Razorjaw Oni MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Demon Spirit
Power 4
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Razorjaw Oni can provide card advantage by disrupting opponent strategies and forcing costly attacks.
  2. It indirectly accelerates your resources by pressuring opponents, making their plays more inefficient.
  3. The card’s specific and higher mana cost can limit deck versatility and impact speed strategies.

Text of card

Black creatures can't block.

It gnashed its teeth, and the battlefield filled with the screech of blade striking blade.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the ability to create an asymmetric situation on the board, Razorjaw Oni can hinder your opponents’ plays involving white creatures. As it forces them to attack each turn if able, it can systematically deplete their resources while you maintain control of the flow of the game, potentially leading to a significant card advantage as the match progresses.

Resource Acceleration: While initially, the Razorjaw Oni does not directly influence mana resources, its dominance on the battlefield can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By applying pressure through its formidable power and toughness, the Oni makes it costlier for opponents to deploy their strategies, thereby granting you more latitude to develop your resources and position on the board.

Instant Speed: Although Razorjaw Oni doesn’t function at instant speed, its static ability impacts battles much like a disruptive instant would. Every turn becomes an opportunity for you to capitalize on your adversaries’ forced aggression, allowing you to strategize and respond to the evolving game state with swift and potentially game-altering decisions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Razorjaw Oni card can pressure players into a less favorable position by forcing them to discard valuable cards. If your hand is already stretched thin, its presence could be more of a hindrance than an asset, reducing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Razorjaw Oni is not only specific but also requires a double black mana investment. This can make it challenging to cast in multicolored decks, potentially limiting its utility to mono-black or heavy black-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including two black mana, Razorjaw Oni sits at a higher curve than some of its creature counterparts. In decks where speed is critical, the mana investment for this card’s abilities may not be as cost-effective as other cards with similar or more impactful effects.


Reasons to Include Razorjaw Oni in Your Collection

Versatility: Razorjaw Oni provides a formidable body for its mana cost, making it a strong fit in various black-centric decks. Its combination of high power, innate trample, and the ability to disable all but black and artifact creature blocks can shape the battlefield in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card excels in situations where you can capitalize on its abilities. For example, pairing it with cards that grant your creatures protection from black can clear the way for significant damage or work within a deck that manages your opponents’ creature colors efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where black creatures are prevalent, Razorjaw Oni’s passive ability to control blocks can be a game-changer. Its presence in a deck can greatly impact matches, making it a savvy choice when you’re crafting a strategy to counter specific meta trends.


How to beat

Razorjaw Oni presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, being a fearsome creature with the intimidating power to deny blocking privileges to all but black creatures. Its presence can alter the dynamics of the game significantly, making it a considerable threat. To navigate around this obstacle, players might need to pivot their tactics, as typical chump blocking won’t suffice.

One strategy is leveraging removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murder, efficiently bypassing the Oni’s restricting ability by not requiring a combat interaction. Alternatively, strategic deck building with an abundance of black creatures can nullify the Oni’s effect, allowing for a traditional defensive stance. Employing artifacts or enchantments that can render creatures colorless or give them all colors, like painter’s servant, also helps in ensuring Razorjaw Oni’s ability doesn’t become a hindrance.

In essence, while Razorjaw Oni can exert significant control on the board, a combination of removal spells and considerate deck construction can ensure it remains a manageable foe and doesn’t hinder your path to victory.


Cards like Razorjaw Oni

Razorjaw Oni is a distinctive member in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering black creatures. This card bears a striking resemblance to other demons in MTG, like Dread Cacodemon, which also presents a significant imposing presence on the battlefield. Yet, Razorjaw Oni offers a unique twist with its ability to prevent nonblack creatures from blocking. This tactical advantage can significantly alter combat dynamics in a player’s favor.

Comparing it to other oni like Painwracker Oni reveals a common theme of providing powerful creatures with a downside. Painwracker Oni forces you to sacrifice a creature unless you have a demon on the field, whereas Razorjaw Oni’s downside affects the broader field of nonblack creatures. Lastly, Skulking Knight, is yet another black creature with an intimidation factor, but it penalizes the player with the potential loss of the creature if targeted by a spell. Razorjaw Oni, instead, directly impacts combat strategies, which could potentially make it a preferable choice in decks capitalizing on evasion tactics.

In evaluating these creatures side by side, Razorjaw Oni stands out for its ability to streamline offensive strategies, making it a formidable card especially in mono-black decks within Magic: The Gathering.

Dread Cacodemon - MTG Card versions
Painwracker Oni - MTG Card versions
Skulking Knight - MTG Card versions
Dread Cacodemon - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Painwracker Oni - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Skulking Knight - Time Spiral (TSP)

Cards similar to Razorjaw Oni by color, type and mana cost

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
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - 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
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dirge Bat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Razorjaw Oni MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa and Commander 2011, 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 Razorjaw Oni and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Razorjaw Oni Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-06-03 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-06-03Saviors of KamigawaSOK 872003normalblackCarl Critchlow
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 942003normalblackCarl Critchlow
32017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 632015normalblackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Razorjaw Oni has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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