Shivan Raptor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dinosaur
Abilities	Echo,First strike,Haste
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	3
Toughness	1
Number	215
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bob Eggleton

Key Takeaways

Shivan Raptor excels in board control with its immediate impact and pressuring haste ability.
This creature demands specific mana and can be mana-intensive in resource allocation.
Shivan Raptor’s adaptability and potential influence on the game’s tempo make it a strategic choice.

Text of card

First strike; echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) Shivan Raptor is unaffected by summoning sickness.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Shivan Raptor can create dynamic shifts in board presence. While it doesn’t directly let you draw cards, its strength on the field can help maintain your momentum by forcing your opponent to expend resources dealing with it.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature card, Shivan Raptor does not inherently provide resource acceleration. However, its presence can indirectly affect your mana utilization by applying pressure that may reduce the need for you to play other expensive spells to control the board.

Instant Speed: Though the Shivan Raptor is a creature and not an instant, its ability featuring haste enables it to impact the game immediately, akin to the tactical advantage of playing cards at instant speed. This allows you to stay flexible in your game strategy, attacking the same turn it’s played to catch opponents off guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Shivan Raptor doesn’t specifically entail discarding as a cost, but it does require a significant commitment of resources which can be comparable to the drawback of discarding, especially when planning to cast other spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Shivan Raptor demands a particular combination of mana including two red mana sources. This can make it a challenging fit in multicolored decks or those that struggle to generate consistent red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, including two that must be red, Shivan Raptor has a notable casting cost when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Its stats and abilities need to be weighed against potential alternatives that could be more mana-efficient.

Reasons to Include Shivan Raptor in Your Collection

Versatility: Shivan Raptor stands out due to its ability to adapt to various playstyles. Its haste attribute allows it to serve as an immediate threat, ideal for aggressive red deck builds that aim to deal damage quickly.

Combo Potential: The combination of haste and a solid power level makes Shivan Raptor a great complement to strategies that capitalize on attacking creatures. It pairs well with cards that give attack-phase bonuses or need a swift and powerful creature to activate synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where speedy creatures can dominate, Shivan Raptor finds its niche. Being able to bypass slower setups or pressure defenses early on, it has the potential to tilt the tempo in your favor from the moment it lands on the board.

How to handle Shivan Raptor

Shivan Raptor represents one of the exciting creatures from the Urza’s Saga set, featuring efficient stats and the classic Magic: The Gathering mechanic of haste. With its strong attack power, this card can rapidly turn the tide of a match if left unchecked. Key to overcoming this threat is the strategic deployment of removal spells. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile offer swift answers to terminate the Raptor before it can cause significant damage. Beyond single-target removal, control players might favor board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation, which can restore balance to the battlefield against multiple threats, including the agile Raptor.

Counter strategies also play a critical role when facing the Shivan Raptor. By disrupting the creature’s momentum with counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak at the time of its casting, you can prevent it from ever touching the board and maintain the upper hand. Additionally, enchantments like Pacifism effectively neutralize the creature without removing it, providing a more permanent solution to the aggressive onslaught of the Raptor.

It’s essential to anticipate the Shivan Raptor’s impact in the early to mid-game – preparation and timely responses are your best defense against this swift predator in MTG. Keep removal at the ready, disrupt your opponent’s strategy, and maintain control of the game pace to ensure that this formidable foe doesn’t dominate the battlefield.

Cards like Shivan Raptor

Shivan Raptor takes its place in the dynamic world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives include the classic Ball Lightning, as both share the haste attribute, enabling them to strike quickly. However, Shivan Raptor has the added advantage of flying, giving it clear evasion over ground-based defenders. In contrast, Ball Lightning boasts a formidable 6/1 stat line, overshadowing the Raptor’s 3/1, but it also vanishes at the end of turn.

Comparatively, Spark Elemental presents another parallel, sprinting into the fray with haste, but it’s a smaller, one-time-use 3/1 that also sacrifices itself after attacking. The Raptor, while more susceptible to creature removal due to its lack of self-sacrifice, retains its presence on the battlefield threateningly turn after turn.

On balance, Shivan Raptor emerges as an interesting option for decks that value repeated aerial aggression, distinguishing itself from similar creature cards that either leave the battlefield too quickly or lack its evasive prowess.

Cards similar to Shivan Raptor by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Shinen of Fury's Fire - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shivan Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Shivan Raptor and other MTG cards: