Frenzied Raider MTG Card
2021-02-05 - Number 137
2021-02-05 - Number 34
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Demon Berserker |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Its progressive power boost through boast abilities offers a sustainable offensive strategy in game play.
- Demands mana investment and deck building around the red mana and boast mechanics for optimization.
- Strategically valuable, it challenges opponents to react or face an increasingly dangerous creature.
Text of card
Whenever you activate a boast ability, put a +1/+1 counter on Frenzied Raider.
"Arrogant maggot. You won't be so proud when I rip out your tongue and drink from your skull!"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Frenzied Raider may not draw you cards directly, but by consistently growing its power with each boast ability activated, it becomes a formidable threat that requires an answer. Over time, this relentless pressure can lead to your opponent expending more resources to deal with it, tilting the card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Frenzied Raider itself doesn’t produce additional mana or treasure, its ability to become increasingly powerful without additional mana investment can accelerate your board state. This allows you to allocate resources elsewhere, effectively streamlining your strategy and applying constant pressure.
Instant Speed: Frenzied Raider operates at the speed of your combat phase. Although not at instant speed, its interaction with boast abilities—often triggered during combat—allows for immediate and potentially unexpected buffs. This enhances strategic flexibility by giving you the chance to adapt to combat as it unfolds, catching an opponent off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Frenzied Raider can compel players to discard valuable hand cards to trigger its abilities, which may not be ideal during critical gameplay moments where hand advantage is key.
Specific Mana Cost: With its requirement of red mana for casting, Frenzied Raider is constrained to decks that can reliably produce this color, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color or certain archetype decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to get Frenzied Raider on the field can be significant, particularly when weighed against other creatures that provide similar or greater impact for the same or lower cost.
Reasons to Include Frenzied Raider in Your Collection
Versatility: Frenzied Raider is a dynamic addition to any aggressive deck looking for a reliable creature. Its ability to grow with each boast ability activated allows it to scale in power throughout the game.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes effectively with decks that emphasize the boast mechanic, turning every boast activation into not just its intended effect but also a built-in power and toughness booster.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where the pace can be swift and early advantages are key, Frenzied Raider keeps up by complementing your strategies. Particularly in environments that encourage fast-paced play and aggro tactics, Frenzied Raider stands ready to escalate in threat with each boastful turn.
How to beat
Confronting the Frenzied Raider on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering calls for clever tactics. This card thrives in an environment rich with boast abilities, gaining +1/+1 counters each time you activate them. To counteract this growth, disrupting your opponent’s combat phase is a strategic move. Using instant spells that either tap creatures or outright remove them before they can boast might hamper the Raider’s momentum.
Furthermore, keeping an eye on the board state to prevent the Raider from becoming an unstoppable force is key. Implementing early-game removal spells can effectively deal with the Raider before it gets out of hand. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push are good examples of efficient removal that work before the Raider gets too large to handle with such direct removal.
It’s also worth considering the balance of your own creatures on the board. Maintaining blockers with enough toughness to withstand the Raider’s attacks can deter an opponent from attacking and boasting altogether. Ultimately, thwarting the Raider’s growth and taking advantage of moments when your opponent’s guard is down will go a long way in defeating this threat.
Cards like Frenzied Raider
Frenzied Raider finds its niche comfortably among creature cards that flourish as you activate their boast abilities. Just like the Renowned Weaponsmith, which provides a boon to artifact accessibility, the Frenzied Raider enhances your board state with each successful boast. Unlike the Weaponsmith, Raider is aggressive in nature, growing in threat with each boast performed, adding an extra layer of strategy.
Comparatively, Dragonkin Berserker stands out as well. It shares the boast synergy but displays its power by reducing the cost of Dragon creature spells which is a different take on using the boast mechanic to solidify your board presence. Frenzied Raider doesn’t reduce casting costs, but rather, it empowers itself directly, becoming a more formidable creature over time.
Additionally, the Anax, Hardened in the Forge echoes the theme of empowerment through player actions, flourishing whenever a nontoken creature you control dies. This dynamic is different yet complementary to Frenzied Raider’s mechanics, giving you another avenue for building a potent contingent of warriors that can be exceptionally beneficial in the right deck.
In evaluating these cards, Frenzied Raider holds a unique position enabling dynamic interactions and progressive threat escalation for players who enjoy an assertive combat strategy in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Frenzied Raider by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Frenzied Raider MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim and Kaldheim Art Series, 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 Raider 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 Frenzied Raider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Lius Lasahido.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 137 | 2015 | normal | black | Lius Lasahido | |
| 2 | Kaldheim Art Series | AKHM | 34 | 2015 | art_series | borderless | Lius Lasahido |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Frenzied Raider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Frenzied Raider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-02-05 | Frenzied Raider’s triggered ability will resolve before the boast ability that caused it to trigger. |
