Ruhan of the Fomori MTG Card
2011-06-17 - Number 221
2011-06-17 - Number 221
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Giant Warrior |
| Power | 7 |
| Toughness | 7 |
Key Takeaways
- Ruhan can pressure opponents into using resources prematurely, establishing a resource advantage for the player.
- Its commanding presence shifts the game’s pace, influencing opponents’ strategies and enabling dynamic play.
- While Ruhan demands careful mana base construction, its power justifies its inclusion in diverse deck strategies.
Text of card
At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose an opponent at random. Ruhan of the Fomori attacks that player this combat if able.
Unfettered by allegiance, driven by war.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ruhan of the Fomori presents a unique opportunity for players to create card advantage by potentially drawing out removal spells from opponents or by pressuring opponents with its formidable presence on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, Ruhan’s sheer power can be utilized to quicken the game’s pace, forcing opponents to react and spend resources to handle the threat, effectively causing a resource disparity in your favor.
Instant Speed: Although Ruhan doesn’t operate at instant speed, it encourages a strategy built around instant speed interactions. By commanding attention as a must-answer threat, it allows you to dictate the flow of the game and respond more effectively to unfolding actions during all players’ turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ruhan of the Fomori doesn’t directly demand the discard of cards, navigating around the obligatory attack each turn can lead players to make difficult decisions regarding their hand and field presence. Often, preserving the right cards in hand becomes a challenge when balancing Ruhan’s aggressive nature.
Specific Mana Cost: Ruhan’s cost demands a diverse mana base to accommodate the specific colors of blue, red, and white. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to only certain types of decks, usually those dedicated to a ‘Jeskai’ color scheme, making it less flexible for decks that can’t reliably produce these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at four mana with three specific colors can be quite demanding in the early game. While his 7/7 stats are impressive, other creatures or spells available at a similar cost can provide immediate impact or versatility that Ruhan may not offer, especially considering the potential for being forced into unfavorable combat situations.
Reasons to Include Ruhan of the Fomori in Your Collection
Versatility: Ruhan of the Fomori offers adaptability as a commanding presence in both Voltron and chaos decks, capitalizing on its significant power for varied playstyles.
Combo Potential: This giant’s unpredictability pairs well with effects that manipulate combat phases or additional attack steps, racking up high-powered hits in a flurry.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape teeming with creature-centric decks, Ruhan can be a crucial force, capable of swinging the tide of battle in your favor with its sheer size and impact.
How to beat
Ruhan of the Fomori presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its significant size and the unpredictability it brings to the battlefield. This formidable creature can rapidly become a threat if not managed correctly. One effective strategy to combat Ruhan is through the use of removal spells. Cards such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can efficiently handle this giant, as they exile him, circumventing any potential resurrection strategies.
Another angle of attack against Ruhan is employing control tactics to manipulate combat phases. Cards like Maze of Ith or Mystifying Maze hinder Ruhan’s attacks without requiring a permanent answer. Ensuring you have a blocker with high toughness can also be a deterrent, as it forces Ruhan to engage in less favorable combat scenarios. Lastly, utilizing cards that prevent Ruhan from attacking, such as Pacifism or politics within the game, can buy you valuable time to establish a board capable of withstanding his onslaught or to set up a winning combo.
Ultimately, understanding Ruhan’s strengths and weaknesses is key in devising a plan to overcome this powerhouse. By keeping answers at the ready and managing the board state carefully, you can neutralize Ruhan before the Fomori giant claims victory.
Cards like Ruhan of the Fomori
Ruhan of the Fomori stands out as a unique commander in Magic: The Gathering with its mandatory attack each turn. A suitable comparison would be Zurgo Helmsmasher, another aggressive commander with a penchant for dealing damage. Though Zurgo has the advantage of indestructibility on your turn, Ruhan’s larger stature allows it to deal heavier blows and survive more encounters.
Another peer in this aggressive category is Rafiq of the Many. While Rafiq can buff a single attacker significantly, providing double strike, Ruhan excels with its unpredictability and inherent ability to impact the board as soon as it arrives. The difference in mana cost is also noteworthy; Ruhan requires a diverse mana base, encouraging a dynamic deck build that could suit a variety of strategy shifts.
When considering the board presence and the demands of a commander-centric deck, Ruhan of the Fomori provides an intriguing mix of challenge and power. Its capacity to dictate combat each turn offers a gameplay style not often seen in Magic: The Gathering, maintaining constant pressure on your opponents and steering the direction of the match with its substantial 7/7 body.
Cards similar to Ruhan of the Fomori by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ruhan of the Fomori MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Commander 2011 Oversized, 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 Ruhan of the Fomori and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Ruhan of the Fomori Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2011-06-17. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 221 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 2 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 Oversized | OCMD | 221 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ruhan of the Fomori has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ruhan of the Fomori card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | If Ruhan isn’t forced to attack the chosen player for one of the above reasons but can still attack, you may choose to have Ruhan attack another player, attack a planeswalker, or not attack at all. |
| 2011-09-22 | If your turn has multiple combat phases, Ruhan’s ability triggers at the beginning of each of them. Ignore any choices made during previous combat phases. |
| 2011-09-22 | If, during your declare attackers step, Ruhan is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under your control continuously since your turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having Ruhan attack the chosen player, you aren’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack that player in that case either. |
| 2011-09-22 | Ruhan must attack the chosen player if able, not a planeswalker controlled by the chosen player. |
