Rhonas's Last Stand MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Delivers an early-game edge by summoning a substantial creature far quicker than many counterparts.
  2. Demanding a specific mana type and resource sacrifice, it’s a powerful yet situational play.
  3. When managed well, it can integrate into green-centric strategies for a powerful board state.

Text of card

Create a 5/4 green Snake creature token. Lands you control don't untap during your next untap step.

Rhonas continued to fight until his last breath and even beyond.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rhonas’s Last Stand does not directly facilitate card draw, deploying an early large creature can pressure your opponent into a defensive position—potentially yielding indirect card advantage as they may be forced to use multiple resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: This card stands out as a powerhouse by enabling you to drop a 5/4 Snake token on turn two—significantly ramping up your board presence and offensive potential much quicker than many other cards in a similar cost bracket.

Instant Speed: Although Rhonas’s Last Stand operates at sorcery speed, the sudden appearance of a substantial creature can serve as a pseudo-instant surprise, considerably impacting the state of the game as your opponents react to balance the sudden shift in battlefield control.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Rhonas’s Last Stand doesn’t require an actual discard, it does necessitate the sacrifice of lands by transforming them into creatures, which could deplete your mana resources and potentially hinder your ability to cast spells in subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands two green mana, which means it fits better in mono-green decks or those with heavy green influence. Decks that don’t strongly support green mana may struggle to play Rhonas’s Last Stand efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it’s only two mana, Rhonas’s Last Stand has a significant drawback that the lands used to cast it become tapped and do not untap during your next untap step, effectively increasing its cost. This could set you back in the game by disrupting your mana curve and delaying your subsequent plays.


Reasons to Include Rhonas’s Last Stand in Your Collection

Versatility: Rhonas’s Last Stand offers a swift and cost-efficient way to summon a significant threat early in the game, making it adaptable to various green-based decks, from aggressive builds to those that want to press an early advantage.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focused on creature buffs and green’s propensity for ramping, potentially enabling explosive turns where you can cast other impactful spells or overwhelm opponents with a beefed-up creature.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where early board presence is crucial, Rhonas’s Last Stand can give players a competitive edge by deploying a 5/4 Snake token early on, forcing opponents to have an immediate answer or risk falling behind.


How to beat Rhonas’s Last Stand

Rhonas’s Last Stand is a unique green sorcery spell in Magic: The Gathering that creates a powerful 5/4 Snake token with a drawback of lands not untapping during your next untap step. To navigate around this hefty green creature, consider spells that can remove it without allowing its strength to become a factor in gameplay. Removal actions like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the Snake token the moment it hits the battlefield, bypassing the untap drawback entirely.

Alternatively, countermagic such as Negate or Essence Scatter can prevent Rhonas’s Last Stand from ever resolving, keeping your opponent’s resources tied up. Board control spells like Wrath of God or Damnation, can also clear the field if the Snake has already made its appearance. Playing around the lands not untapping is also key; time your spells and actions when the opponent’s resources are low to take advantage of their temporary setback. Be mindful of their untapped mana before committing to a strategy that relies on them being tapped out.

When assessing the power of Rhonas’s Last Stand, it’s beneficial to keep a suite of answers ready in your deck. This ensures that the green sorcery doesn’t take full control of the game. With the right approach, this stand can become an opportunity for you to gain the upper hand.


Cards like Rhonas's Last Stand

Rhonas’s Last Stand is a compelling option for players looking to make a substantial impact on the battlefield early in the game. As a card that produces a sizable creature token, it draws parallels to other cards like Verdurous Gearhulk. Verdurous Gearhulk also presents an immediate threat by distributing +1/+1 counters, but comes with a higher mana cost and lacks the land restriction drawback of Rhonas’s Last Stand.

Another card worthy of comparison is Surrak, the Hunt Caller. Both cards enable a significant creature presence early on; however, Surrak offers the advantage of granting other creatures haste, potentially offering more aggressive play options. Moreover, unlike Rhonas’s Last Stand, Surrak avoids hamstringing your subsequent land untap phase.

Despite the initial land usage constraint, Rhonas’s Last Stand stands out in its own right. The low mana cost in exchange for a 5/4 creature token can be seen as a valuable trade-off, particularly in decks that aim to assert dominance quickly. This makes it a unique choice for those fine-tuning their strategies to include impactful plays in the early game stages.

Verdurous Gearhulk - MTG Card versions
Surrak, the Hunt Caller - MTG Card versions
Verdurous Gearhulk - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Surrak, the Hunt Caller - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rhonas's Last Stand MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation Promos, 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 Rhonas's Last Stand and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rhonas's Last Stand Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2017-07-15. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 1322015normalblackWinona Nelson
22017-07-15Hour of Devastation PromosPHOU 132s2015normalblackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rhonas's Last Stand has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-07-14 If more than one spell says that lands you control don’t untap during your next untap step, the effects will all wear off during that untap step. You’ll untap lands you control during your untap step after that one.
2017-07-14 No lands that you control will untap during your next untap step, even lands that aren’t tapped as this spell resolves. This includes lands that enter the battlefield after this spell resolves.

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