Rakshasa Debaser MTG Card


Rakshasa Debaser provides card advantage by repurposing opponents’ creatures to benefit your strategy. Encore ability offers a resource boost, flooding the board with tokens for potential victorious swings. High mana cost and specific requirements may limit flexibility but offer game-changing late plays.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities Encore
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Whenever Rakshasa Debaser attacks, put target creature card from defending player's graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. Encore


Cards like Rakshasa Debaser

Rakshasa Debaser offers a unique twist on creature cards in MTG with its combination of board impact and graveyard synergy. As a creature that bears comparison with the likes of Sepulchral Primordial, which also takes advantage of opponents’ creatures in graveyards, Rakshasa Debaser sets itself apart with Encore, offering a second wave of potential attacks and graveyard pilfering. Sepulchral Primordial, while it doesn’t have Encore, does instantly snatch a creature upon entering the battlefield.

Similarly, Meren of Clan Nel Toth provides an avenue for recurring graveyard value, but focuses on the player’s own graveyard and is more incremental in its approach, allowing for a creature return each turn. Meren relies on experience counters versus Rakshasa Debaser’s one-time Encore event. Furthermore, Sheoldred, Whispering One is a noteworthy comparison due to its revival ability during each upkeep; however, Sheoldred’s higher mana cost and outright destruction of opponents’ creatures paints it as a more control-oriented option than the aggressive Encore mechanic of Rakshasa Debaser.

Each card presents different strategic benefits, with Rakshasa Debaser shining in decks that thrive on commandeering opponents’ resources, providing significant advantage by leveraging an already populated graveyard.

Sepulchral Primordial - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Sepulchral Primordial - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rakshasa Debaser by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
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Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions
Toxic Nim - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Lancer - MTG Card versions
Face of Fear - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Helldozer - MTG Card versions
Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions
Toxic Nim - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the prominent features of Rakshasa Debaser is its ability to exploit creatures, effectively transforming a defeated enemy into an asset for the player. This creates substantial card advantage as it not only removes an opponent’s creature from the board but also puts it under your control.

Resource Acceleration: Every time Rakshasa Debaser attacks, you can pay mana to encore it, bringing it back from the graveyard. This provides multiple creature tokens that can overwhelm your opponent and speed up your victory, acting as a form of resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Although Rakshasa Debaser itself does not operate at instant speed, the creatures it brings back via the encore mechanic do enter the battlefield simultaneously and can potentially have instant speed effects. This enables surprise interactions during combat and can catch your opponent off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Rakshasa Debaser requires strategic hand management since it asks for a significant creature from a graveyard to encore, potentially reducing your grip on valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Rakshasa Debaser’s demand for exact mana—two black and four other—can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that can’t always guarantee the right mana combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six-mana cost for summoning, Rakshasa Debaser comes into play later in the game, which could leave you vulnerable in the early to mid-game phases against faster, more aggressive strategies.


Reasons to Include Rakshasa Debaser in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakshasa Debaser isn’t just a creature card; it embodies flexibility by offering the chance to play creatures from opponents’ graveyards. It fits well in reanimator or midrange decks, fueling strategies based on creature control and graveyard manipulation.

Combo Potential: With its Encore ability, Rakshasa Debaser can exponentially enhance your board state by bringing multiple creatures back for a single turn. This creates numerous synergies with cards that capitalize on creature deaths or enters-the-battlefield effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games extend to later turns, Rakshasa Debaser’s high impact in the late game can tilt the balance to your favor by leveraging the most powerful creatures in any graveyard.


How to Beat Rakshasa Debaser

Rakshasa Debaser emerges from the Magic: The Gathering roster as a potent force in graveyard manipulation. The card’s Encore ability can shift the tide of a match by harnessing power from the graveyard, yet it’s not unbeatable. One key strategy to counter this creature is through graveyard hate cards. By exiling cards from the graveyard, you can disrupt the engine that powers the Debaser’s Encore, preventing your opponent from capitalizing on this effect.

Another effective tactic is to keep removal spells in reserve. Whether you’re leveraging instant-speed removal to address the Debaser before it attacks or employing board wipes after the Encore has been activated, maintaining control is crucial. It’s also essential to evaluate the timing of removal, as you can prevent multiple creatures from hitting the battlefield with a well-timed spell.

Moreover, countering Rakshasa Debaser before it enters play is a preemptive strike that can save you from its debilitating abilities. Counterspells can stop the creature in its tracks, leaving your opponent with one less threat to unleash. In essence, mastering the delicate balance of when to react and with what resources could very well be the difference between victory and defeat when facing this formidable card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is as much about comprehending individual cards like Rakshasa Debaser as it is about broader deck strategies. Rakshasa Debaser can swing the momentum of a game, making it essential to grasp its synergies and potential counters. We encourage you to visit our in-depth analysis where we unpack strategies that maximize its effectiveness, explore deck builds that capitalize on its strengths, and learn how to thwart opponents relying on graveyards. Deepen your MTG knowledge, employ cunning tactics, and turn Rakshasa Debaser from just another card into a cornerstone of your victorious strategy. Dive into our resource hub for winning insights.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakshasa Debaser MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Rakshasa Debaser and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rakshasa Debaser Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Yigit Koroglu.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 859942015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6542015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1462015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakshasa Debaser has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakshasa Debaser card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-11-10 Each token must attack the appropriate player if able.
2020-11-10 Exiling the card with encore is a cost to activate the ability. Once you announce that you're activating it, no player may take actions until you've finished. They can't try to remove the card from your graveyard to stop you from paying the cost.
2020-11-10 If a creature is attacking a planeswalker, that planeswalker's controller is the defending player.
2020-11-10 If one of the tokens can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, you aren't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
2020-11-10 If one of the tokens somehow is under another player's control as the delayed triggered ability resolves, you can't sacrifice that token. It remains on the battlefield indefinitely, even if you regain control of it later.
2020-11-10 If you leave the game, all creatures owned by other players that were put onto the battlefield under your control are exiled.
2020-11-10 Opponents who have left the game aren't counted when determining how many tokens to create.
2020-11-10 The creatures put onto the battlefield by the triggered ability can't attack that combat, even if they have haste.
2020-11-10 The tokens copy only what's on the original card. Effects that modified that creature when it was previously on the battlefield won't be copied.
2023-07-28 If an effect stops a token from attacking a specific player, that token can attack any player, planeswalker, or battle, or not attack at all. If the effect stops the token from attacking a specific player unless a cost is paid, you don't have to pay that cost unless you want to attack that player.