Murderous Redcap Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	80
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Persist ability of this avatar promises card advantage through repeated battlefield entries and impacts.
Its synergy with +1/+1 counters and instant speed interactions accelerates resources and strategic depth.
Despite mana constraints, this card’s versatility and combo potential make it a savvy collection choice.

Text of card

Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control with a counter on it, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Murderous Redcap Avatar’s persist ability provides potential card advantage. When it returns to the battlefield, it can destroy another creature or finish off an injured opponent, thereby possibly removing two threats with just one card.

Resource Acceleration: When combined with effects that increase +1/+1 counters, this avatar facilitates resource acceleration by repeatedly exploiting its enter-the-battlefield ability, essentially allowing you to access its damage-dealing effect without investing additional cards.

Instant Speed: While this avatar itself does not operate at instant speed, its synergy with instant speed interactions is noteworthy. For instance, using sacrifice outlets or instant-speed spells that interact with creature death triggers can create immediate impact, aligning well with fast-paced game strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For those looking to add the Murderous Redcap Avatar to their deck, it’s important to note that while it doesn’t have a traditional discard requirement, utilizing its persist ability effectively may mean losing other valuable creatures on the board. This can be especially challenging when you’re trying to maintain a presence and control the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost includes both red and black mana, which necessitates a commitment to a dual-color mana base. This can make the card less flexible and harder to cast on curve, especially in decks that want to focus on a single color or have a strict color pie strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The hybrid mana cost of four—comprised of two generic and a mixture of red and black—can be steep for the given stats and ability. In an environment where efficient mana usage is key, there are creatures with lower mana costs and similar or better abilities that might fit better in a tightly tuned aggressive or combo strategy.

Reasons to Include Murderous Redcap Avatar in Your Collection

Versatility: Murderous Redcap Avatar offers a flexible choice for various deck builds due to its ability to act as both a menace in aggression-oriented strategies and a defensive role in control setups. Its persistent nature also allows it to recur, proving its worth in a range of situations.

Combo Potential: This avatar thrives in tandem with sacrificial synergies and cards that manipulate +1/+1 counters, often leading to infinite damage combos under the right conditions. Its presence increases the threat density of any deck it joins.

Meta-Relevance: As the competitive scene shifts, having a card that can effectively remove problematic creatures while also providing value upon death is critical. Murderous Redcap Avatar keeps pace with the meta, countering decks that rely heavily on creature-based strategies.

How to beat

Encountering a Murderous Redcap Avatar in MTG can be a tricky obstacle on the battlefield. This particular card is valued for its persist ability, causing it to return to play with a minus one counter after it dies. This makes the Avatar a resilient opponent. However, even the most formidable cards have their weaknesses, and understanding these is key to victory.

To effectively neutralize the Murderous Redcap Avatar, consider employing cards that prevent the triggering of its persist ability. Utilizing instant-speed removal that exiles or provides a solution to the minus counters can thwart the Avatar’s recurrent nature. Moreover, leveraging cards that inhibit abilities or applying strategic blocks to reduce the impact of its entry damage can also be pivotal in taking the upper hand. Watch for timing and manage your resources wisely; the right play at the right time could mean the difference between succumbing to its power or overcoming the challenge it presents. Ultimately, preparation and adapting your strategy to address the unique mechanics of the Avatar will lead you to success in this magic duel.

Bearing in mind the aforementioned tactics, any MTG player can turn the tides of the game. Recognizing your opponent’s strengths as well as your own within your deck will guide you in making decisions to consistently beat the Murderous Redcap Avatar. Stand your ground, deploy smart moves, and the victory could be yours.

Cards like Murderous Redcap Avatar

The allure of the Murderous Redcap avatar card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering lies in its unique combination of damage delivery and resilience. It shares similarities with other persistent threats like Kitchen Finks, which also makes use of the persist mechanic to return to the battlefield upon death. However, instead of providing a life gain benefit like Kitchen Finks, the Murderous Redcap inflicts direct damage to any target – a distinct tactical advantage for players seeking to reduce an opponent’s life total or control the board.

Another card worth mentioning is the well-known Geralf’s Messenger. It bears the undying ability, offering a counterpoint to Murderous Redcap’s persist. Upon returning, it adds a +1/+1 counter and drains life from the opponent, aligning with the Redcap’s direct offensive strategy but differing in the method of recursion and impact on the board state.

Evaluating the tactical applications of Murderous Redcap and its kindred underlines how certain cards in Magic: The Gathering can reflect varying strategies while retaining a core theme of resilience and impact. Players fond of iterative strategies will find that the Redcap, with its direct damage and tenacity, fits seamlessly into decks built around such enduring tactics.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Murderous Redcap Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, 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 Murderous Redcap Avatar and other MTG cards: