Cards like Murder, which straightforwardly destroy a target creature, or Path to Exile, offering removal at a low cost, are excellent tools in this scenario.

Alternatively, countering the Reaper before it hits the field is an efficient strategy. Therefore, incorporating counter spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak into your deck can provide preemptive control. Moreover, utilizing exile effects, which banish creatures from play, provides a permanent solution. Oblivion Ring or similar enchantments can effectively neutralize this threat without triggering any death-related abilities the Reaper might have.

Furthermore, employing board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, although this approach requires careful timing to ensure you’re not setting yourself back too much in the process. By understanding and integrating these tactics, MTG players can adeptly navigate the challenges posed by Dread Reaper and maintain an edge in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Reaper MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Starter 1999, 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 Dread Reaper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dread Reaper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Christopher Rush.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	89	1997	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush
2	1999-07-01	Starter 1999	S99	76	1997	Normal	White	Christopher Rush
3	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4	78	1997	Normal	Black	Christopher Rush

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dread Reaper has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal