Raffine's Informant MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Raffine’s Informant can be pivotal in securing an edge as it allows players to surveil upon entering the battlefield. This action provides insight into upcoming draws and fuels graveyard strategies, making it a subtle yet effective means to accumulate card advantage over opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the synergy of Raffine’s Informant with graveyard mechanics can accelerate resource access. Its ability to sift through the deck enhances the consistency with which a player finds crucial land drops or ramps spells in the earlier turns of the match.

Instant Speed: Although Raffine’s Informant itself is not an instant, its low casting cost complements a strategy that holds mana open for instant speed responses. This ensures that you keep pace during the game, effectively deploying threats while remaining reactive to opponents’ moves.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Raffine’s Informant demands a card to be discarded for its exploit ability. This can result in a depleted hand, making it a risky play if you’re already short on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and black mana, Raffine’s Informant may not seamlessly fit into decks that don’t run this specific color combination, restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a creature with a modest 1/1 stat line, some players might find Raffine’s Informant’s cost-to-effect ratio less appealing, especially if the game has progressed beyond the early turns.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Raffine’s Informant proves to be a flexible card, seamlessly integrating into various strategies. Its ability to snoop and sort the top three cards of your library is a subtle yet powerful way to manipulate draws, ensuring more consistent access to your deck’s key components.

Combo Potential: With its Connive ability, this card can interact harmoniously with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or benefit from having a graveyard stocked with valuable cards. It can serve as an engine in a finely-tuned combo deck or simply improve synergy among your creatures and spells.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG arena constantly evolves, Raffine’s Informant remains relevant by providing crucial intel against an array of decks. It’s particularly adept in dealing with environments where knowledge of your next draw can make the difference between victory and defeat, making it a smart addition to stay one step ahead of the meta.

How to Beat Raffine’s Informant

Raffine’s Informant can be seen as a strategic asset in any MTG deck that operates within the realm of connive mechanics. Its synergy with other connive cards can orchestrate formidable card draws and a build-up of strength on the board. The informant operates by utilizing the connive ability, subtly empowering other creatures and sculpting a player’s hand for more tactical advantage. This synergy can significantly tip the scales in a game if left unanswered.

To counter Raffine’s Informant, one strategy involves disrupting the opponent’s board before they can leverage the connive ability to its full potential. Removal spells that can target the Informant swiftly minimize the chance of your adversary strengthening their position. Moreover, incorporating graveyard disruption can be valuable, as it prevents the opponent from regaining these cards with later game spells. It’s also essential to consider the connive mechanic’s relationship with card advantage. Employing strategies that limit an opponent’s hand size or force discards can negate the benefits conferred by Raffine’s Informant. Thus, while the card presents a subtle threat, a proactive and anticipatory approach could be key to securing victory against decks that include this nuanced card.