Razorfin Abolisher MTG Card


Razorfin Abolisher - Eventide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Released2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set nameEventide
Set codeEVE
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number28
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byWilliam O'Connor

Key Takeaways

  1. Razorfin Abolisher’s bounce ability can effectively diminish opponent threats and disrupt their game rhythm.
  2. Its instant-speed action adds flexibility and surprise to your play, allowing for strategic battlefield control.
  3. However, it demands specific mana and a creature sacrifice, potentially complicating its playability.

Text of card

, : Return target creature with a counter on it to its owner's hand.

Once you have been marked by the merrow, you are not long for their waters.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Razorfin Abolisher’s ability to bounce an opponent’s creature back to their hand can disrupt their board presence, effectively reducing the number of threats you need to deal with and possibly forcing them to spend their next turn replaying that creature instead of developing their board further.

Resource Acceleration: By removing key pieces of an opponent’s strategy, you can slow down their game plan. This gives you more time to deploy your resources efficiently and draw into more powerful spells, thereby accelerating your own position while they attempt to rebuild.

Instant Speed: The fact that Razorfin Abolisher can use its ability at instant speed means you can wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn, offering flexibility and the element of surprise. This can be pivotal when timing is crucial to interrupt combos or battlefield development.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Razorfin Abolisher requires you to sacrifice another creature, which can be a considerable setback when your board presence is already under pressure.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for both blue and green mana to summon the Razorfin Abolisher can restrict its inclusion to multi-color decks, potentially complicating your mana base and affecting deck consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one each of blue and green, this card competes with other three-drops that might provide immediate impact or broader utility depending on the current state of gameplay.


Reasons to Include Razorfin Abolisher in Your Collection

Versatility: The Razorfin Abolisher is a flexible addition to various decks due to its ability to remove buffs and disrupt opponent strategies. This blue creature card can effortlessly integrate into control or tempo decks that focus on maintaining board presence.

Combo Potential: With its targeted ability to return creatures to their owner’s hand, Razorfin Abolisher works well in synergistic decks that capitalize on casting or bouncing creatures. This opens up opportunities for repeated use of enter-the-battlefield effects or combo disrupts.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where buff-heavy creatures or permanents with counters are common, Razorfin Abolisher can serve as a key tactical asset. It helps maintain a level playing field by handling threats that otherwise might be difficult to manage.


How to beat

Razorfin Abolisher can pose a strategic challenge on the battlefield. This creature has the ability to return other creatures to their owner’s hand, disrupting your board presence and tempo significantly. However, there are effective tactics to mitigate this creature’s impact in-game.

One of the simplest methods is to remove it before its ability can be activated. Spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile provide efficient and direct elimination of the threat. Additionally, countering the Razorfin Abolisher when it is cast with spells like Cancel or Mana Leak will prevent it from ever becoming an active problem. It’s also beneficial to hold instant-speed removal in hand to respond to its ability directly, or to prioritize spells and abilities that make your creatures indestructible or grant them hexproof to nullify the Abolisher’s influence.

Keep in mind that constant vigilance is key to combat creatures like Razorfin Abolisher. By managing your removal resources smartly and maintaining board control, you can turn the tides against this troublesome foe and maintain your position in the match.


Cards like Razorfin Abolisher

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Razorfin Abolisher is an intriguing creature with capabilities echoing those of other bounce-effect creatures. Its unique power allows players to return a tapped creature an opponent controls to their hand, evoking comparisons to other cards that offer similar utility. Take Man-o’-War, for example, a creature that offers a bounce effect upon entering the battlefield. While Man-o’-War can target any creature, Razorfin Abolisher focuses on disrupting an opponent’s strategy by targeting only tapped creatures.

Another card to consider is Voidwielder, which, akin to Razorfin Abolisher, permits returning creatures to their owner’s hand. However, Voidwielder doesn’t have the tapped creature restriction, thereby providing more flexibility. Yet, Razorfin Abolisher stands out due to its repeatable use, granted the creature survives to see multiple turns.

These comparisons underscore Razorfin Abolisher’s strategic position in a player’s arsenal, especially in decks designed to take advantage of the tapping and untapping of creatures. Its strength not only lies in creature removal but also in providing a recurrent obstacle for your opponents, clearly highlighting its role within the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem.

Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Voidwielder - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)
Voidwielder - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Razorfin Abolisher MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Razorfin Abolisher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Razorfin Abolisher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Razorfin Abolisher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2008-08-01 If the targeted creature no longer has any counters on it when the ability resolves, the ability won’t resolve because its only target is illegal. The creature will stay on the battlefield.
2008-08-01 Razorfin Abolisher’s ability can target a creature with any kind of counter on it, not just a -1/-1 counter.

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