Pheres-Band Raiders MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Centaur Warrior |
| Abilities | Inspired |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods |
| Set code | BNG |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 133 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ryan Barger |
Text of card
Inspired — Whenever Pheres-Band Raiders becomes untapped, you may pay . If you do, put a 3/3 green Centaur enchantment creature token onto the battlefield.
"Who can deny the call to battle when it sings in our blood?"
Cards like Pheres-Band Raiders
Pheres-Band Raiders is an intriguing entry in the pantheon of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering. This card finds kinship with the likes of Wolfbriar Elemental, both being creatures that can create tokens to escalate your board presence. While Wolfbriar Elemental thrives with a mana ramp strategy, enabling a potential swarm of Wolf tokens, Pheres-Band Raiders demands a more patient six mana investment to utilize its Inspired ability to generate Satyr tokens.
There’s also Siege Behemoth, with a different angle on the token creation approach. While it doesn’t produce tokens outright, its presence guarantees your creatures can potentially deal damage as though they weren’t blocked. This mechanic doesn’t mirror the direct token production but aligns with the theme of bolstering your attacking strategy similar to Pheres-Band Raiders. Then consider Ant Queen, a creature that, like Pheres-Band Raiders, necessitates mana for each token created but does so at a variable rate contextual to the available mana.
Evaluating them side by side, Pheres-Band Raiders holds a unique spot for its ability to autonomously create tokens under the right conditions, offering a steady stream of board advantage in the right deck builds.
Cards similar to Pheres-Band Raiders by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pheres-Band Raiders, with its inspired mechanic, can generate a Centaur token each time it becomes untapped, potentially providing you with a steady stream of creature cards without expending additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: As a six-mana creature with a sizeable 5/5 body, it represents a significant presence on the battlefield that can quickly escalate your board position and pressure your opponent, fitting well into strategies that aim to ramp up their resources and overwhelm with powerful creatures.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the inspired ability of Pheres-Band Raiders indirectly promotes instant-speed interactions. It encourages you to cast spells or use abilities to untap it during an opponent’s turn, triggering its ability to create additional Centaur tokens and thus taking full advantage of the untap step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To utilize Pheres-Band Raiders in a game, you need to have a significant creature count ready to part with. This can create a setback if you’re playing with a streamlined hand and can’t afford the loss.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Pheres-Band Raiders demands a precise combination of green and other mana, which could pose a challenge in multicolored decks or those that operate on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its relatively elevated mana cost, Pheres-Band Raiders may compete with other impactful cards in your deck that could be cast sooner or offer more immediate board presence or advantage.
Reasons to Include Pheres-Band Raiders in Your Collection
Versatility: Pheres-Band Raiders offers the adaptability to fit into multiple deck archetypes, particularly those that can capitalize on its Monstrosity ability to maximize board presence.
Combo Potential: The ability to create Centaur tokens not only bolsters your creature count but can synergize with mechanics that reward you for creature generation or large number of creatures on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that encourages incremental advantages and creating multiple threats, Pheres-Band Raiders can serve as a persistent source of pressure against an opponent’s defenses.
How to beat
Pheres-Band Raiders can prove to be a formidable presence on the battlefield in MTG. This enchantment creature boasts the ability to create additional 3/3 Centaur creature tokens, escalating the threat with each passing turn. However, like any card in Magic: The Gathering, it is not without vulnerabilities. Players can counteract the Raiders effectively through sweepers like Wrath of God or Doomskar that clear the board, making it difficult for the opponent to maintain a growing army of Centaurs.
Additionally, single-target removal spells such as Murder or Heartless Act can eliminate the Raiders before the token generation becomes overwhelming. Spot removal is crucial in stopping the momentum. Enchantment disruption such as Disenchant or Feed the Swarm also provide an avenue for dealing with the Raiders directly, dismantling the opponent’s strategy and keeping the board state manageable. Managing resources wisely and having reactive spells at the ready are key to ensuring Pheres-Band Raiders does not overrun your defenses in MTG.
By anticipating this card’s impact and incorporating appropriate responses in your deck, you significantly diminish the advantage that Pheres-Band Raiders could give to an adversary. Strategic planning and a well-timed reaction can maintain an equilibrium and even turn the tides of the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pheres-Band Raiders MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Pheres-Band Raiders 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pheres-Band Raiders has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pheres-Band Raiders card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | If an inspired ability triggers during your untap step, the ability will be put on the stack at the beginning of your upkeep. If the ability creates one or more token creatures, those creatures won’t be able to attack that turn (unless they gain haste). |
| 2014-02-01 | If the inspired ability includes an optional cost, you decide whether to pay that cost as the ability resolves. You can do this even if the creature leaves the battlefield in response to the ability. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities don’t trigger when the creature enters the battlefield. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities trigger no matter how the creature becomes untapped: by the turn-based action at the beginning of the untap step or by a spell or ability. |