Ranar the Ever-Watchful MTG Card


Ranar the Ever-Watchful - Kaldheim Commander
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Spirit Warrior
Abilities Flying, Vigilance
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim Commander
Set codeKHC
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number2
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKieran Yanner

Key Takeaways

  1. Ranar excels in card advantage by creating Spirit tokens through its exile-triggered ability.
  2. Encourages a control playstyle utilizing instant-speed interactions for token generation.
  3. While strong, it requires specific Azorius mana and could be costly mana-wise.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying, vigilance The first card you foretell each turn costs to foretell. Whenever you exile one or more cards from your hand and/or permanents from the battlefield, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ranar the Ever-Watchful excels at generating card advantage through its ability to create Spirit tokens whenever a card is exiled from your hand, graveyard, or battlefield. These tokens not only represent additional creatures but each is a potential card advantage on its own as they can be exchanged for other beneficial effects or pressures on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: With Ranar the Ever-Watchful at the helm of your deck, you effectively accelerate your resource pool. Each time you exile one or more cards from play, not only do you get a 1/1 flying Spirit token, but you’re also setting the stage for more mana-efficient plays in the future. It’s a perfect strategy for decks looking to outpace opponents with superior board presence and resource management.

Instant Speed: While Ranar itself may not operate at instant speed, it encourages a gameplay style that maximizes the value of instant-speed interactions. Exiling cards during an opponent’s turn not only disrupts their strategy but also awards you a Spirit token, turning each instant-speed exile effect into a dual-purpose tool for both control and board development.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Ranar the Ever-Watchful comes with a mana cost that’s specific to Azorius colors, demanding both white and blue mana which could be limiting in a multicolored deck that values mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Ranar may not always align with the mana curve you’re aiming for in faster-paced or more aggressive deck styles where lower cost commanders could be more effective.

Discard Requirement: Although Ranar doesn’t require you to discard a card directly, his associated mechanic—foretell—often involves setting aside cards for later use, which can stretch your resources thin and make it feel like you’re down a card until the investment pays off.


Reasons to Include Ranar the Ever-Watchful in Your Collection

Versatility: Ranar the Ever-Watchful offers a dynamic role in decks that focus on flicker or exile strategies. Its ability to create a 1/1 flying Spirit every time you exile one or more cards from the battlefield ensures a constant board presence.

Combo Potential: This card works beautifully with other cards that exile opponents’ resources or your own for value, like with “Ephemerate” for repeated enter-the-battlefield effects, thereby accumulating numerous Spirits swiftly.

Meta-Relevance: As the commander meta game often includes decks with tons of interaction and graveyard strategies, having a commander that thrives off exile mechanics can provide a significant edge, making it a powerful tool in your arsenal.


How to beat

Ranar the Ever-Watchful is a commander that thrives in Magic: The Gathering by creating a steady flow of Spirit tokens. This vigilant flier provides an avenue for exile strategies and can be a relentless presence on the board. To effectively counter Ranar, players need to disrupt his token generation and exile synergy. Targeted removal spells that eliminate Ranar before the tokens can be mass-produced are crucial in this scenario. Moreover, making use of graveyard-hate cards can significantly hinder Ranar’s ability to capitalize on the exile mechanic.

Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can suppress his advantages by preventing cards from reaching exile in the first place, which in turn stops Spirit tokens from spawning. Cards like Scavenging Ooze offer the dual utility of graveyard disruption and creature growth, diverting the momentum in your favor. Deploying board wipes at strategic times can also nullify the hoard of tokens and reset the state of play, though they should be used with caution to prevent self-harm. Lastly, incorporate efficient card draw to maintain pressure and resource advantage. This multi-pronged strategy will systematically dismantle the resilience of a Ranar-led deck, allowing you to stay ahead in the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re intrigued by the strategic potential of Ranar the Ever-Watchful, consider incorporating this card into your MTG collection. It’s clear Ranar favors a proactive playstyle, rewarding savvy exiles with a spectral army. Whether aiming for resource acceleration, seeking instant-speed play advantages, or expanding your collection’s versatility, Ranar offers both fun and competitive value. Embrace the nuanced foretell mechanic and capitalize on token generation to control the battlefield. Navigate the complexity of MTG with a wiser approach to your deck construction. Curious about optimizing your play with Ranar or similar exile-centric commanders? Visit us to enhance your strategy and engage with the community of fellow players.


Cards like Ranar the Ever-Watchful

Ranar the Ever-Watchful is a unique commander for MTG enthusiasts choosing to tap into the foretell mechanic. One could draw parallels with Brago, King Eternal for their shared focus on exile strategies. While Brago excels in blink tactics—exiling creatures to harness enter-the-battlefield effects—Ranar differentiates itself by rewarding players for casting from exile, providing a steady stream of Spirit tokens, an option not available with Brago.

Similarly, we can compare Ranar with Oloro, Ageless Ascetic in terms of gaining incremental advantage over time. Oloro grants life and draws cards, upping the player’s defensive game. Ranar’s approach is more tactically offensive, producing token creatures that can be used for various strategies, although it does not provide the sustained card advantage and life gain Oloro offers.

Both commanders create unique opportunities for building around, but Ranar the Ever-Watchful stands out for those who enjoy interacting with the foretell mechanic and utilizing token strategies as a path to victory. With a clever deck-building approach, Ranar can lead a controlling strategy that keeps opponents on their toes while steadily amassing an army of flying tokens.

Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - Conspiracy (CNS)
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic - Commander 2013 Oversized (OC13)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ranar the Ever-Watchful MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim Commander, 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 Ranar the Ever-Watchful and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ranar the Ever-Watchful has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ranar the Ever-Watchful card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2021-02-05 Exiling a token permanent will cause Ranar’s triggered ability to trigger, as will exiling a permanent you don’t control.
2021-02-05 Ranar’s triggered ability triggers only once for each time you exile cards from your hand and/or permanents from the battlefield, no matter how many objects were exiled at the same time.
2021-02-05 “The first card you foretell” refers to the first one you exile from your hand as part of the foretell special action. It doesn’t refer to a foretold spell you cast from exile.

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