Frenzied Raptor MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 146
2019-11-07 - Number 937
2020-04-24 - Number 120
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-146
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- The Raptor facilitates indirect card advantage through opponent resource depletion, enhancing battlefield dominance.
- Efficient mana cost ensures quick deployment, making way for strategic plays and mana availability for other actions.
- Pairs well with instant-speed spells to keep opponents on their toes, enabling a flexible and reactive gameplay style.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Frenzied Raptor, you get a resilient aggressive creature that can help you maintain pressure on the board. It might not directly offer card draw, but it can demand multiple resources from your opponent to handle it, indirectly contributing to card advantage through resource attrition.
Resource Acceleration: Frenzied Raptor’s cost-efficiency for its size allows for a swift deployment on the battlefield. This aspect can lead to a resource advantage as it frees up mana for you to cast additional spells in a turn or keep mana open for other crucial plays.
Instant Speed: While Frenzied Raptor isn’t an instant-speed spell itself, its presence at three mana can synergize well with instant-speed interaction in your deck. You can establish a threat and still have mana available for instant-speed responses during your opponent’s turn, keeping you flexible and unpredictable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Frenzied Raptor does not have an inherent discard requirement, but it may indirectly lead to card disadvantage if it requires additional cards to be effective, such as buffs or combat tricks to justify its slot over more efficient creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Frenzied Raptor is set at two colorless and one red mana. While this is not overly restrictive, it does mean the card is orchestrated for red-focused or red-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color strategies not prioritizing red.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 4/2 creature, Frenzied Raptor’s cost-efficiency is debatable. Equivalent mana can summon creatures with additional abilities or higher toughness, which might offer a greater return on investment, making the Raptor a less attractive option in some deck builds.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Frenzied Raptor can effortlessly slide into multiple deck archetypes within the red color spectrum, serving as a reliable creature for aggressive strategies that aim to deal damage fast. Its adaptability is key for those looking to bolster their creature lineup.
Combo Potential: This card’s raw power benefits from synergies with buffs and enhancing spells, adding significant value in combos that exploit creature size. As a dinosaur, it also opens up tribal interactions that are perfect for players building around that theme.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature aggression is pivotal, Frenzied Raptor’s presence as a solid mid-game threat can apply the necessary pressure to outpace opponents, making it a pertinent addition in matches against control-heavy decks.
How to beat
Frenzied Raptor, a soaring threat in MTG, presents an aggressive challenge with its strong power level when used efficiently. To triumph over this formidable dinosaur, it’s essential to employ strategies that can remove or neutralize it quickly. Removal spells like Murder or Fatal Push, which can dispatch creatures outright, are prime examples of effective countermeasures. Similarly, cards featuring the “deathtouch” ability pose a deadly threat to Frenzied Raptor, ensuring it is eliminated in combat regardless of its power.
Another tactic involves outracing your opponent with faster or more cost-effective creatures so that the pressure applied by the raptor is diminished in comparison. Moreover, control decks that employ board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can clear the board of not just the raptor but any accompanying threats as well. By maintaining a balanced combination of removal, combat tricks, and timely pressure, players can effectively mitigate the impact of the Frenzied Raptor and maintain superiority on the battlefield.
In the realm of combat strategy, it’s also beneficial to block the Frenzied Raptor with creatures that can survive the encounter or are expendable, thereby conserving your life total while diminishing your opponent’s offensive momentum. Subsequently, by meticulously assessing when to remove, when to block, or when to challenge it on the offense, players are well-equipped to handle this predatory challenge in their matches.
Cards like Frenzied Raptor
Frenzied Raptor holds its own in the tribe of formidable creatures within MTG. It’s often compared to other dinosaurs like the Charging Monstrosaur, which has a similar power level and attack-triggered abilities. However, the Frenzied Raptor stands out due to its cost-effectiveness, making it a more accessible option for casting formidable creatures early in the game.
Shifting our attention to Thraben Foulbloods, another creature that becomes more powerful as the game progresses. This card gains additional strength during the later stages, while the Frenzied Raptor starts off with a consistent threat level from the moment it hits the battlefield. On another scale, we have the Raptor Companion, which brings early game aggression being a low-cost creature, yet the Frenzied Raptor’s higher toughness gives it an edge in surviving longer through the fray.
Taking all things into consideration, the Frenzied Raptor is a splendid choice for players building a deck focused on maintaining early-game pressure. Its balance between power, toughness, and casting cost makes it a stalwart contender amongst similar MTG creatures.
Cards similar to Frenzied Raptor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Frenzied Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Frenzied Raptor and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Frenzied Raptor Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 937 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonathan Kuo | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | XLN-146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Frenzied Raptor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
