First Mate Ragavan MTG Card

Generates card advantage and Treasure tokens, enhancing your resource pool effectively. Instant speed play of stolen cards disrupts opponents and can swing games. Requires red mana and careful deck construction to optimize its potential.

First Mate Ragavan - March of the Machine

Type	Token Legendary Creature — Monkey Pirate
Released	2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set name	March of the Machine
Set code	MOM
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	6
Frame	2015
Layout	Token
Border	Black
Illustred by	Maxime Minard

Cards like First Mate Ragavan

The allure of First Mate Ragavan in Magic: The Gathering is its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies while granting card advantage. This card echoes the perks seen in Dockside Extortionist, which is praised for its ability to produce Treasure tokens and ramp up mana. Yet, First Mate Ragavan is unique with its dash mechanic allowing for swift attacks and providing a potential card from the opponent’s deck.

In a comparative glimpse, the legendary Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer also comes to mind with its ability to pillage the opponent’s deck and generate mana advantage. While the nimble pilferer has a more immediate impact with its tantalizing treasure-making ability on each attack, First Mate Ragavan offers a different tactical edge with its lower casting cost and evasion from being a dash creature.

Assessing the potential within the pantheon of red creature cards, First Mate Ragavan holds its own. It embodies a crafty mix of aggression and utility, strategic for players who favor nimble maneuvers and resource disruption over brute force in their MTG gameplay.

Dockside Extortionist - MTG Card versions

Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: First Mate Ragavan excels in generating card advantage by allowing players to exile the top card of an opponent’s library and play it this turn. This can lead to significant gains by utilizing opponents’ resources against them.

Resource Acceleration: This pirate monkey isn’t just about stealing cards. Each time First Mate Ragavan deals combat damage to a player, you create a Treasure token. These tokens are invaluable for ramping up your mana and casting more powerful spells ahead of time.

Instant Speed: While First Mate Ragavan isn’t an instant itself, the stolen cards can be played as instants provided the card’s timing rules allow. This interaction allows savvy players to disrupt opponents’ strategies during critical moments, turning the tide in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: First Mate Ragavan comes with a discard requirement that might force players to toss a valuable card from their hand. This can create a significant disadvantage, particularly in games where maintaining hand advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for red mana to cast First Mate Ragavan means it fits primarily into red or red-inclusive decks, limiting its flexibility in deck construction and potentially hindering players who prefer a wider color palette.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While First Mate Ragavan offers unique abilities, the mana cost is a bit steep when compared to other options. Other creatures or spells at the same cost might provide more immediate board presence or impact, which is a factor to consider during deck building.

Reasons to Include First Mate Ragavan in Your Collection

Versatility: First Mate Ragavan offers adaptability across various deck builds. Its ability to generate Treasure tokens while providing both creature pressure and card advantage makes it a flexible pick for numerous strategies.

Combo Potential: The card has inherent synergy with strategies that revolve around resource acceleration and can be a key piece in combo decks that aim to deploy high-cost spells much earlier than usual.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tempo plays and efficient resource conversion are crucial, First Mate Ragavan maintains its relevance. Its quick pace and utility make it a smart inclusion in decks looking to stay ahead in the current competitive scene.

How to beat

First Mate Ragavan is a dynamic creature that brings a swashbuckling presence to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Renowned for its ability to create Treasure tokens when dealing combat damage, this card invites a proactive approach to be effectively countered. Unchecked, Ragavan can quickly tilt the resource balance in favor of its controller. To counter this, players should prioritize removal spells, particularly those that can be cast at instant speed, allowing you to respond to Ragavan’s attacks or abilities without delay.

Spot removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile offer efficient solutions to neutralize Ragavan before it can become a significant threat. Additionally, keeping blockers with power two or greater deters Ragavan from attacking freely. A good blend of control elements and strategic board presence can stymie Ragavan’s impact. Crafting a deck that has a robust early game response ensures that First Mate Ragavan won’t be able to dictate the pace of play or accrue the valuable resources it is known for.

Employing such tactics with precision can effectively mitigate Ragavan’s influence, ensuring that one remains at the helm, steering the game towards victory rather than capsizing under the weight of an opponent’s pirate crew.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase First Mate Ragavan MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 First Mate Ragavan and other MTG cards:

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