Rakshasa Gravecaller MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Demon |
Abilities | Exploit |
Released | 2015-03-27 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Dragons of Tarkir |
Set code | DTK |
Power | 3 |
Toughness | 6 |
Number | 114 |
Frame | 2015 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Jakub Kasper |
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Rakshasa Gravecaller exploits a creature, put two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Debts to rakshasa linger beyond death.
Cards like Rakshasa Gravecaller
Rakshasa Gravecaller stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a creature card with significant impact during games. Associated with the graveyard mechanic, it conjures two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens as soon as it arrives on the battlefield, similar to Sengir Autocrat. However, the Gravecaller offers a degree of flexibility that the Autocrat lacks, thanks to its exploit ability. This ability allows you to sacrifice another creature and multiply your undead army upon its entry.
Looking at cards with a similar vein, Ghoulcaller Gisa is a fine comparison. Gisa too can flood the board with zombies, but rather than being token-bound on entry, she requires a sacrifice to churn out a new wave of the undead. While Gisa’s ability can be used multiple times, the Gravecaller’s effect is a one-time, significant burst of power.
The comparison shines a light on different strategies within the zombie creature landscape of Magic: The Gathering. Rakshasa Gravecaller offers immediate board presence, potentially swinging momentum in your favor. This makes the Gravecaller a valuable asset in decks aiming to quickly amass a horde of zombies.
Cards similar to Rakshasa Gravecaller by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rakshasa Gravecaller excels in generating card advantage by creating two 2/2 Zombie creature tokens upon exploit. This means that when the card exploits a creature, you effectively turn one card from your hand into multiple threats on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Although Rakshasa Gravecaller does not directly accelerate your mana resources, it indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by potentially freeing you up to use your mana elsewhere. Having additional creatures on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking, meaning less need to hold mana for defensive spells.
Instant Speed: While Rakshasa Gravecaller itself is not an instant, its impact on board state can be quite immediate, especially if played cleverly with instant-speed spells or abilities that let you sacrifice a creature at the right moment. This synergizes well with the exploit mechanic and can disrupt the opponent’s strategy at a crucial time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Rakshasa Gravecaller is its reliance on having creatures to exploit. If your board is empty, you won’t be able to leverage its full potential, which can leave you at a disadvantage especially in tight situations where resources are critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Rakshasa Gravecaller requires a specific color combination of mana to cast (one black and four of any color), which means it can be a challenging fit in multicolored decks that might not have consistent access to the required mana, potentially causing delays in its deployment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Rakshasa Gravecaller can be considered slow, especially in a game where tempo is crucial. There are alternatives that could provide an immediate impact on the game at a lower mana cost, making it less appealing for decks that aim to maintain a fast pace.
Reasons to Include Rakshasa Gravecaller in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakshasa Gravecaller offers a dynamic edge on the battlefield. With its ability to generate multiple tokens, it effortlessly plugs into various deck themes from token strategies to sacrifice synergies, giving you an upper hand in resource management during the game.
Combo Potential: This card’s capabilities shine when paired with other cards that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. The ability to exploit its tokens for effects such as life gain, mana acceleration, or powering up creatures adds substantial depth to your strategic maneuvers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that rewards board presence and creature-based strategies, Rakshasa Gravecaller can be an exceptionally valuable addition to your deck. Its capacity for swarming the field can be pivotal against control decks and crucial for overwhelming opponents in the current meta.
How to beat
Rakshasa Gravecaller is a strategic card that can quickly turn the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering. What makes it formidable is the ability to exploit a creature, which leads to the creation of two black Zombie creature tokens, bolstering the player’s forces substantially. Dealing with the Gravecaller requires disrupting your opponent’s graveyard tactics. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent creatures from hitting the graveyard in the first place, which stifles the Gravecaller’s exploit mechanic.
Controlling the board is also key. Cards that allow for multiple creature removals, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can sweep away the zombies and the Gravecaller itself. If you’re playing a blue deck, countering this creature with spells like Negate is also a viable strategy since it stops the Gravecaller before it can exploit anything. The important thing is to prevent the Gravecaller from building an overwhelming presence on the board. Through strategic removal, counter plays, or graveyard disruption, the power level of Rakshasa Gravecaller can be effectively managed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakshasa Gravecaller MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Gravecaller 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakshasa Gravecaller has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakshasa Gravecaller card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2015-02-25 | A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves. |
2015-02-25 | If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger. |
2015-02-25 | You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger. |
2015-02-25 | You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability. |
2015-02-25 | You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves. |