Marrow-Gnawer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Rat Rogue
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Marrow-Gnawer excels in creating a vast army of Rat tokens, significantly enhancing board presence.
  2. It demands careful play due to its resource-intensive nature and specific mana requirements.
  3. The card’s tribal focus and synergy potentials make it a competitive choice in the right meta.

Text of card

All Rats have fear. , Sacrifice a Rat: Put X 1/1 black Rat creature tokens into play, where X is the number of Rats you control.

Marrow-Gnawer united three nezumi gangs when he slew their leaders in a single night. Now they call him their first lord.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Marrow-Gnawer provides a unique form of card advantage by enabling the creation of numerous Rat tokens, effectively multiplying your on-board presence without depleting resources from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: As leader of Rat colonies, Marrow-Gnawer can turbo-charge your board state, generating an army of creature tokens that not only apply pressure on your opponent but also serve as potential mana sources with other synergistic cards.

Instant Speed: While Marrow-Gnawer itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to create a vast network of Rat tokens can instantly respond to the end of your opponent’s turn, maximizing untapped mana and setting up for a surprise swarm attack.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Marrow-Gnawer’s abilities often rely on sacrificing other creatures, which could deplete your board presence and card advantage if not managed carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two black mana symbols, it demands a focused mana base, potentially constraining deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting cost totaling five mana, this card requires a significant investment before it can impact the game, which may be too slow against more aggressive strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Marrow-Gnawer thrives in diverse environments, capable of leading and enhancing rat tribal decks. Its ability to give all rats fear can turn an unassuming swarm into a formidable army that’s hard to block, adapting to various board states with ease.

Combo Potential: Marrow-Gnawer’s second ability is a potent engine for token generation, amplifying the strength of strategies that capitalize on creature numbers. It pairs beautifully with cards designed to exploit creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, unleashing a torrent of synergy.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right setup, decks utilizing Marrow-Gnawer can dominate slower-paced games. In a meta where attrition and creature-based strategies prevail, Marrow-Gnawer secures its place as a card capable of tipping the scales, making it a must-have for competitive tribal enthusiasts.


How to beat

Marrow-Gnawer is a powerhouse in MTG, enhancing rat tribal decks with its ability to bolster rat creature numbers significantly. Tackling Marrow-Gnawer effectively calls for removing it swiftly from play to prevent an overwhelming swarm of rat tokens. Targeted removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Fatal Push can dispatch Marrow-Gnawer before its ability becomes active. Board wipes are also an effective countermeasure; these include Wrath of God or Damnation, which can clear multiple threats at once, including any token creatures generated by Marrow-Gnawer.

It’s also wise to disrupt the synergy Marrow-Gnawer provides to rat decks. Graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus, can prevent recurring rat strategies that hinge on graveyard interactions. Lastly, consider utilizing creatures that can block multiple creatures, like Guardian of the Gateless, to stave off token assaults. By employing these strategies, you can mitigate the impact of Marrow-Gnawer and maintain control of the game.

In sum, while Marrow-Gnawer can be a formidable opponent in MTG, several strategies can effectively counter it. Proper timing and choice of removal, targeted hate cards, and defensive creatures are key to overcoming this potent tribal leader.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricate dynamics of Magic the Gathering is a blend of skillful play, strategic deck building, and an in-depth knowledge of the cards at your disposal. Marrow-Gnawer stands as a pivotal component in any rat-themed deck, offering both tactical advantages and potent synergy with a swarm strategy. For those intrigued by the nuanced art of multiplying creature tokens and yearning to control a tide of relentless rats, Marrow-Gnawer is your go-to card. Enhance your MTG experience and grasp the reins of power with insightful tactics that only this card can unlock. Dive into our wellspring of knowledge to evolve your gameplay and command the board with cunning and precision.


Cards like Marrow-Gnawer

The unique abilities of Marrow-Gnawer have made it a staple in rat tribal decks within the world of MTG. Often compared to other tribal leaders, its strength lies in its ability to provide exponential growth for your swarm of rats. In the vein of similar tribal lords, such as Elvish Archdruid for Elves or Goblin King for Goblins, Marrow-Gnawer offers a potent boost to its specific creature type. However, Marrow-Gnawer separates itself with its distinct skill to sacrifice a Rat to create a number of 1/1 black Rat creature tokens equal to the number of Rats you control.

Looking at other cards, Pack Rat shares a likeness by also enhancing Rat tokens but does so in a different manner, allowing players to create a copy of it rather than multiple tokens. Where Pack Rat provides scalability, Marrow-Gnawer gives you immediate army expansion. Additionally, Thrumming Stone is a card that synergizes well with Marrow-Gnawer, enabling you to potentially cast multiple Rats from your deck each time you play a Rat spell.

When considering the potential for overwhelming your opponent with vast numbers, Marrow-Gnawer outshines its competitors through its unique token-generating capability, solidifying its position as a powerful leader in rat-themed MTG decks.

Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Goblin King - MTG Card versions
Pack Rat - MTG Card versions
Thrumming Stone - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - Magic 2010 (M10)
Goblin King - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Pack Rat - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Thrumming Stone - Coldsnap (CSP)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marrow-Gnawer MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Marrow-Gnawer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Marrow-Gnawer Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-10-01Champions of KamigawaCHK 1242003normalblackWayne Reynolds
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL A12003normalwhiteWayne Reynolds
32006-01-01Hachette UKPHUK 12003normalwhiteWayne Reynolds
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 342015normalblackRavenna Tran
52020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 392003normalblackWayne Reynolds
62020-09-26The ListPLST CHK-1242003normalblackWayne Reynolds
72021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3552015normalblackWayne Reynolds

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marrow-Gnawer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Marrow-Gnawer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-12-01 Marrow-Gnawer’s ability counts the number of Rats on the battlefield when it resolves, so you don’t count the sacrificed Rat.

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