Razormane Masticore MTG Card
2004-06-04 - Number 146
2007-07-13 - Number 340★
2007-07-13 - Number 340
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Masticore |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
First strike At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Razormane Masticore unless you discard a card from your hand. At the beginning of your draw step, you may have Razormane Masticore deal 3 damage to target creature.
Understanding the Power of Razormane Masticore
The Razormane Masticore is a powerful asset for any MTG player looking to dominate the battlefield. A part of the artifact creature lineage, Razormane Masticore draws comparison with its predecessor, the Masticore. While Masticore, the original, requires a hefty upkeep cost of discarding a card and deals damage to creatures only, Razormane Masticore allows greater flexibility by enabling you to discard a card at the beginning of your upkeep if you choose to. Unlike its forebear, this allows for more strategic depth during gameplay.
Cards like Razormane Masticore
The Razormane Masticore stands out within the MTG artifact creature category, carrying the torch from earlier versions like Molten-Tail Masticore and Masticore itself. Similar to Molten-Tail Masticore, Razormane Masticore can deal direct damage to a target, but it can hit players or planeswalkers, not just creatures. This opens up avenues for aggressive strategies and finishing off opponents.
When analyzing its role in a deck, Steel Hellkite comes to mind. While Steel Hellkite requires mana investment to destroy permanents of a chosen cost, the Razormane Masticore does this for free each turn, assuming you have the required card to discard. It’s a matter of weighing consistent board impact against versatile, targeted removal.
Ultimately, Razormane Masticore’s balance of strength, versatility, and conditional card advantage makes it a unique contender in its class. It poses an imposing threat while offering a robust removal option, situating it as a formidable choice in artifact creature slots.
Cards similar to Razormane Masticore by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Razormane Masticore provides sustained card advantage by allowing you to discard a card only if you control no other creatures, which can sometimes be a minimal downside given its potential for board control.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, it can offer indirect resource acceleration by pressuring your opponent to deal with it, potentially disrupting their plays and leaving them scrambling for resources.
Instant Speed: Although it doesn’t operate at instant speed, its first strike ability makes it a formidable defender, effectively deterring attacks and preserving your life total and resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Razormane Masticore necessitates players to discard a card at the beginning of their upkeep. This can rapidly deplete your hand, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage, especially in decks that don’t have ample card draw mechanisms to counterbalance this effect.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is quite specific, demanding two generic and one red mana. This requirement can be restrictive, as it compels players to have a decent amount of red mana sources within their deck to cast it consistently, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to mono-red or two-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Razormane Masticore might seem efficient for a 3/3 creature with first strike. However, when compared to other creatures at the same mana level, the additional discard cost could make other creatures or spells more appealing for building an efficient deck strategy.
Reasons to Include Razormane Masticore in Your Collection
Versatility: Razormane Masticore offers flexibility in its role within a deck. As a creature with both a substantial body and a form of direct damage ability, it can serve as both a mid-game threat and a means to maintain board control.
Combo Potential: The Masticore’s ability to deal damage to any target can be paired with cards that manipulate damage or benefit from noncombat damage being dealt, opening up possibilities for creative combinations within certain deck archetypes.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies dominate, Razormane Masticore’s potential for repeated removal while providing a resilient threat makes it a particularly compelling choice against prevalent decks.
How to beat
Razormane Masticore is a formidable creature in Magic the Gathering with its potent combination of first strike and the ability to deal damage to creatures or planeswalkers. Its hard-hitting impact and the need to discard a card during your upkeep may seem daunting at the outset. Nevertheless, there’s always a strategy to counter even the most intimidating cards on the battlefield.
Addressing this particular threat requires a well-thought-out plan. Removal spells that can bypass the first strike, such as “Murder”, which can outright destroy a target creature, are key in this situation. Furthermore, counter magic spells can prevent Razormane Masticore from entering the battlefield in the first place, ensuring you don’t have to deal with its devastating effects.
Additionally, playing around the upkeep discard by using graveyard synergies could turn this downside into an advantage. Cards with flashback or other abilities that activate from the graveyard can mitigate the cost of maintaining Razormane Masticore on the field. As with any strategic challenge in Magic the Gathering, analyzing the card’s strengths and weaknesses allows you to turn the tide in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Razormane Masticore MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Tenth Edition, 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 Razormane Masticore 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 Razormane Masticore Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Jim Murray.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-06-04 | Fifth Dawn | 5DN | 146 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
| 2 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 340★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
| 3 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 340 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Razormane Masticore has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |