Plague Rats MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 121
1993-10-04 - Number 122
1993-12-01 - Number 122
1993-12-10 - Number 122
1993-12-10 - Number 122
1994-04-01 - Number 123
1994-04-01 - Number 123
1994-06-21 - Number 123
1995-04-01 - Number 154
1995-04-01 - Number 154
1997-03-24 - Number 188
2022-11-28 - Number 415
2022-11-28 - Number 118
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Rat |
| Power | * |
| Toughness | * |
Text of card
The Xs below are the number of Plague Rats in play, counting both sides. Thus if there are 2 Plague Rats in play, each has power and toughness 2/2.
"Should you a Rat to madness tease Why ev'n a Rat may plague you..." —Samuel Coleridge, "Recantation"
Cards like Plague Rats
Plague Rats holds a unique place in the world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card shines in decks that revolve around sheer numbers, drawing parallels to the likes of Relentless Rats. Both cards grow stronger with every copy present on the battlefield. However, where Plague Rats requires a commitment to monoblack, Relentless Rats breaks this constraint, allowing for more flexible deck-building.
Another card that echoes this swarm strategy is Pack Rat. The ability to duplicate itself by discarding a card offers a dynamic twist, creating a formidable army as the game progresses. While it lacks the simplicity of Plague Rats, where each rat automatically amplifies the power and toughness of its kin, the tactical depth of Pack Rat gives it an edge in versatility.
Assessing these analogous cards, Plague Rats certainly earns its reputation for its straightforward and menacingly scalable nature in MTG. It is a testament to the strategic diversity offered by creature cards, each with its strengths that cater to different playstyles within the game.
Cards similar to Plague Rats by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: As you summon multiple Plague Rats, their power and toughness bolster each other, offering a cumulative advantage with each additional rat you bring onto the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although Plague Rats themselves don’t directly offer an acceleration of resources, their growing strength could pressure your opponent, indirectly speeding up the pace of the game as more creatures of the same name join the fray.
Instant Speed: While Plague Rats don’t have an instant speed ability, their usefulness grows with each rat played, presenting a progressively potent threat with every turn that passes in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Plague Rats’ effectiveness relies heavily on the number you control. Without a steady flow of these creatures in hand, its power wanes, potentially clogging your draws and diminishing your board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Each rat requires black mana. This restricts deck-building to mono-black or color-splashed systems, which might not align with broader strategies or mana-fixing capabilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite their synergetic approach, the more Plague Rats you’re aiming to deploy, the more mana you will need upfront. Other creatures at a similar cost might provide immediate benefits or have lower cumulative costs over time, increasing your deck’s efficiency.
Reasons to Include Plague Rats in Your Collection
Versatility: Plague Rats offers flexibility as it becomes more powerful with each copy you have on the battlefield. This trait allows it to fit into various strategies that focus on creature numbers or black mana-heavy decks.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy-driven decks, particularly when combined with mechanics that duplicate creatures or benefit from high creature counts. Its combo potential can be a game-changer in the right setup.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current trend towards creature-based strategies, Plague Rats can serve as a formidable force against many popular decks. Its scaling power can surprise opponents unprepared for an onslaught of identical creatures.
How to beat
Overcoming a swarm of Plague Rats in MTG can be a unique challenge given their ability to grow stronger with each additional rat on the battlefield. The key strategy is to disrupt their accumulating power. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the board and eliminate all Plague Rats in a single move, nullifying their strength in numbers.
Single-target removals, although less efficient, can work if timed correctly. Spot removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Doom Blade can keep the rat population in check. However, because Plague Rats rely on comradeship, targeting the player’s resources with land destruction or discard effects can preemptively prevent a horde of rats from ever materializing. A card like Mind Rot can erode the player’s hand, potentially discarding Plague Rats before they’re played.
Finally, utilizing creatures with protection from black, such as Knights of Stromgald, ensures your defenders stand firm against Plague Rats regardless of their numbers. Remember, staying apace with the swarm’s potential growth is crucial in maintaining control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Plague Rats MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Plague Rats 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
Printings
The Plague Rats Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 121 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 122 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 122 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 122 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 122 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 123 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 123 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 123 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 154 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 154 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 188 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 415 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Plague Rats has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |