Razor Hippogriff MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 17
2013-11-01 - Number 19
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Hippogriff |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying When Razor Hippogriff enters the battlefield, return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. You gain life equal to that card's converted mana cost.
She incubates her eggs in gold and mana.
Cards like Razor Hippogriff
Razor Hippogriff offers quite a unique approach to creature recovery and life gain mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. When you compare it to similar cards like Leonin Relic-Warder, there’s a notable distinction. While Leonin Relic-Warder provides an exile ability upon entering the battlefield, Razor Hippogriff stands out by returning an artifact from your graveyard to your hand, with the added boon of life gain equal to that artifact’s casting cost.
Another card worth mentioning in this context is Salvage Scout. Though it shares the returning artifact from the graveyard ability, Razor Hippogriff exceeds it by actually being a formidable creature on the battlefield and providing life gain. Conversely, Salvage Scout is a smaller creature with less impact in terms of life gain and board presence.
The life gain aspect also prompts a comparison with Filigree Familiar, an artifact creature that grants life upon entering and exiting the battlefield. Nevertheless, the Hippogriff’s synergies with other artifacts and its more substantial stats make it more appealing for players looking for a sturdier game fixture.
In essence, while analyzing the pros and cons of each of these cards, Razor Hippogriff carves out its own niche effectively in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out as a versatile choice for artifact-centric decks looking for the dual benefits of artifact retrieval and a respectable life buffer.
Cards similar to Razor Hippogriff by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Razor Hippogriff MTG card grants you the potential to recur an artifact from your graveyard to your hand upon entering the battlefield, effectively replacing itself and potentially generating additional advantage if the retrieved artifact has value.
Resource Acceleration: While inherently not a resource acceleration card, Razor Hippogriff can indirectly contribute to acceleration through the retrieval of key mana-producing artifacts, allowing you to deploy more significant threats ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: While Razor Hippogriff itself is not an instant, it can capitalize on artifacts put in the graveyard at instant speed, ensuring that you make use of those resources effectively while maintaining the pressure on your opponent.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Razor Hippogriff provides a beneficial artifact retrieval effect upon entering the battlefield, it does not come without its downsides. Unfortunately, having Razor Hippogriff in your hand without an artifact to return from your graveyard might render its ability less useful, causing dilemmas on when and how to play it for optimal value.
Specific Mana Cost: Razor Hippogriff demands a very particular mana alignment to cast – one white, two generic, and a red mana. This specific mana cost pigeonholes the card into multi-colored decks that can consistently generate this combination, potentially hampering its incorporation into a wide array of decks, especially ones that value mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to get Razor Hippogriff onto the battlefield isn’t negligible. With a total mana value of four, players might find the cost steep for a creature with a 3/3 stat line. Considering the competitive ecosystem where players often seek the most efficient creatures for their mana, Razor Hippogriff might be overlooked in favor of creatures that offer more bang for the buck.
Reasons to Include Razor Hippogriff in Your Collection
Versatility: Razor Hippogriff offers significant flexibility for decks that strategize around life gain and artifact recursion. Its ability to retrieve an artifact from the graveyard upon entering the battlefield makes it a useful addition in both aggressive and control-oriented decks.
Combo Potential: When combined with self-milling or sacrifice strategies, this creature can become the focal point of a combo, continuously bringing back key artifacts. It fits particularly well in decks that repeatedly leverage artifacts for powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifact destruction is prevalent, the Razor Hippogriff can be an effective countermeasure, allowing players to regain crucial artifacts and maintain the upper hand. Its life gain is also pivotal when facing aggressive, damage-heavy strategies.
How to beat
Razor Hippogriff presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering. This hefty avian creature not only brings a respectable body to the board but also acts as a life-gain and recursion tool for artifacts. To effectively counter it, prioritize removal spells that can dispose of creatures without targeting, such as board wipes, which circumvent its ability to recover artifacts from the graveyard.
Resorting to graveyard disruption techniques is another tactic to consider. Introducing cards that can exile artifacts from the graveyard before the Razor Hippogriff ability resolves can prevent the life gain and retrieval of a powerful artifact. Moreover, players should manage their artifacts on the board wisely. If no valuable targets are in the graveyard when Razor Hippogriff hits the field, its impact is significantly lessened. Strategic artifact management can be a subtle yet effective way to lessen the impact of the Hippogriff’s presence on the game’s outcome.
Suffice to say, understanding the dynamics of this powerful creature and how it interacts with the artifacts in your deck is the key to overcoming the advantages it presents. Staying one step ahead and adapting your playstyle will ensure that the Razor Hippogriff does not dominate the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Razor Hippogriff MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Commander 2013, 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 Razor Hippogriff 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
Printings
The Razor Hippogriff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2013-11-01. Illustrated by David Rapoza.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 17 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 2 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 19 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Razor Hippogriff has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Razor Hippogriff card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | If the artifact card in your graveyard is an illegal target by the time the ability resolves, the ability won’t resolve. You won’t gain any life. |
| 2011-01-01 | If the mana cost of the targeted card includes , X is considered to be 0. |