Rackling MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Construct
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	136
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	D. Alexander Gregory

Key Takeaways

Forces opposing players into a tight corner by punishing low hand counts effectively.
Activates at instant speed providing strategic flexibility during the upkeep phase.
Serves as a crucial piece in decks revolving around discard and hand disruption.

Text of card

At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, Rackling deals X damage to that player, where X is the number of cards in his or her hand fewer than three.

"This may hurt a little."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rackling enables strategies focused on whittling down an opponent’s hand, effectively securing card advantage as each card discarded is a potential loss of resources for the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting your mana pool, Rackling can indirectly accelerate your resources by disrupting your opponent’s plays and tempo, allowing you to capitalize on their setbacks.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Rackling at instant speed offers flexibility in games. It allows a player to wait for the optimum moment before their opponent’s hand size is checked, providing a tactical edge during the upkeep phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rackling pivots around opponents discarding cards, often requiring set-up or particular deck strategies to fully utilize its capabilities. This dependency can be a drawback if your deck isn’t tailored to forcing discards or if your opponent is running a low-hand strategy where the Rackling’s effect is minimized.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Rackling demands a particular blend of mana, with generic and black resources needed. This specific mana requirement could impose constraints on deck-building, potentially clashing with multi-color deck strategies that may not always have the necessary mana available at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of three mana, Rackling’s activation might not always align with the optimal tempo of gameplay. It competes for space in the critical three-drop slot where players may prefer to field creatures with immediate board impact or defensive capabilities instead of setting up a conditional damage engine.

Reasons to Include Rackling in Your Collection

Versatility: Rackling seamlessly integrates into a range of deck archetypes, particularly those looking to utilize incremental advantage strategies. This card shines in setups that punish opponents for holding a hefty hand size, making it a flexible addition to your toolbox.

Combo Potential: Rackling excels when paired with cards that enforce hand size limits or cards that benefit from opponents discarding, enhancing strategies centered around these mechanics and paving the way for devastating combos.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames fluctuate, Rackling remains relevant in environments where countering hand-size focused strategies is critical. Its ability to slot into decks aimed at disrupting opponents’ tactics ensures it retains value across diverse competitive scenes.

How to beat

Rackling is one of those cards in MTG that can throw a wrench in a well-laid-out game plan, especially for those players who rely on maintaining a full hand. For players unfamiliar, Rackling is a unique artifact creature card known for its capability to deal damage to players based on the number of cards less than three in their hand during their upkeep. Strategies to overcome this include maintaining a hand of at least three cards or utilizing card types that can remove or neutralize artifacts and creatures effectively.

To counter the effects of Rackling, one could consider incorporating instant speed spell removal that can handle artifacts, such as Shatter or Naturalize, providing a quick and easy method to dispose of this pesky artifact creature. Moreover, including cards that either increase hand size or enable card draw, like Brainstorm or Reliquary Tower, can sustain your hand above the critical threshold, thereby negating Rackling’s punishing abilities.

While it may seem daunting at first, preparing and adjusting your deck with the right answers ensures that Rackling’s presence on the field won’t significantly hinder your strategy. Keeping tabs on both your hand size and having a few removal options up your sleeve are the keys to outplaying a Rackling defense.

Cards like Rackling

Rackling, a lesser-known card in the MTG universe, can be an unexpected game-changer in decks centered around hand disruption. While it doesn’t share the limelight like its notorious cousin, The Rack, it operates on a similar premise. The Rack excels in punishing opponents with few cards in hand, dealing damage each turn. Rackling, too, zeroes in on an opponent’s diminishing hand, but with a twist. It gives its controller the power to inflict damage equal to the number of cards fewer than three in their opponent’s hand.

Delving into further comparisons, we stumble upon Black Vise. This artifact also thrives on your opponent’s loaded hand, dealing damage in contrast to an empty grip favored by Rackling. Where Black Vise is a force against players with a bursting hand size, Rackling is their bane when they are running on empty.

Evaluating these artifacts in MTG’s extensive library, Rackling stands out among cards in the hand disruption arsenal, particularly for its unique damage-dealing condition. Although it may not be as infamous as some of its peers, it can certainly carve a niche in strategies designed to keep opponents’ hands under tight control.

Cards similar to Rackling by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rackling MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Rackling and other MTG cards: