Swarm of Rats MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Rat
Power *
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. The card’s strength scales with the number of creatures, excelling in creature-heavy decks.
  2. Swarm of Rats matches well with token and duplication strategies to amplify its power.
  3. It’s less effective without creature support, demanding a specific deck-building strategy.

Text of card

Swarm of Rats has power equal to the number of Rat cards you have in play. (This includes both tapped and untapped Rat cards.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Swarm of Rats thrives in a deck filled with numerous creatures, especially rats, allowing its power to scale with each additional creature you control. This multiplicative effect can rapidly outpace an opponent’s singular threats and create an intimidating board presence, potentially leading to card advantage through superior numbers.

Resource Acceleration: Although Swarm of Rats itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it synergizes well with cards that do. Utilizing strategies that put multiple rat tokens into play can exponentially increase the power of each Swarm of Rats, turning even a small amount of resources into a formidable army.

Instant Speed: While Swarm of Rats operates at sorcery speed, it fits snugly into decks that utilize instant-speed tricks to protect and enhance your swarm. Holding up mana for instant-speed removal or countermagic ensures your rats live to swarm another turn, making each subsequent rat you play more threatening as the game progresses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Growing Swarm of Rats necessitates a consistent stream of cards in hand to maximize its potential, but the card does not inherently provide a mechanism to replenish your hand, potentially leaving you short on options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card is bound by its black mana requirement, which could constrict deck-building possibilities and is less versatile when you’re aiming for a multi-color deck strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the power of Swarm of Rats scales with the number of Rats you control, the setup to achieve a formidable swarm could suffer due to its initial mana investment, which may slow down your early game momentum against decks that are more efficient in deploying threats.


Reasons to Include Swarm of Rats in Your Collection

Versatility: Swarm of Rats thrives in decks that focus on creature numbers. This card’s power increases with every other rat you control, making it a formidable force in tribal rat decks or any strategy that can generate a large number of creatures.

Combo Potential: This card can be an integral part of combos that amp up creature count rapidly. Paired with token-generating cards or abilities that duplicate creatures, the Swarm of Rats’ strength can multiply quickly, overwhelming opponents unprepared for the onslaught.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence can be pivotal, Swarm of Rats holds its own. Against opponents who may not prioritize early game creature removal, a swiftly growing Swarm can dominate the game, particularly when combined with cards that discourage or punish blocking.


How to beat

Swarm of Rats harnesses the potential of a creature-packed board, gaining strength for each other rat you control. This trait makes it a genuine threat in rodent-themed decks where numbers are key. For opponents, the best defense lies in preventing the rats from multiplying. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear the field, negating the advantage Swarm of Rats could achieve. Single-target removals might not be cost-efficient given the card’s potential for exponential growth in strength.

Moreover, spells that restrict creature abilities or prevent tokens from being created can suffocate the underlying strategy of rat decks. Ensnaring Bridge, for instance, can render the rats incapable of attacking if you’re holding few cards in your hand. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of cards your opponent draws or prevent them from searching their library, obstructing their ability to amass a horde of rats. Lastly, playing with cards that have static abilities to deal damage or destroy creatures that enter the battlefield can keep the swarm at bay, securing your victory against this ominous tide of rodents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG deck starts with understanding cards like Swarm of Rats and their role in your strategy. Combining insights from the card’s strengths and weaknesses with knowledge of similar cards can shape you into a more adaptable and formidable player. If you’re looking to craft a significant impact with an army of creatures at your command or need to boost your deck’s resilience against such strategies, our resources can guide you. Dive deeper with us to learn more about building a winning approach, whether you’re assembling your own swarm or thwarting your opponent’s. Your next MTG match could hinge on these tactics.


Cards like Swarm of Rats

Swarm of Rats harnesses the power of numbers, as its strength increases with every rat you control. Think of it akin to Relentless Rats, but with a hint of variety. Both cards gain strength from the presence of their kin, but while Swarm of Rats savors flexibility with its variable power, Relentless Rats boasts a fixed and cumulative boost in both power and toughness. Moreover, Relentless Rats has the added advantage of lifting the card count restriction, allowing you to swarm the board with an unyielding rat army.

Another card that shares the swarm strategy is Rat Colony. It’s similar to Swarm of Rats in generating power through numbers. However, Rat Colony allows an unlimited number of its copies in your deck, potentially presenting a faster build-up. Yet, it’s worth noting that unlike the scaled power of Swarm of Rats based on the total rat count, Rat Colony’s power boost hinges only on other Rat Colonies. Lastly, Pack Rat offers a different dynamic, letting you create rat token copies at a cost, potentially ramping up your rat population to overwhelming numbers.

Parsing through these alternatives, it’s evident that Swarm of Rats offers a unique element, blending the might of a growing rat cadre with the potential for an unpredictable and threatening board presence.

Relentless Rats - MTG Card versions
Rat Colony - MTG Card versions
Pack Rat - MTG Card versions
Relentless Rats - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Rat Colony - Dominaria (DOM)
Pack Rat - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swarm of Rats MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Eighth 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 Swarm of Rats and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Swarm of Rats Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2006-01-01. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 891997normalblackKev Walker
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 167★2003normalblackKev Walker
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1672003normalwhiteKev Walker
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1662003normalwhiteKev Walker
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 166★2003normalblackKev Walker
62005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL A142003normalwhiteKev Walker
72005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL A22003normalwhiteKev Walker
82005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL A272003normalwhiteKev Walker
92006-01-01Hachette UKPHUK 22003normalwhiteKev Walker
102006-01-01Hachette UKPHUK 142003normalwhiteKev Walker
112006-01-01Hachette UKPHUK 272003normalwhiteKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swarm of Rats has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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