Pit Raptor MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Bird Mercenary |
| Abilities | First strike,Flying |
| Released | 2000-06-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Prophecy |
| Set code | PCY |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 72 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Thomas Gianni |
Text of card
Flying, first strike At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Pit Raptor unless you pay o Bo B.
Cards like Pit Raptor
Pit Raptor stands out amongst flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering due to its unique combination of power, cost, and downside. With a solid power of 4, it promises significant aerial damage. In comparison, creatures like Sky Knight Legionnaire also offer flying capabilities, but with a balanced power and toughness of 2/2, they don’t pack the same punch. However, the Legionnaire doesn’t come with a penalty, distinguishing it from Pit Raptor’s significant life payment.
Gliding Licid offers a different form of tactical flexibility. While its initial stats are unimpressive, it can attach itself to other creatures, granting them the ability of flight. Unlike Pit Raptor, Gliding Licid becomes an enhancement rather than just a standalone threat, providing players a strategic advantage. Finally, there’s Vampire Nighthawk, another flier with a power of 2 with the added benefits of lifelink and deathtouch, contributing to both player’s defenses and offensive strategies without the burden of a life payment that comes with deploying Pit Raptor.
Assessing the balancing act of power, cost, and additional abilities, Pit Raptor fits into a niche role where raw power in the skies is needed at a potential life cost, offering a high-risk, high-reward gameplay for MTG enthusiasts.
Cards similar to Pit Raptor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Pit Raptor doesn’t directly let you draw cards, its flying ability means it often survives longer in battle, effectively keeping a card on the board and forcing opponents to deal with it, costing them resources in return.
Resource Acceleration: Although Pit Raptor isn’t designed for mana ramping, its merits lie in providing you with a potent attacker or blocker early on, particularly if you’ve got the means to manage its upkeep cost. This can pressure your opponent and keep you ahead on board presence.
Instant Speed: Pit Raptor itself may not be an instant, but its mere presence influences how and when an opponent might use their instant actions. An active Pit Raptor can deter an opponent from casting spells at a less optimal time, aiming to avoid its formidable 3/3 presence in the air.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Pit Raptor comes with a steep price of having to discard a card from your hand. This additional cost can hinder your gameplay, especially if you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost requires two black mana, which can be restrictive. Players running multi-colored decks might find it challenging to meet this requirement consistently, potentially reducing the card’s playability in diverse deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to summon Pit Raptor is considerable. For the same cost, players might be able to cast spells or summon creatures with a more impactful presence or abilities that provide a greater strategic advantage during the game.
Reasons to Include Pit Raptor in Your Collection
Versatility: Pit Raptor offers unique flexibility in deck building. Its flying ability makes it an evasive threat in any game, allowing it to fit into various archetypes that leverage flying creatures.
Combo Potential: As a creature with an impactful evasion ability, Pit Raptor works well with cards and strategies that reward players for dealing combat damage or having fliers. It can be combined with numerous buffs, equipment, and auras to capitalize on its flying strength.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that heavily revolves around ground creatures and combat, Pit Raptor shines by being able to avoid these confrontations. If aerial supremacy becomes a key factor in the current meta, having Pit Raptor could provide a consistent upper hand.
How to beat
Pit Raptor presents a unique challenge due to its Shadow ability, allowing it to attack and block only creatures with Shadow. Despite its evasion, there are strategic ways to handle this flying menace efficiently. The key lies in versatile removal cards that don’t specify targeting only creatures without Shadow. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can eliminate Pit Raptor before it becomes a thorn in your side throughout the game.
Another effective strategy involves the use of board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation. These spells don’t discriminate based on abilities or types, leveling the playing field and removing Pit Raptor along with other threats your opponent controls. It’s important to time these spells well, ensuring the removal of Pit Raptor is pivotal to your victory.
In summary, while Pit Raptor can be a difficult creature to engage in combat due to its Shadow ability, there are numerous removal options available. Implementing these tools at the right moment can tilt the game in your favor, demonstrating that even elusive creatures have their weaknesses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pit Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Pit Raptor 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 Pit Raptor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |