Time Reaper MTG Card


Time Reaper excels in consistent card advantage with its library shuffling and draw abilities. Mana acceleration and instant speed casting present strategic advantages on the battlefield. Despite its drawbacks, Time Reaper’s flexibility makes it a worthy candidate for diverse deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Alien Horror
Abilities Consume Anomaly,Flying,Haste
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying, haste Consume Anomaly — Whenever Time Reaper deals combat damage to a player, put target face-up card they own in exile on the bottom of their library. If you do, you gain 3 life.


Cards like Time Reaper

Time Reaper has made its mark within the realm of planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering. While sharing functional similarities with other planeswalkers like Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Time Reaper stands out with its unique blend of abilities. Jace, the Mind Sculptor is known for its versatile card manipulation and bounce ability, but Time Reaper diverges with its potent mix of hand disruption and time meddlings.

Delving into card comparison, Teferi, Time Raveler emerges as a parallel. Both are adept at controlling the pace of play with Teferi’s ability to limit opponents to casting spells at sorcery speed, and Time Reaper introducing a different tempo dynamic with its disruptive effects. Nevertheless, Teferi doesn’t boast the same level of direct interference with an opponent’s hand as Time Reaper does. Lastly, Liliana of the Veil is another noteworthy counterpart, known for its hand disruption and sacrifice enforcing abilities. Although Liliana pressures the opponent’s resources, Time Reaper’s impact tends to be broader, affecting card advantage and board state over time.

In evaluating similar cards, Time Reaper’s unique combination of abilities renders it a formidable force. It’s a card that can skew the game’s direction while unsettling opponents with its multifaceted approach.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Time Raveler - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Time Raveler - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Time Reaper by color, type and mana cost

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Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Time Reaper excels at providing consistent card advantage. By enabling you to shuffle valuable spells back into your library and draw fresh cards, it helps to maintain a significant edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The ability of Time Reaper to untap lands during your upkeep is a form of resource acceleration that effectively increases your mana availability. This is crucial for casting more spells or activating abilities that can turn the tide of the game.

Instant Speed: Time Reaper’s design lets you cast spells at instant speed, allowing for reactive gameplay that keeps opponents guessing. This versatile timing can disrupt an adversary’s strategy and provide opportunities to capitalize on their end step or in response to certain actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness Time Reaper’s abilities, players must discard a card, posing a potential setback when hand advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Time Reaper’s casting cost demands a precise mix of mana types, potentially restricting its synergy in multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the required mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The magic this card wields comes at a substantial mana investment, potentially making it a less attractive option compared to other cards with lower mana requirements offering similar or greater impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Time Reaper can adapt to various deck strategies given its flexible nature. Whether you’re aiming for control or looking to complement a midrange setup, it seamlessly integrates with multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: As a card abundant with synergies, Time Reaper plays well with others. It may help to initiate or continue powerful combos, particularly in decks that exploit time or card manipulation mechanisms.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tempo and cards in hand define victory, Time Reaper stands out. Its relevant abilities make it a crucial asset in the ever-shifting dynamics of competitive play.


How to beat

Time Reaper is a unique fixture in the current landscape of Magic: The Gathering. As a card that can potentially disrupt your strategies, understanding its mechanics is vital for developing counterplays. This card poses a challenge with its ability to interrupt your tempo, by potentially exiling key cards from your deck. To effectively counteract Time Reaper, leveraging graveyard play is a clever strategy. Cards that facilitate retrieval from the graveyard or allow you to play cards from there can circumvent the exile mechanism that Time Reaper presents.

Another viable method to trump Time Reaper is by utilizing instant-speed removals or counterspells to ensure it never establishes a presence on the board. By countering it or removing it quickly, you maintain control over the game state. Direct damage spells and targeted removal can be highly effective tools in your arsenal against Time Reaper.

Adaptability is crucial when confronting a card like Time Reaper. Building your strategy while keeping in mind the threats it poses ensures that this card doesn’t become a hindrance to your path to victory. By incorporating responsive cards into your playstyle, you can negate its disruptive power and maintain an advantage over your opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Time Reaper MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 Time Reaper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Time Reaper Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Helge C. Balzer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 712015NormalBlackHelge C. Balzer
22023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 6762015NormalBlackHelge C. Balzer
32023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 3742015NormalBlackHelge C. Balzer
42023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 9652015NormalBlackHelge C. Balzer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Time Reaper has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-10-13 Most cards in exile are face up and can be targeted by Time Reaper's triggered ability. A card is face down in the exile zone only if the effect or action that put it there specifically says it puts it there face down (like the foretell ability).