Ravenous Vampire MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 136 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Bolton |
Text of card
Flying During your upkeep, sacrifice a nonartifact creature and put a +1/+1 counter on Ravenous Vampire, or tap Ravenous Vampire.
Eternal life brings eternal hunger.
Cards like Ravenous Vampire
The Ravenous Vampire is an intriguing addition to the suite of threatening creatures in MTG. A close relation is the Bloodthirsty Aerialist, which also relies on life gain for power boosts, but does so at a steadier pace. While the Aerialist methodically grows stronger with each instance of life gain, the Ravenous Vampire requires the sacrifice of a creature to unleash its potential.
Analogous to the Ravenous Vampire is the Cordial Vampire. Both creatures thrive on the demise of other creatures, but the Cordial Vampire offers a communal advantage, granting +1/+1 counters to each other vampire you control — a boon to those running a vampire tribal deck. Unlike Cordial Vampire, though, the Ravenous Vampire gets the immediate benefit of becoming a bigger threat as soon as it feasts.
In sum, Ravenous Vampire can be seen as a valuable asset for players who savor rapid escalation of their creature’s strength. Its quick, high-stake power increments compare favorably to the incremental advantages gained by similar MTG creatures, making it an enticing choice for aggressive strategies.
Cards similar to Ravenous Vampire by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Ravenous Vampire offers a robust mechanism for filtering through your deck and replacing itself in your hand. This trait is particularly beneficial in long matchups where maintaining a consistent flow of resources can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Resource Acceleration: This ominous creature is a key player in strategies aiming to ramp up their mana resources rapidly. By potentially providing additional creatures, Ravenous Vampire can work wonders in decks that capitalize on sacrificing critters for a mana boost or other synergistic actions.
Instant Speed: The capability to deploy the Ravenous Vampire at instant speed provides a tactical edge, allowing you to adapt to the board state on the fly. It can be particularly advantageous when you’re utilizing it to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn or to cleverly evade sorcery-speed removal spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Ravenous Vampire might demand sacrificing valuable cards from your hand, which can thwart your strategic plans when your reserves are dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for black mana enthusiasts, this card’s particular mana requisites can be restrictive, confining it to specific deck archetypes that align with its dark thematic alignment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment to summon the Ravenous Vampire could be hefty when juxtaposed with alternative creatures. As players navigate the cost-benefit labyrinth, they might discover others that proffer a more economical or effective presence on the battlefield for a similar mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Ravenous Vampire offers flexibility in deck construction, fitting seamlessly into vampire-themed decks or any strategy emphasizing creature control and life point manipulation.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with mechanics that trigger on life gain or loss, providing a platform for devastating combo plays and potential game-winning turns.
Meta-Relevance: With the utility to disrupt opponent strategies while bolstering your own life total, the Ravenous Vampire can hold its own in a meta filled with aggressive decks and creature-based strategies.
How to beat
Ravenous Vampire is a formidable card that can present quite the challenge across the battlefield. As a key piece of strategy for many players, understanding how to counter it is essential. It’s crucial to consider disruption tactics, as with many powerful creatures in Magic: The Gathering, removal is often the most direct approach. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently take out the Ravenous Vampire before its abilities take effect.
Moreover, adjusting your play to preserve removal spells specifically for such threats can tilt the game in your favor. It’s also worth noting the importance of graveyard control. Given that the vampire might thrive on cards in graveyards, incorporating graveyard hate into your deck such as Tormod’s Crypt could impede its effectiveness. Finally, playing creatures that can hold their own in combat against this vampire or ones that provide you life gain could also prolong your survival and mitigate the impact of its draining abilities.
When facing a Ravenous Vampire, strategic planning and a well-constructed deck can be the difference between succumbing to its prowess or overcoming this voracious adversary with skill.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ravenous Vampire MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Vampire 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ravenous Vampire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |