Typhoid Rats MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Rat
Abilities Deathtouch
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Typhoid Rats offers indirect card advantage by trading with costlier creatures, thus saving resources.
  2. Plays early for board control, protecting life total without expending additional cards.
  3. Acts like instant speed interaction in combat, deterring opponent attacks strategically.

Text of card

Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

Kidnappers caught in Havengul are given two choices: languish in prison or become rat catchers. The smart ones go to prison.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Even though Typhoid Rats itself doesn’t allow you to draw cards, it can often trade one-for-one with much costlier creatures your opponents control, due to its deathtouch ability. This trade-off can lead to indirect card advantage, as your opponent may lose a more valuable card in the process.

Resource Acceleration: While Typhoid Rats doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost means it can be played early in the game, effectively keeping the board in check and protecting your life total. This defense can help you maintain resources for more strategic plays later on without having to expend extra cards on early creature threats.

Instant Speed: Typhoid Rats is a creature and not an instant; however, its deathtouch ability can dissuade opponents from attacking, much like what an instant could do by eliminating an attacking or blocking creature. This potential for immediate board impact whenever another creature becomes tapped or is declared as an attacker can offer a form of instant speed interaction in the context of combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Typhoid Rats may not require you to discard upon casting, it often becomes a discard candidate due to its lesser impact in the later stages of the game, especially if you’re aiming to streamline your hand to keep high-impact cards.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s single black mana cost restricts its utility to black-centric or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in decks that cannot reliably produce black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at one black mana, Typhoid Rats may seem cost-effective, but when assessing its board impact against other one-mana creatures or spells, it may appear less advantageous, considering it only offers deathtouch without additional abilities or stats.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Typhoid Rats can slip into a variety of decks, especially those capitalizing on early-game board control. Its Deathtouch ability ensures that it can trade with almost any creature, making it a valuable asset for maintaining a clear battlefield.

Combo Potential: The one-drop creature can be a key component in combos, particularly in strategies that revolve around creature sacrifice or recurring creatures from the graveyard for extra value.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low cost and high threat level, Typhoid Rats can be particularly effective in a meta filled with powerful creatures, as it serves as a deterrent and can force opponents to alter their strategy, potentially saving you from early aggression.


How to beat

Dealing with Typhoid Rats in your MTG game requires a strategic approach due to its deathtouch ability, where any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it. One effective tactic is to use removal spells that can target and destroy the Rats without your creatures needing to engage in battle. Cards like “Murder” or “Doom Blade” allow you to handle this threat safely and efficiently from a distance.

Another method is to employ flying creatures, as Typhoid Rats lack reach. By taking to the skies, you can soar over their heads and strike directly, maintaining pressure while keeping your valuable creatures out of harm’s way. Alternatively, leveraging spells that force your opponent to sacrifice Typhoid Rats can circumvent its deathtouch attribute, thereby removing the pest without a direct confrontation.

It’s also crucial to consider the Rats’ impact on the board; they’re often used defensively. Recognizing this can shift your strategy towards spells and abilities that can neutralize or bypass them, rather than engaging them in direct combat where they are most effective. By adapting your play style and managing your resources, you can mitigate the influence of Typhoid Rats and maintain control over the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Typhoid Rats in your MTG deck can make all the difference in tipping the scales of a match in your favor. With its low cost and potent deathtouch capability, integrating this card into your strategy could be a game-changer, especially in early turns or as a defensive deterrent. Whether you are considering the Rats for their trading potential, combo opportunities, or simply to enhance your control strategies, their versatile nature makes them a valuable addition to your collection. Ready to enhance your deck-building skills and strategic play? Dive deeper with us for more insights and strategies to outmaneuver your opponents and secure your victories with prowess.


Cards like Typhoid Rats

Typhoid Rats is a strong contender in the realm of low-cost creatures that boast a deathtouch ability within Magic: The Gathering. A card akin to this is Vampire of the Dire Moon – both are one-mana creatures with deathtouch. However, Vampire of the Dire Moon has lifelink in addition to deathtouch, providing extra utility in terms of gaining life.

Another card similar to Typhoid Rats is Phyrexian Revoker. Although it lacks deathtouch, it offers a unique ability to shut down activated abilities of any named card, situating it as a tactical piece in disrupting opponent strategies. The Revoker carries a higher mana cost and lacks the direct board impact of deathtouch but compensates with its potential to hamstring key components of an opponent’s game plan.

In consideration of versatility and board presence, Typhoid Rats holds a significant place as an early game defender or as an affordable creature capable of taking down much larger threats. Its deathtouch ability ensures it remains a cost-effective tool for control strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This positions Typhoid Rats as a reliable and efficient choice for players looking to enhance their decks with effective, inexpensive creatures.

Vampire of the Dire Moon - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Revoker - MTG Card versions
Vampire of the Dire Moon - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Phyrexian Revoker - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

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

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Will-o'-the-Wisp - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Vampire Bats - Renaissance (REN)
Bog Rats - Chronicles (CHR)
Sewer Rats - Mirage (MIR)
Muck Rats - Portal Second Age (P02)
Vebulid - Urza's Saga (USG)
Urborg Skeleton - Invasion (INV)
Carrion Rats - Torment (TOR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dark Supplicant - Legions (LGN)
Bile Urchin - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rimebound Dead - Coldsnap (CSP)
Plague Beetle - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Festering Goblin - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sleeper Agent - Tenth Edition (10E)
Knucklebone Witch - Lorwyn (LRW)
Nightshade Stinger - Lorwyn (LRW)
Smolder Initiate - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Kjeldoran Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Typhoid Rats Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1202003normalblackKev Walker
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1302003normalblackKev Walker
32014-07-18Magic 2015M15 1182015normalblackKev Walker
42015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 892015normalblackDave Kendall
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 8032015normalblackKev Walker
62020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 632015normalblackDave Kendall
72020-09-26The ListPLST M15-1182015normalblackKev Walker
82022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4802015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Typhoid Rats has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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