Rukh Egg MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 43
1993-12-17 - Number 43†
2003-07-28 - Number 216★
2003-07-28 - Number 216
2005-07-29 - Number 214
2005-07-29 - Number 214★
2002-06-24 - Number 36270
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird Egg |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
If Rukh Egg goes to the graveyard, a Rukh—a 4/4 red flying creature—comes into play on your side at the end of that turn. Use a counter to represent Rukh. Rukh is treated exactly like a normal creature except that if it leaves play it is removed from the game entirely.
Cards like Rukh Egg
Rukh Egg holds a unique position in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. When comparing it to other cards that similarly benefit from being destroyed, like Nesting Dragon, we can see distinct advantages. Nesting Dragon, for instance, generates Dragon Egg tokens when lands enter the battlefield under your control, which can later turn into formidable flying Dragon creatures. While Rukh Egg doesn’t interact with land plays, it immediately creates a powerfully flying Rukh token with considerable offensive capabilities the moment it’s sent to the graveyard from the battlefield.
Another parallel can be drawn with Broodmate Dragon, a card that outright brings another flying Dragon into play upon entry. However, it lacks the resurrection mechanic that Rukh Egg emphasizes. There’s also the classic Phoenix cards, like Rekindling Phoenix, which rise from their ashes much like the thematic inspiration of Rukh Egg. While Phoenix cards often return to the battlefield themselves, Rukh Egg’s transformation into a creature token after destruction fuels graveyard and sacrifice strategies differently.
Rukh Egg’s reincarnation ability, drawing upon the mythical phoenix-like cycle of birth and rebirth, stakes a claim in MTG decks that harness death triggers and thrive on the cyclical nature of creature sacrifice, making it a strategic choice for certain deck builds.
Cards similar to Rukh Egg by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rukh Egg card is a fantastic tool for creating card advantage in the late game. Once destroyed, it grants you a powerful 4/4 red Rukh Bird creature token with flying, essentially replacing itself with a substantial threat on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Though Rukh Egg itself doesn’t directly increase your mana resources, the 4/4 Rukh Bird it creates can act as a formidable blocker or an attacker that may force your opponent to expend resources, effectively accelerating your advantage.
Instant Speed: While Rukh Egg isn’t an instant speed spell, its effect creates an emergent defensive strategy where players can sacrifice the Egg during an opponent’s turn to immediately have a blocker available for any surprise assaults.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Rukh Egg doesn’t require discarding as a direct cost, its reliance on being sent to the graveyard to trigger its effect could compel players to discard it for value, which may not always be the optimal play.
Specific Mana Cost: Rukh Egg demands a precise mana cost of two colorless and one red mana, potentially restricting its utility to red-centric or two-color decks and limiting its flexibility across various MTG archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the current fast-paced metagame, spending three mana on a creature that doesn’t have an immediate board presence can put players at a disadvantage, especially when there are other creatures in the same cost range that offer immediate impact or better stats.
Reasons to Include Rukh Egg in Your Collection
Versatility: Rukh Egg’s unique ability to spawn a 4/4 Rukh token when it goes to the graveyard from the battlefield makes it a flexible addition to any red-based deck. Its synergistic value increases in decks that willingly sacrifice creatures for a greater effect.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies focused on sacrificing creatures for benefit. In combination with effects that trigger upon creature death, Rukh Egg can be a pivotal piece in commanding combo plays that overwhelm opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature removal is prevalent, Rukh Egg ensures you maintain board presence even after being targeted. This ensures sustained pressure against control decks and can change the tide in mid-range matchups.
How to beat
Confronting a Rukh Egg on the battlefield can be a turning point in any MTG game. This seemingly harmless card holds potential for a powerful phoenix to rise from its ashes. When a Rukh Egg is sent to the graveyard, a 4/4 red bird creature token with flying takes its place, which can tilt the aerial balance in your opponent’s favor. However, there are numerous strategies to crack this egg without feeling the heat.
One effective approach is to use exile effects, ensuring the egg’s ability does not trigger upon its destruction. Cards such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can handle the Egg without causing any imminent threat. Alternatively, utilizing control spells to manipulate or counter your opponent’s actions also comes in handy. Transforming or bouncing the Egg back to the owner’s hand with spells such as Essence Scatter or Echoing Truth can prevent the fiery bird from ever making an appearance.
Navigating through the game with these tactics, players can efficiently handle the Rukh Egg without being concerned about the aftermath. Having these solutions up your sleeve can turn the tide of the match and keep you one step ahead in your MTG duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rukh Egg MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Arabian Nights, 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 Rukh Egg 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 Rukh Egg Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 43 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 2 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 43† | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36270 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | ||
| 4 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 216★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 216 | 2003 | Normal | White | Mark Zug | |
| 6 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 214 | 2003 | Normal | White | Mark Zug | |
| 7 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 214★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rukh Egg has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rukh Egg card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the Rukh Egg card is removed from the graveyard in the same turn it is put there, a Bird will still be put onto the battlefield. |
| 2005-10-01 | If the Egg is destroyed while under the control of another player, the controller of the Egg gets the Bird. |
| 2005-10-01 | If the Egg is exiled instead of being put into the graveyard, no Bird is put onto the battlefield. |
| 2005-10-01 | Text-changing effects can be used to change the color of the Bird that will be put onto the battlefield. |