Reave Soul MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Reave Soul provides card advantage by disrupting opponent strategies with a cost-efficient removal.
  2. It enhances resource acceleration, facilitating gameplay while integrating into various tactics.
  3. Despite its utility, Reave Soul’s limitations include a lack of versatility compared to some alternatives.

Text of card

Destroy target creature with power 3 or less.

"I was not convinced you had a soul until I saw it for myself." —Liliana Vess


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reave Soul helps ensure you maintain control over the battlefield by eliminating an opponent’s creature, potentially disrupting their strategies and creating a one-for-one trade that keeps your hand robust in prolonged games.

Resource Acceleration: By removing a key threat for only two mana, Reave Soul allows you to effectively manage your resources. This efficiency enables you to accelerate your game plan by spending mana on further developments or holding it back for reactive plays.

Instant Speed: While Reave Soul operates at sorcery speed, its low casting cost compliments a strategy that values maximizing mana each turn. This allows for a smooth flow of play and integration with your overall tactical approach, providing a solid removal option without the need to keep mana open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some removal spells that offer additional benefits, Reave Soul lacks any upside once it resolves. This purely reactive nature could leave you at a disadvantage against decks with rapid recovery.

Specific Mana Cost: Reave Soul’s black mana cost means it might not seamlessly fit into all decks, particularly those with a tight mana base or multicolored strategies that don’t favor black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana for a removal spell isn’t outlandish, in a game where efficiency is key, other low-cost removal spells might provide more versatility or target creatures regardless of power, making them more appealing options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Reave Soul scales well throughout the game stages. Its ability to tackle creatures with a power of 3 or less across various matchups makes it a flexible removal option in draft or budget-conscious desks.

Combo Potential: When combined with cards that benefit from creature deaths, like those with Prowess or die triggers, Reave Soul can become a key element in setting off a chain reaction of beneficial effects on your side of the field.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies often populate player decks, having efficient removal like Reave Soul becomes crucial. It manages to hold its ground in a dynamic meta, addressing multiple threats at a low mana cost.


How to beat

The efficacy of Reave Soul in MTG play is notable, with its low-cost ability to neutralize threats by destroying a creature with power 3 or less. However, this card can be outmaneuvered by employing larger creatures that are out of Reave Soul’s reach due to their greater power, thus rendering Reave Soul ineffective.

In the battle against Reave Soul, consider utilizing creatures with abilities that trigger upon the creature’s death. This could turn a potential setback into a tactical advantage that compensates for the loss. Additionally, instant-speed spells or abilities that can boost a creature’s power beyond the threshold mid-combat can surprise an opponent relying on Reave Soul as a removal tool, thus maintaining your board presence.

Flexibility in deck construction and strategy adjustment can help navigate around obstacles like Reave Soul. In conclusion, though Reave Soul is a tool for removing early-game creatures, its limitations can be exploited, ensuring that your powerful creatures and strategic plays help you maintain the upper hand.


Cards like Reave Soul

Reave Soul holds its own in the realm of creature removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with other removal options like Murder, which also destroys a targeted creature but without the power limitation. Reave Soul has the upper hand in mana efficiency, costing only two mana compared to Murder’s three. However, Murder’s ability to target creatures of any size gives it a more universal application.

Another card to consider is Doom Blade, a long-standing favorite among players for its cost-effective nature and instant speed. Unlike Reave Soul, Doom Blade can dispatch creatures of any power as long as they’re not black. Although Reave Soul is less versatile, its lower mana cost makes it a viable option in decks that prioritize an early game presence.

In essence, while evaluating removal spells, Reave Soul stands out for early game control strategies, offering a cost-effective solution for limiting opponent’s threats. Its significance in MTG is underlined by its specificity and role in curbing the potential of low-power, high-impact creatures on the battlefield.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Reave Soul by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Demonic Tutor - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Binding - Renaissance (REN)
Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dry Spell - Portal (POR)
Hymn to Tourach - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mind Knives - Portal (POR)
Shattered Crypt - Weatherlight (WTH)
Disturbed Burial - Tempest (TMP)
Death Stroke - Stronghold (STH)
Exhume - Jumpstart (JMP)
Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Diabolic Intent - Planeshift (PLS)
Decompose - Odyssey (ODY)
Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Walk the Plank - The List (PLST)
Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nausea - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hunger of the Nim - Darksteel (DST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reave Soul MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Iconic Masters, 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 Reave Soul and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Reave Soul Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 1152015normalblackDavid Palumbo
22017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1042015normalblackDavid Palumbo
32019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 1032015normalblackNaomi Baker
42022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4592015normalblackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reave Soul has restrictions

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

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