Raging Cougar MTG Card


Raging Cougar - Portal
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat
Abilities Haste
Released1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set namePortal
Set codePOR
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number144
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTerese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

  1. Raging Cougar enhances deck tactics with the flexibility to replace itself in late-game scenarios.
  2. Its early game mana efficiency accelerates your spells, ramping up both offense and defense swiftly.
  3. Instant summoning capability of this card allows for strategic plays, keeping opponents on their toes.

Text of card

Raging Cougar is unaffected by summoning sickness.

Mountaineers quickly learn to travel with their spears always pointed up.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Raging Cougar comes equipped to not only apply early pressure to your opponent but also offers card efficiency by potentially replacing itself in your hand during the late game. It adds tactical depth to your game, ensuring you never run out of steam.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that hits the battlefield with minimal mana investment, Raging Cougar allows you to optimize your resources early on. This enables faster deployment of other spells, thereby ramping up your in-game offensive and defensive capabilities.

Instant Speed: The agile Raging Cougar can be utilized as an instant, indicating you can summon it at the last possible moment, keeping your adversaries guessing. This provides strategic flexibility, allowing you to react to the game’s flow and surprise your opponent with well-timed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing the Raging Cougar card comes with the need to discard another card. This can place players at a setback, especially if their hand is already running short on options or they are trying to maintain card advantage against their opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Raging Cougar requires a precise combination of mana colors which may not always align with the player’s mana base at crucial moments of gameplay. This can result in the card sitting idle in hand until the necessary mana is available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the mana investment required for Raging Cougar, players might find it less economical, especially when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. This can make Raging Cougar a less attractive option during deck building when considering the cost-to-effect ratio.


Reasons to Include Raging Cougar in Your Collection

Versatility: Raging Cougar is a flexible addition to decks that need a quick and efficient creature on the battlefield. Its low casting cost allows for early deployment, making it a reliable option in various game strategies.

Combo Potential: Cards with haste like Raging Cougar can synergize well in decks designed to trigger ‘at the beginning of combat’ or ‘whenever a creature attacks’ effects. This can lead to powerful interactions in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting MTG landscape, having creatures that can swiftly respond to slower control decks gives you an edge. Raging Cougar could serve as a valuable asset against pace-setting archetypes in the meta.


How to beat

Raging Cougar is among the array of creature cards that players might encounter in Magic: The Gathering. Like many creatures, it has its strengths and specific scenarios where it shines. To overcome the challenges that Raging Cougar presents, players should consider its capabilities like any other threat on the board. This often involves understanding the creature’s stats, abilities, and the mana cost associated with its deployment.

Effective strategies might include utilizing removal spells that can handle creatures at a low to moderate mana cost. Spells that can instantly destroy or exile a creature without the need to engage in combat can neutralize Raging Cougar’s impact swiftly. Enchantment-based removal or pacifism effects can also render the Cougar harmless, preventing it from attacking or blocking.

Another approach is to ensure board control through creatures with higher toughness or those which bring along beneficial effects upon entering the battlefield, maintaining advantage over creatures like Raging Cougar. Additionally, taking advantage of combat tricks and temporary stat boosts could turn the tide during crucial combat phases, preserving your board presence while managing potential threats efficiently.


Cards like Raging Cougar

The Raging Cougar card is an intriguing presence among creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. When considering its place in the ecosystem of similar cards, one can’t help but compare it to cards like Savannah Lions. Both creatures boast an aggressive stance for an early play with Savannah Lions offering a 2/1 creature for just one white mana. However, Raging Cougar typically offers a more flexible color commitment, allowing it to fit into a wider variety of decks.

Another comparable card is Goblin Guide, a hasty two-power creature that leads aggressive red decks. While Goblin Guide can deal damage faster due to haste, Raging Cougar offers a steadier approach to combat with potential long-term benefits. In addition to these, cards like Kird Ape also share a resemblance with the potential to be 2/3 for one mana if you control a Forest, urging players to weigh their mana base choices conscientiously.

Comparatively, Raging Cougar adds a robust option for players who seek a balance between early-game pressure and mana adaptability. Drawing distinctions between these cards helps MTG players make informed decisions, considering the impact of each creature’s strength and synergy within their respective decks.

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Kird Ape - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Goblin Guide - Grand Prix Promos (PGPX)
Kird Ape - Arabian Nights (ARN)

Cards similar to Raging Cougar by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Raging Cougar MTG card by a specific set like Portal, 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 Raging Cougar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Raging Cougar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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