Graf Reaver MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 115
2021-11-19 - Number 371
2022-01-28 - Number 382
2002-06-24 - Number 95333
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Warrior |
| Abilities | Exploit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Graf Reaver enables card advantage by drawing when exploiting a creature, bolstering strategic options.
- Pressures opponents early on, pacing gameplay favorably and amplifying your deck’s tempo.
- Demands a discard for its Exploit effect, which may impact hand resources detrimentally.
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Graf Reaver exploits a creature, destroy target planeswalker. At the beginning of your upkeep, Graf Reaver deals 1 damage to you.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Graf Reaver presents a unique opportunity for card advantage in gameplay. When it exploits another creature, it allows you to draw a card, giving you more options and a better chance to respond to your opponent’s moves.
Resource Acceleration: Graf Reaver may not directly accelerate your mana resources, but it plays a crucial role in pacing the game. By providing a sizeable body early on, it can put pressure on opponents and force reactions, effectively dictating the tempo and indirectly impacting resource deployment in your favor.
Instant Speed: While Graf Reaver itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its contribution to your deck’s strategy complements instant-speed interactions. Its exploit mechanic enables it to synergize adeptly with instant-speed removal spells, thereby creating efficient turn sequences and interaction with your opponent’s threats on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Graf Reaver demands a card be discarded to exploit its Exploit ability, potentially straining your hand especially when trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires one black and two other mana to cast. This makes it less flexible and might not be as seamlessly integrated into multicolor decks that are already struggling with a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Graf Reaver competes with other impactful three-mana creatures and spells. In some decks, the cost might outweigh the initial benefits provided by this card, especially if the Exploit feature is not utilized effectively or if faster-paced strategies are preferred.
Reasons to Include Graf Reaver in Your Collection
Versatility: Graf Reaver fits seamlessly into various deck archetypes within MTG, particularly those that utilize exploit mechanics or need flexible removal options. Its ability to function as both an aggressive creature and an enchantment removal on entry makes it a multifaceted asset.
Combo Potential: In decks that emphasize sacrificing creatures for value, Graf Reaver can be a key piece. Its exploit ability pairs well with strategies that recycle creatures from the graveyard or generate additional benefits from creature death.
Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting MTG meta, Graf Reaver remains relevant by countering popular enchantments and providing a sturdy presence on the board. This card can adapt to control, midrange, and aggressive strategies, keeping your deck competitive.
How to beat Graf Reaver
Graf Reaver is a formidable presence in Magic: The Gathering, offering an aggressive early game option for black decks with its exploit ability, which can disrupt the opponent’s board when it enters the battlefield. To counteract Graf Reaver effectively, consider using removal spells that can target it before its exploit ability triggers or after it’s already on the battlefield. Instant-speed removal like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can be particularly efficient against it, ensuring they can’t take advantage of the exploit mechanic or attack.
Additionally, because Graf Reaver punishes players for playing noncreature spells with its Planeswalker damage ability, running a creature-heavy strategy can be a good way to circumvent this downside. Focusing on creatures that can trade with Graf Reaver or outvalue it over time, such as Thragtusk or Baneslayer Angel, can tip the scales in your favor. Keeping a robust board state can mitigate the impact of the exploit and keep you ahead even if Graf Reaver does manage to get its trigger.
In essence, having a clear strategy to handle disruptive creatures like Graf Reaver is crucial. Thoughtful planning and timely removal can ensure that this potent zombie warrior doesn’t overrun the game.
Cards like Graf Reaver
Graf Reaver joins the lineup of black creatures in Magic: The Gathering with a deadly twist. Its closest kin in functionality would be Plaguecrafter, which similarly forces each player to sacrifice a creature or planeswalker. Graf Reaver, however, brings versatility to the table with its Exploit ability, allowing you to sacrifice another creature to destroy target planeswalker upon its entry to the battlefield. This offers strategic advantages, especially in a deck focused on creature control.
Fiend Artisan is another comparable card, growing stronger for each creature card in your graveyard, just as Graf Reaver thrives on being an aggressor in the realm of black creatures with Exploit. While Fiend Artisan offers a toolbox capability, fetching creatures from your deck, Graf Reaver provides immediate board impact by potentially clearing out a problematic planeswalker. Additionally, Ravenous Chupacabra is a noteworthy mention; although it doesn’t put pressure on planeswalkers, it still remains an unyielding removal option against creatures that Graf Reaver might not readily address without the Exploit sacrifice.
Examining Graf Reaver alongside its peers, it stands out as a valuable component in MTG decks that capitalize on sacrifice for gain, and planeswalker elimination. Its dual nature in the creature lineup showcases black’s intrinsic sacrifice and control dynamics.
Cards similar to Graf Reaver by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Graf Reaver MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Graf Reaver 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 Magic products
Printings
The Graf Reaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 95333 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 115 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall | |
| 3 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 371 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall | |
| 4 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 382 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Graf Reaver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
