Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 315
2021-06-18 - Number 138
2021-06-19 - Number 138s
2023-04-21 - Number 151
2023-04-21 - Number 151z
2023-04-21 - Number 21
2023-04-21 - Number 86
2002-06-24 - Number 91273
2002-06-24 - Number 99679
2023-04-21 - Number 74
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Monkey Pirate |
| Abilities | Dash,Treasure |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Ragavan excels in stealing cards and creating Treasure tokens, offering both advantage and ramp.
- While potent, Ragavan demands careful mana and hand management for maximum effectiveness.
- Its versatility and combo potential make Ragavan a must-have in diverse MTG decks.
Text of card
Whenever Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token and exile the top card of that player's library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card. Dash (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer excels in pilfering extra cards from your opponent’s deck. Each successful attack with Ragavan provides an opportunity to exile the top card of an opponent’s library, which you can then cast, giving you access to additional resources and potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Ragavan’s ability to create Treasure tokens not only ramps your mana but also offers flexibility in your plays. Whether you’re accelerating out high-impact spells ahead of curve or utilizing different colors of mana, these tokens can be critical in gaining the upper hand.
Instant Speed: With Dash, Ragavan can be cast at instant speed, allowing you to keep your mana options open until you’re certain it’s the right time to strike. This flexibility in timing is invaluable, as it puts your opponent in a difficult position, forcing them to consider Ragavan’s impact whenever they see untapped mana.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer doesn’t require a card to be discarded directly, generating value from the card effectively demands careful hand management to make use of the treasures and exile ability. Falling short on this can turn a potential advantage into a cumbersome task.
Specific Mana Cost: Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, as a Mono-Red creature, demands a specific red mana cost. This requirement could restrict the nimble monkey pirate’s inclusion to mostly red or red-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the broader spectrum of MTG archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to competitive play, the single red mana for a 2/1 might seem fair, but in a format with quickly escalating threats, investing your mana into a creature that can be easily removed can set you back in the race for board presence against decks with more cost-effective creatures or removals.
Reasons to Include Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer in Your Collection
Versatility: Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer has become a staple in numerous deck archetypes ranging from aggressive red builds to more control-oriented strategies. Its ability to provide additional resources by exiling the top card of an opponent’s library and potentially casting it makes Ragavan incredibly adaptable to various game situations.
Combo Potential: This mischievous monkey pirate is not just a standalone threat but can be a key component in combos. Its Dash mechanic allows for repeatable opportunities to trigger enter-the-battlefield effects or synergize with cards that benefit from creatures attacking each turn.
Meta-Relevance: In the evolving tournament scene, Ragavan maintains a high level of competitiveness. Its early presence can pressure opponents, disrupt their strategy, and the Treasure tokens it generates can accelerate you into powerful mid-game plays, keeping the card relevant in a wide range of match-ups.
How to Beat Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is an iconic card known for its ability to disrupt games early on with its combination of treasure creation and card theft. Addressing this pesky monkey requires a strategy that can handle both its evasive power and the card advantage it provides. Efficient removal is key – think of instant-speed spells that can take it out before it connects, like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt. Counterplay such as flash creatures that can block and trade with Ragavan also work well.
Deck adjustments might be necessary for those playing against Ragavan frequently. One could include cheap interaction spells or creatures that can be played early, ensuring you’re never left without a response. Cards that prevent your opponent from attacking or strip Ragavan from their hand before they have the chance to cast it, such as Thoughtseize, are also effective. Alternatively, employing robust board control strategies that consistently remove creatures can stifle the card’s impact.
Ultimately, the goal is to negate Ragavan’s advantages and adapt your tactics so you’re always one step ahead of the monkey’s shenanigans. By including swift answers and maintaining a proactive stance, the disruption Ragavan aims to create can be turned into a disadvantage for your opponent.
Cards like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer has etched a name for itself among red creature cards in Magic the Gathering. It sparks comparison with other noteworthy creatures like Goblin Guide for its potential to disrupt the early game. Though both are exceptional for their low mana costs and their capacity to deal quick damage, Ragavan offers the unique ability to not only hit opponent but to also create treasures and provide card advantage.
Another card that comes to mind is Robber of the Rich, which echoes Ragavan’s penchant for thievery and yielding benefit from enemy decks. While the Robber can provide direct access to the pilfered cards, it requires attacking with a group and is contingent on having fewer cards in hand. On the other hand, Ragavan’s ability can be triggered with any damage to a player and offers a more robust mana advantage through Treasure tokens.
Despite the competition, Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer holds a special place, balancing its aggressive stats with a form of card and mana advantage rarely seen in red creatures. Its versatility and power level make it a standout card, evident in its widespread popularity and usage across various MTG formats.
Cards similar to Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer 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 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 91273 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | ||
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 99679 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | ||
| 3 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 315 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Zoltan Boros | |
| 4 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 138 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 5 | 2021-06-19 | Modern Horizons 2 Promos | PMH2 | 138s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 6 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 7 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 151z | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 8 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 21 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 9 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 74 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 10 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Banned |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose dash cost was paid, the copy won't have haste and won't be returned to its owner's hand. |
| 2021-06-18 | If you choose to pay the dash cost rather than the mana cost, you're still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its dash cost only when you otherwise could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty. |
| 2021-06-18 | If you pay the dash cost to cast a creature spell, that card will be returned to its owner's hand only if it's still on the battlefield when its triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is. |
| 2021-06-18 | You don't have to attack with the creature with dash unless another ability says you do. |
| 2021-06-18 | You must still follow all timing restrictions and pay all costs when casting the exiled card. If you exile a land card, you can't play that card. |
| 2021-06-18 | You'll create a Treasure token even if that player has no cards left in their library to exile. |
