Ruthless Ripper MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ruthless Ripper offers a unique set of abilities that can result in subtle card advantage. Since it transforms from a face-down creature to its true form without needing to spend mana, you effectively bluff additional threats on the board without additional resource commitment.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to mana resources, Ruthless Ripper assists in resource acceleration by demanding answers from your opponent. When flipped, it forces opponents to deal with it immediately, potentially draining their resources and accelerating your relative advantage.

Instant Speed: The power of playing Ruthless Ripper lies in its morph ability, which can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility lets you decide the perfect moment to reveal the Ripper, disrupt your opponent’s strategy, and possibly remove a threat thanks to its deathtouch ability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Ruthless Ripper necessitates discarding a card to take advantage of its morph ability. This condition can be problematic, especially when your hand is nearly empty or when you’re required to discard a critical piece of your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Ruthless Ripper’s casting cost requires black mana, which can be restrictive for multi-colored decks. The need for a specific mana type can sometimes slow down the tempo when trying not to compromise the mana base of a diverse deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: If chosen to be played face-down and turned up by paying its morph cost, the overall mana investment in the card might be seen as steep compared to other options. The combined cost for a 1/1 deathtouch creature and the effect may not always align with the deck’s strategy or curve.

Reasons to Include Ruthless Ripper in Your Collection

Versatility: Ruthless Ripper serves multiple roles in your deck, acting as an early blocker or a surprise attacker with its morph ability. Its deathtouch ability ensures that it can trade with almost any creature, making it a useful asset in various situations.

Combo Potential: Unveiling Ruthless Ripper by revealing a black card can be orchestrated to work within intricate combo lines, particularly in decks that exploit death triggers or need to manage the opponent’s creature threats efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based combat is prevalent, Ruthless Ripper’s stealthy morph reveal and deathtouch can sway the battlefield in your favor, making it a tactically significant choice for decks focused on controlling the board.

How to beat

Ruthless Ripper is a deceptively powerful card in the world of Magic: The Gathering. At its core, it’s a creature card with morph, allowing it to be played face-down as a 2/2 creature. What makes the Ruthless Ripper a formidable foe is its ability to turn face-up at any time for just one black mana if a card is also discarded, dealing 2 damage to an opponent and unveiling itself as a 1/1 with deathtouch.

To counteract this stealthy assassin, one of the best strategies is to manage its morphing capability. Cards with the ability to reveal or exile cards from your opponent’s hand can nip the Ripper’s surprise attack in the bud. Additionally, having instant removal spells at the ready can deal with it once it’s morphed without taking unnecessary damage. Be wary of committing too many creatures against an opponent who could have this sneaky killer up their sleeve. Instead, opt for tactics that reduce hand size or board wipes that neutralize the Ripper regardless of its morph status. By playing smart and keeping removal handy, you can mitigate the impact of the Ruthless Ripper on your game plan.