Rubblebelt Maaka MTG Card

Dragon's Maze (DGM)
2013-05-03 - Number 38

Rubblebelt Maaka - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)

Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
2017-03-17 - Number 109

Rubblebelt Maaka - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1044

Rubblebelt Maaka - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 121

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number MM3-109

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat
Abilities	Bloodrush
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Maaka’s bloodrush aids pressure maintenance without reducing hand advantage.
Rubblebelt’s instant speed bloodrush can decisively alter combat outcomes.
Despite mana cost and discard downside, Maaka offers substantial versatility.

Text of card

Bloodrush — , Discard Rubblebelt Maaka: Target attacking creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.

"The maaka remain loyal to us in this time of strife. We don't even have to feed them—our enemies do." —Nedja, Gruul shaman

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rubblebelt Maaka may not directly let you draw cards, using it as a creature that can be cycled for an instant buff helps to maintain pressure without losing card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The ability of Rubblebelt Maaka to provide a temporary boost on the battlefield can be an efficient way to utilize your mana, effectively accelerating your board presence instead of adding more resources.

Instant Speed: Rubblebelt Maaka’s Bloodrush ability can be activated at instant speed, offering a surprising element during combat, which you can use to turn the tide, even when it’s not your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its bloodrush ability, Rubblebelt Maaka asks you to discard the card to give another creature a temporary boost. This can be a setback in game scenarios where retaining card advantage is key and may not always justify the temporary gain in power and toughness.

Specific Mana Cost: Rubblebelt Maaka’s casting cost requires red mana, which makes it exclusive to red or multicolor decks. This restricts its utility across the diverse landscape of Magic where deck flexibility can be crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 3/3 creature, Rubblebelt Maaka’s cost-efficiency is debatable compared to other creatures in the same mana range. The mana investment versus the potential impact on the battlefield could be outweighed by alternative creatures or spells that offer more versatility or immediate board presence.

Reasons to Include Rubblebelt Maaka in Your Collection

Versatility: Rubblebelt Maaka is a flexible card that can boost any red aggressive deck. It’s a creature that can also act as an instant combat trick, giving you multiple ways to apply pressure on your opponent.

Combo Potential: This card can boost the damage of your key creatures at critical moments or help achieve surprise wins by temporarily enhancing your attackers during combat phases.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where quick, aggressive strategies prevail, Rubblebelt Maaka can play an important role by offering a cost-effective way to increase your creatures’ power on the battlefield swiftly.

How to beat

Rubblebelt Maaka poses an interesting challenge as a creature card in the Magic: The Gathering realm. Its strength lies in its Bloodrush ability, which allows you to give another attacking creature a significant boost. To tackle Rubblebelt Maaka effectively, the key is to maintain board control. Removing creatures that could be potential targets for its Bloodrush is crucial. This can be done through sweepers like Wrath of God or spot removals such as Doom Blade, depending on the scenario.

Another strategy is to counteract the surprise factor of Bloodrush by having instant-speed interaction, keeping mana open to disrupt your opponent’s combat phase. Having cards like Essence Scatter to counter creatures or Negate to deal with non-creature spells grants versatility against varied threats. It’s also beneficial to predict and play around the combat tricks inherent to the Gruul clan, to which Rubblebelt Maaka belongs.

Outpacing the aggression that Rubblebelt Maaka represents by stablilizing your life total with life gain or setting up a defense with creatures that have high toughness can also undermine the effectiveness of the Bloodrush ability. In essence, staying one step ahead of your opponent’s strategy ensures that the Maaka’s impact is minimized.

Cards like Rubblebelt Maaka

Rubblebelt Maaka stands out in the vast menagerie of creature spells in MTG. With its bloodrush ability, allowing you to discard it for a temporary boost, it shares similarities with other combat trick cards. Consider the likes of Giant Growth, a classic spell providing a similar increase in power and toughness. However, Rubblebelt Maaka has the versatility of being a creature or a combat trick, making it a dual threat in the right deck.

Another peer in this space is Titanic Growth. It offers a heftier power and toughness increase but lacks the flexibility of being an actual creature. This trade-off is meaningful, especially in game moments where board presence is as crucial as hand advantage. Rubblebelt Maaka’s ability to swing in as a creature or anonymously bolster another from your hand gives it a unique edge in combat scenarios.

Overall, while there are several spells that can provide a similar temporary boost in power and toughness, Rubblebelt Maaka’s potential to serve as an aggressive creature makes it a versatile card in MTG. Whether as part of an aggressive strategy or as a surprise combat trick, it can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Cards similar to Rubblebelt Maaka by color, type and mana cost

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Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rubblebelt Maaka MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Rubblebelt Maaka and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rubblebelt Maaka Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Eric Velhagen.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-05-03	Dragon's Maze	DGM	38	2003	Normal	Black	Eric Velhagen
2	2017-03-17	Modern Masters 2017	MM3	109	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Velhagen
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1044	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Velhagen
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	MM3-109	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Velhagen
5	2024-01-12	Ravnica Remastered	RVR	121	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Velhagen