Moonrager's Slash MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 148
2022-01-28 - Number 148
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast if it's night. Moonrager's Slash deals 3 damage to any target.
The cathars fell like leaves as Tovolar himself joined the fray.
Cards like Moonrager's Slash
Moonrager’s Slash is a noteworthy card in the realm of direct damage spells within Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with Lightning Bolt, the quintessential damage-dealer which also inflicts three damage at a low cost. However, Moonrager’s Slash provides a twist, offering a reduced cost contingent on daybound or nightbound conditions being met. Unlike Lightning Bolt, this provides strategic depth tied to the day/night cycle.
Examining another peer, we encounter Searing Spear, which deals comparable damage. While Searing Spear maintains a consistent mana cost without the situational discount of Moonrager’s Slash, it doesn’t reward players who can manipulate the day/night mechanic to their advantage. Then comes Skewer the Critics – an option offering a reduced cost through the spectacle mechanic, yet requiring damage to be dealt to an opponent first, unlike the more flexible conditions surrounding Moonrager’s Slash.
Looking at the landscape of burn spells in the game, Moonrager’s Slash holds a unique position. Its potential for cost reduction keyed to the game’s environment dynamics makes it an interesting choice for players who can adeptly navigate the shifting day and night.
Cards similar to Moonrager's Slash by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Moonrager’s Slash stands out by offering players a chance to deal damage while potentially reducing its casting cost. This balance act allows strategic players to maintain their hand size while still interacting with the board, keeping pressure on the opponent without falling behind in resources.
Resource Acceleration: With its specific mana cost requirements, this card can cleverly accelerate your resource utilization. Should you control a werewolf or a wolf, Moonrager’s Slash’s reduced cost can free up mana for other actions within the same turn, aiding in a faster development of your game plan and board presence.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells is unmatched, and Moonrager’s Slash exemplifies this by allowing reactive gameplay. Capable of being cast during either player’s turn, it provides the tactical advantage of removing creatures on the fly or finishing off an opponent during their most vulnerable moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Moonrager’s Slash necessitates discarding a card as part of its casting cost. This could deplete your hand and potentially hinder your long-term strategy, especially if you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: The card requires one red mana to cast, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that do not prioritize red mana or run fewer red sources. Players may find this restriction limiting, affecting the card’s flexibility and overall utility in diverse decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its damage output, Moonrager’s Slash comes with a higher mana cost than some alternatives. Considering the pace of the game, there might be moments when a quicker, less costly spell could be more beneficial in responding to immediate threats or progressing your game plan effectively.
Reasons to Include Moonrager’s Slash in Your Collection
Versatility: Moonrager’s Slash offers high flexibility within various deck archetypes. As an instant, it can be a quick solution to remove creatures or even finish a game by dealing direct damage to opponents.
Combo Potential: This card can work seamlessly with spell synergy decks that amplify effects with each cast spell, or decks that trigger abilities whenever you deal damage.
Meta-Relevance: Given its efficiency in handling creature-based threats and its affordability in terms of mana cost, Moonrager’s Slash can become a staple in formats where quick and effective spells are crucial.
How to Beat
Moonrager’s Slash can be a tactician’s stumbling block in MTG, offering red deck players a swift and efficient way to deal three damage. The trick to overpowering this card comes from understanding its key constraint: it requires a player to have cast another spell beforehand to utilize its mana value reduction. Playing around this requirement can be pivotal.
One approach is to limit the quantity of spells your opponent can cast before Moonrager’s Slash. Counterspell strategies or instant removal of their key creatures can disrupt their expected flow of play. Hand disruption can also be effective; cards like Thoughtseize enable you to remove potential spell enablers before they’re cast. Alternatively, instant-speed removal can prove handy in removing creatures in response to the first spell they cast in a turn, before they have the chance to follow up with Moonrager’s Slash. This often forces them to either use it at full cost or wait for another opportunity, in both scenarios slowing them down and leaving room for counterplay.
Ultimately, the key to navigating against Moonrager’s Slash relies on strategic planning and in-game adaptability. Correctly anticipating your opposition’s spells and effectively timing your disruption ensures you thwart their burn strategy and secure the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Moonrager's Slash MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Moonrager's Slash and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Moonrager's Slash Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 148 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 148 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Moonrager's Slash has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Moonrager's Slash card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | For more information about Day and Night and the Daybound and Nightbound abilities, please see the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Mechanics atricle (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/innistrad-midnight-hunt-mechanics-2021-09-02). |
| 2021-09-24 | The phrase "if it's night" refers to the day or night designation the game can have. It does not refer to whether or not it's dark outside as you play the game. |