Wave of Rats MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Rat
Abilities Blitz,Trample
Power 4
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Wave of Rats can drastically alter card advantage and benefits from rat-centric and creature-heavy decks.
  2. The card’s instant speed plays can surprise opponents, yet the discard requirement might be a drawback.
  3. Its mana cost and color specificity could limit versatility, but it remains a potent choice for black decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wave of Rats MTG card by a specific set like New Capenna Commander and New Capenna Commander, 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 Wave of Rats and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Trample When Wave of Rats dies, if it dealt combat damage to a player this turn, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. Blitz (If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "When this creature dies, draw a card." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wave of Rats facilitates a significant swing in card advantage, especially in decks designed around rat-themed synergies or those with an emphasis on creature numbers.

Resource Acceleration: By populating the board with rat creatures, this card sets the stage for various forms of resource acceleration, including but not limited to mana ramp through certain rat-dependent artifacts or enchantments.

Instant Speed: The ability to deploy a surprise battalion of rats at instant speed not only can disrupt opponents’ strategies but also allows for flexible response to battlefield changes, enhancing its strategic value in fast-paced matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Wave of Rats is the necessity to discard a card to utilize its full potential. This can backfire, especially when your hand is already depleted, reducing your ability to respond to opponents’ moves.

Specific Mana Cost: Another limitation is the card’s black mana requirement. This restricts its integration solely into black decks, or multicolor decks where black is a significant component, potentially limiting its versatility across a broader range of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lastly, the mana cost for Wave of Rats may seem steep. For the same amount of mana, players may have access to other spells or creatures that offer a greater impact on the game board, or that better match the strategic flow of their deck.


Reasons to Include Wave of Rats in Your Collection

Versatility: Wave of Rats offers a dynamic approach to deck building and can be pivotal in both aggressive and control-based strategies, easily fitting into rat tribal decks or any build looking to capitalize on creature numbers.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with mechanics that synergize with a high creature count or death triggers, amplifying the potential for strong interactions and game-changing plays.

Meta-Relevance: As the game continues to evolve, having a card like Wave of Rats that can summon multiple creatures at once provides a solid response to single-target removals commonly found in many meta decks, making it a resilient addition to any collection.


How to beat

Confronting Wave of Rats on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering can indeed test one’s adaptive strategies. Found within the realm of creature swarms, this card typifies the strategy of amassing a large number of smaller creatures, reminiscent of cards such as Rat Colony or Pack Rat, that become stronger as the number on the field increases.

One efficient tactic to counteract Wave of Rats involves utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, which effectively clear the table of all creatures, regardless of their numbers or buffs. Sweepers are the key to untangle the mass of creatures you might face. Additionally, spot removal cards can maintain a manageable board state until you’re ready to execute a full wipeout.

It’s paramount to keep control of the match’s tempo and manage the waves of creatures diligently. Cards with the ability to deal damage to multiple creatures at once, like Blasphemous Act or Fire Covenant, can also pivot the game to your advantage. Understandably, each match poses its context, making the timing and selection of your counter-strategies essential to ensure victory over a rat-infested battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unleashing the tide of tiny terrors with Wave of Rats in Magic: The Gathering can turn the tides of battle in your favor. Whether it’s bolstering card advantage, enhancing resource acceleration, or dramatically changing the flow of play with instant speed tactics, Wave of Rats is a formidable card for any player looking to dominate with a creature-centric strategy. As you consider the strategic depth and board presence offered by this card, delve into its potential and make it part of your MTG arsenal. For more insights and in-depth strategies, connect with us and unlock the secrets to mastering your deck’s prowess.


Cards like Wave of Rats

Wave of Rats is an intriguing card that beckons MTG players fond of swarming tactics. It shares the spotlight with other cards that excel in generating a multitude of creatures, such as Rat Colony. Through Rat Colony, you can build a sizeable army, considering there’s no limit to how many can inhabit your deck. Yet, Wave of Rats stands out by leveraging the quantity of land you possess to determine the number of furry friends summoned.

Looking at cards like Thriving Rats, we notice a slight strategic divergence. While Thriving Rats is singular in its approach, offering a boost in power and toughness alongside lifelink, it doesn’t match the potential board expansion that Wave of Rats promises. Similarly, Pack Rat offers the ability to clone itself by discarding a card and creating a token copy, but this means the rate of increase is bound by your hand size unlike Wave of Rats, which is constrained only by the lands you have in play.

Analyzing these different options, it’s clear that Wave of Rats provides a unique angle of attack. Its efficiency scales with your game progress and can lead to a swift influx of creatures, fundamental to any strategy aiming to overwhelm the opponent with numbers.

Rat Colony - MTG Card versions
Thriving Rats - MTG Card versions
Pack Rat - MTG Card versions
Rat Colony - MTG Card versions
Thriving Rats - MTG Card versions
Pack Rat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Wave of Rats by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
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Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Cabal Surgeon - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Gixian Puppeteer - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions

Printings

The Wave of Rats Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Brian Valeza.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 1422015NormalBlackBrian Valeza
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 412015NormalBlackBrian Valeza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wave of Rats has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-04-29 If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose blitz cost was paid, the copy won't have haste, won't be sacrificed, and its controller won't draw a card when it dies.
2022-04-29 If you choose to pay the blitz cost rather than the mana cost, you're still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its blitz cost only if you could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty.
2022-04-29 If you pay the blitz cost to cast a creature spell, that permanent will be sacrificed only if it's still on the battlefield when that triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is.
2022-04-29 The triggered ability that lets its controller draw a card triggers when it dies for any reason, not just when you sacrifice it during the end step.
2022-04-29 You don't have to attack with the creature with blitz unless another ability says you do.