Commando Raid MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Number	195
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Commando Raid enables deck manipulation and acts as a form of additional card draw to gain an upper hand.
Instant speed interaction allows for pivotal game control and battlefield protection during your opponent’s turn.
Despite its strategic value, a required discard and specific mana cost may limit its utility in some decks.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature you control gains "When this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature that player controls."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Commando Raid grants the ability to exile the top card of your library. If you play with a strategy that involves manipulating your deck, this can effectively function as drawing an extra card, potentially giving you an edge over your opponent

Resource Acceleration: While Commando Raid doesn’t directly generate mana or Treasure tokens, it can disrupt your opponent’s resource acceleration by dealing with threats early on. This could slow down their momentum and provide you a better position in the race of resources.

Instant Speed: The power of instant speed spells cannot be overstated in MTG. Commando Raid allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions on their turn, which can be critical for maintaining control of the game’s pace and protecting your battlefield position.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Commando Raid obligates players to discard another card as part of its casting cost. This can backfire in situations where your hand is already depleted, forcing you to lose valuable assets that could be crucial for your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s mana requirements are exclusively red which can make it challenging to integrate into multicolored decks. Players running a diverse spread of mana sources might find it difficult to accommodate such specific needs without hindering their mana base flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, including two red, Commando Raid may present a taxing demand on your mana pool. Within this mana range, numerous alternatives could provide similar or greater impact, making it essential to weigh its utility against other available options in your strategy.

Reasons to Include Commando Raid in Your Collection

Versatility: Commando Raid is a multipurpose card that can be seamlessly integrated into various deck archetypes. Its ability to manipulate combat and deal with threats makes it a valuable asset in both aggressive and control strategies alike.

Combo Potential: The card’s functionality to potentially remove a blocker or offensively eliminate an opponent’s creature highlights its utility in combo setups. Commando Raid can be a pivotal piece in strategies focusing on clearing the way for crucial attacks or aligning synergies with other removal effects.

Meta-Relevance: Staying adaptable to the ever-changing MTG landscape is crucial, and Commando Raid offers relevance in metas where creature-based strategies predominate. Its presence in your collection ensures a tactical edge in a variety of matchups, providing both proactive and reactive play options.

How to Beat Commando Raid

Commando Raid presents a cunning challenge for players navigating the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This card can disrupt strategies by forcing players to adjust their tactics mid-game. It can seem daunting at first, but with the right approach, overcoming this obstacle is possible. Employing instant-speed removal spells to target the creatures before they unleash their raid abilities minimizes the card’s impact. Consider a counterbalance approach as well; if your opponent is bent on a Commando Raid strategy, slide in some efficient counterspells or “fog” effects to neutralize the aggressive onslaught.

Adapting your play style is equally crucial. Since Commando Raid thrives on aggression, padding your strategy with life-gain components or chump blockers can help stabilize your defenses and give you the breathing room needed to turn the tide. Sweepers like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can also clear the path, rendering the raiding party useless. Lastly, adjust your deck’s mana curve to ensure you are able to cast your reactive spells when necessary, as timing is essential when facing down a Commando Raid.

Ultimately, understanding the mechanics of your opponent’s cards and weaving that awareness into your game plan can foil their offensive measures and guide you towards victory.

Cards like Commando Raid

The strategic nuances of Commando Raid reflect a unique facet of creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This spell aligns closely with cards like Skyknight Legionnaire, a creature that also brings the capability to hit the skies with haste. Nevertheless, Commando Raid distinguishes itself by providing a temporary, aggressive edge, allowing a creature to evade and strike swiftly.

Comparably, Launch the Fleet shares a kinship with raid tactics but it triggers upon attacking rather than entering the battlefield. This card scales with the number of attackers, yet the absence of the haste factor means setup is prerequisite. Another relative in this field is Goblin War Drums, which doesn’t grant haste but does instill menace across your creatures, promoting a difficult blockade for your opponents.

Evaluating the offerings, Commando Raid carves a spot in aggressive MTG decks that favor surprise maneuvers and quick combat phases. While not delivering a perpetual board presence like permanent enchantments or creatures, it’s the swift impact and tempo swing it affords that can turn the tides of battle in a player’s favor.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Commando Raid by color, type and mana cost

Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - MTG Card versions

Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions

Flames of the Blood Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Commando Raid MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Commando Raid and other MTG cards: