The Rack MTG Card
1994-03-04 - Number 72
1994-04-01 - Number 278
1994-04-01 - Number 278
1994-06-21 - Number 278
1995-04-01 - Number 352
1995-04-01 - Number 352
1996-05-02 - Number ll352sb
2006-10-06 - Number 113
2010-06-04 - Number 95
2002-06-24 - Number 62385
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
If opponent has fewer than three cards in hand during his or her upkeep, the Rack does 1 damage to opponent for each card fewer than three.
Invented in Mishra's earlier days, the Rack was once his most feared creation.
Cards like The Rack
The Rack is an intriguing card in MTG, known for its relentless damage mechanic that targets opponents with small hand sizes. Black Vise shares a similar punishing property by inflicting damage based on the number of cards held when opponents have a surplus in hand. Whereas The Rack’s damage accelerates as the opponent’s hand diminishes, Black Vise does the opposite, becoming less effective as opponents play out their hands.
Shrieking Affliction is another card that echoes The Rack’s strategy, dealing damage to opponents with few cards in hand, but it requires a threshold of one or fewer cards to trigger, unlike The Rack’s broader scope starting at three or fewer cards. Rackling follows the footsteps of The Rack but with a tweak; the damage is based on the difference between the cards in an opponent’s hand and four, potentially making it less consistent in terms of damage output.
While each of these cards offers a unique approach to leveraging an opponent’s hand size to your advantage, The Rack stands out as a cornerstone in discard-focused decks due to its low mana cost and reliable damage application. It’s a testament to the depth of MTG strategies where even small nuances between cards can shape different gameplay experiences.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rack transforms each missing card in your opponent’s hand into potential damage, skewing the resource balance in your favor. With fewer cards in hand, an opponent’s options are constrained, indirectly contributing to your card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although The Rack doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its presence can force opponents to play out their hand more quickly. This can accelerate the pace at which the game progresses to your advantage, especially in decks designed to empty the opponent’s hand.
Instant Speed: The power of The Rack lies in its passive, constant threat. It’s not played at instant speed, but it impacts the game as soon as the opponent’s hand size reduces—either during their upkeep or whenever they are forced to discard. This continuous pressure can take its toll quickly, disrupting an opponent’s game plan each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The potency of The Rack relies heavily on diminishing your opponent’s hand size, which can be a challenge against decks with abundant draw capabilities or those designed to maintain a full grip of cards. Should an opponent’s hand replenish quickly, The Rack’s influence wanes, making it less effective.
Specific Mana Cost: The Rack demands a precise mana set-up for casting—requiring one generic and one black mana can be restrictive and may not fluidly integrate into multicolor deck strategies, especially those that do not prioritize black mana or run on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that centers on a punishment tactic, The Rack’s one-time cost may compete with other slots in a deck for more immediate or versatile effects. Some players might find alternative cards that can offer both offensive and defensive capabilities with less commitment to early game mana investment.
Reasons to Include The Rack in Your Collection
Versatility: The Rack is a versatile artifact that can seamlessly integrate into different black control or discard-focused decks. Its ability to punish opponents for having a small hand size makes it a timeless staple in the MTG arsenal.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that force your opponent to discard, The Rack becomes a relentless source of damage. It works exceptionally well with discard spells or effects, enhancing the potency of dedicated discard strategies.
Meta-Relevance: As long as hand-disruption strategies maintain their importance in the game, The Rack remains a meta-relevant card. In formats where maintaining card advantage is crucial, this card can tip the scales and disrupt your opponent’s game plan significantly.
How to beat
The Rack is a notorious artifact in MTG that can rapidly deplete an opponent’s lifepoints, especially when they have few cards in hand. Handling this threat requires strategic planning and understanding of its mechanics. Keeping your hand full is one of the most effective tactics – this diminishes The Rack’s damage potential as it punishes players with smaller hand sizes. Utilizing card draw spells, recycling cards from your graveyard, or simply playing your cards at a measured pace can mitigate the impact of The Rack.
Cards with discard protection are another formidable line of defense. Abilities that offer shroud, hexproof, or grant you the power to choose cards to discard when required can be lifesavers against such discard mechanisms. Also, direct removal of artifacts through spells or creatures that can target and destroy such non-creature permanents will dismantle The Rack’s presence on the battlefield.
Finally, being proactive in applying pressure to your opponent can shift their focus away from exploitation of The Rack’s abilities. Aggressive tactics force opponents to defend, often causing them to spend their hand rapidly and making The Rack less effective. Ultimately, a combination of hand size management, defense against discard, direct removal, and offensive strategy form a robust framework to outplay The Rack’s excruciating constraints.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase The Rack MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Foreign Black Border, 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 The Rack 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 The Rack Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2010-06-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-03-04 | Antiquities | ATQ | 72 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 2 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 278 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 3 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 278 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 4 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 278 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 5 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 352 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 6 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 352 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 7 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll352sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Richard Thomas | |
| 8 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62385 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nic Klein | ||
| 9 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 113 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 10 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 95 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nic Klein |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where The Rack has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering The Rack 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 | You choose one opposing player as this card enters the battlefield and it only affects that one player. This choice is not changed even if this card changes controllers. It becomes useless but stays on the battlefield if the chosen player leaves the game. |