Ravenous Baloth MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 278
2007-01-01 - Number 1
2013-11-01 - Number 165
2014-12-05 - Number 8
2020-07-17 - Number 424
2002-06-24 - Number 31389
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Sacrifice a Beast: You gain 4 life.
"All we know about the Krosan Forest we have learned from those few who made it out alive." —Elvish refugee
Cards like Ravenous Baloth
The Ravenous Baloth is a well-regarded creature card in MTG that offers a blend of solid stats and a useful life gain ability. Like this formidable beast, Thragtusk is another powerhouse, providing a significant life boost upon entry and departure with a 5/3 body. While Thragtusk doesn’t allow for the same continuous life gain that Ravenous Baloth can achieve via sacrifice, its immediate effect can quickly swing the game.
Another creature to consider is Obstinate Baloth, which has stats mirroring Ravenous Baloth and also presents the upside of life gain when it enters the battlefield or if it’s discarded. This gives Obstinate Baloth a slight edge in decks contending with forced discards. Finally, there’s Serra Avatar, a unique creature whose power and toughness are equal to your life total. Although not directly offering life gain, its sheer potential size makes it a formidable life-related threat on the board.
Evaluating these creatures, Ravenous Baloth remains a go-to option for players looking to capitalize on life gain synergies and a robust battlefield presence, illustrating why it endures as a favorite in creature-focused MTG decks.
Cards similar to Ravenous Baloth by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ravenous Baloth. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Rock | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Decklist | Free form | MO89#CS | |
 | Sultai Control | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am | |
 | Sneak Survival | Premodern | Misty Premodern Winter Finals | |
 | Golgari | Free form | Middle School World Championships | |
 | Gruul Aggro | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Golgari Midrange | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
| Golgari Oath | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Ravenous Baloth offers a robust advantage by allowing you to sacrifice a Beast to gain 4 life. This mechanic not only enhances your life total but can also pave the way to outlasting your opponent while trimming your deck for optimal draws.
Resource Acceleration: With a 4/4 body for four mana, the card seamlessly fits into green decks emphasizing ramping and big creatures. Its synergy with other Beast cards can help ramp up your board state for an imposing presence faster than standard curves allow.
Instant Speed: While the Ravenous Baloth itself isn’t an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed. This means you can respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn for strategic life gain, turning interactions in your favor when it matters most.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Ravenous Baloth can provide a significant advantage with its beast synergy and life gain ability, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. One key issue is the need for a consistent creature supply to sacrifice. If you’re unable to generate a steady stream of beasts or other creatures to sac, the Baloth’s utility sharply decreases, putting you potentially at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a tangible mana cost that must include two green sources, the Ravenous Baloth demands deck dedication. This specificity restricts the card’s inclusion to mainly green-heavy or two-color decks where mana fixing might be required to ensure a timely play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, this creature might be considered on the higher end for an aggressive deck. Although its power and toughness are adequate, there are alternative four-mana creatures or spells that can impact the board state more immediately or offer more versatile utility.
Reasons to Include Ravenous Baloth in Your Collection
Versatility: Ravenous Baloth is a robust addition to any deck looking to capitalize on life gain and creature sacrifice mechanics. As a standalone powerhouse, it can swing games in your favor by stabilizing your life total while offering a formidable board presence.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that revolve around creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. Its built-in sacrifice ability can unlock numerous combos and interactions, making it a linchpin in decks designed around such tactics.
Meta-Relevance: In a game increasingly defined by shifting metagames, Ravenous Baloth holds its ground. It can disrupt opponent strategies that rely heavily on targeted creature removal by providing an immediate benefit when it’s time for your creatures to leave the battlefield. This adaptability can make Ravenous Baloth a valuable asset in numerous competitive environments.
How to beat
Ravenous Baloth is a formidable creature card that presents a challenge for many MTG players. It’s a powerhouse with its ability to sacrifice a Beast and gain life, which can turn the tide in any match. When facing this hefty green creature, the key lies in preemptive measures and strategic removal.
Efficient removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murderous Cut can dispatch it before its life-gain ability becomes a problem. Counterspells like Cancel are also essential when attempting to prevent Ravenous Baloth from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Ensuring board control with sweepers such as Damnation can keep the Baloth and its Beast companions from overwhelming you. It’s also worth noting that graveyard interaction, via cards like Rest in Peace, can thwart strategies revolving around recurring the Baloth from the graveyard.
Ultimately, overcoming a Ravenous Baloth requires a blend of speed, precision, and a touch of disruption, ensuring that this green beast doesn’t start a feeding frenzy that leaves you in defeat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ravenous Baloth MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Onslaught, 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 Ravenous Baloth 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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Printings
The Ravenous Baloth Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 31389 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | ||
| 2 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 278 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel | |
| 3 | 2007-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2007 | G07 | 1 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 4 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 165 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 5 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 8 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel | |
| 6 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 424 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ravenous Baloth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |