Arcbound Ravager MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Beast
Abilities Modular
Power 0
Toughness 0

Key Takeaways

  1. Arcbound Ravager transforms artifacts into power, posing a variable threat on the battlefield.
  2. It’s integral in artifact decks, leveraging each played artifact to ramp up board presence.
  3. Instant-speed sacrifices lend Arcbound Ravager flexibility to adapt and counter during battles.

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Put a +1/+1 counter on Arcbound Ravager. Modular 1 (This comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it. When it's put into a graveyard, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arcbound Ravager stands out for its ability to convert other artifacts into power, effectively transforming potential dead cards on the field into a significant threat. By sacrificing an artifact, you grow Ravager’s strength, enabling it to dominate the battlefield and pressure your opponent into a defensive position.

Resource Acceleration: As a key piece in artifact synergy decks, Arcbound Ravager accelerates your board presence exponentially. Each artifact played essentially counts for more, giving you an edge in developing board state and pressure. This relentless growth makes it a powerhouse in any artifact-centric strategy.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice an artifact at instant speed gives Arcbound Ravager a level of unpredictability and flexibility. It can surprise opponents during combat by increasing its power suddenly, or by dodging removal spells by sacrificing itself to bolster another artifact creature’s power, often shifting the tide of battle in your favor seamlessly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arcbound Ravager’s modular ability necessitates the sacrifice of other artifacts, which could deplete your artifact resources and potentially weaken your board presence if not carefully managed.

Specific Mana Cost: The creature requires colorless mana to cast, demanding access to sufficient artifact or colorless mana sources, which might not always align with your deck’s mana base, particularly in multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Arcbound Ravager’s initial cost is moderate, fully utilizing its ability to amass +1/+1 counters can require a significant mana investment throughout the game, potentially creating opportunities where those resources could be allocated to more impactful plays.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arcbound Ravager is a powerhouse in artifact-centric decks. Its ability to sacrifice other artifacts to grow makes it a flexible threat that can survive board wipes and combat tricks.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergistic setups, working seamlessly with modular mechanics or any strategy that capitalizes on +1/+1 counters or artifact recursion for an explosive impact.

Meta-Relevance: Being a staple in several competitive formats, Arcbound Ravager consistently holds its ground in various meta environments, proving time and again why it’s a must-have for players aiming to stay on top of the game.


How to beat

Arcbound Ravager is a potent force in MTG, known for its modular ability and its power to convert other artifacts into additional +1/+1 counters. To effectively counter this artifact creature, it’s crucial to disrupt synergy with removal spells that can target either the Ravager or its potential feeders before the counters get too large. Artifact removal like Abrade or Shatterstorm can dismantle the combo by taking out key pieces. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace also neutralize the Ravager’s ability by eliminating its potential to move counters after being sacrificed.

Holding up instant-speed interaction is another vital strategy. This allows players to respond to the sacrifice trigger of the Arcbound Ravager, preventing the distribution of counters to another creature. Counterspells targeting key artifacts in the opponent’s deck can thwart the Ravager’s growth. Moreover, board wipes such as Supreme Verdict ensure that regardless of how large the Ravager gets, it can be contained in one fell swoop.

Players must remain vigilant of the Ravager’s ability to swing combat phases and races in favor of the opponent. Addressing the creature’s threat promptly with the right mix of reactive spells and strategic plays ensures it doesn’t overwhelm the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Tapping into the potential of Arcbound Ravager within Magic the Gathering requires finesse and a solid understanding of its place in the artifact hierarchy. With its pros and cons weighed, and possible alternatives considered, we acknowledge its prowess and complexity. For those looking to optimize their decks or outmaneuver opponents wielding this formidable creature, each game becomes a unique puzzle. We encourage you to keep this MTG titan in mind, as mastering its intricacies could very well be your next step towards dominance. Delve deeper into the strategies that make this card thrive by joining our community and enhance your gameplay today.


Cards like Arcbound Ravager

In the realm of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Arcbound Ravager stands out as a formidable option for aggressive artifact-based strategies. When sizing it up against its cousins, Steel Overseer is a card that often enters the fray. Both empower artifact creatures, with the Overseer boosting an entire army over time, whereas the Ravager offers an immediate, though singular, power increase by sacrificing other artifacts.

Walking Ballista is also comparable, sharing the modular ability and operating on +1/+1 counters. However, Ballista’s strength lies in its ability to remove creatures or deal damage to opponents directly, providing more versatility than the solely creature-focused Ravager. Then we have Hangarback Walker, excelling in creating multiple artifact creature tokens, which can in turn feed into the Ravager’s voracious hunger for artifacts to become an even greater threat.

Reviewing these cards critically, Arcbound Ravager indeed secures a unique position in MTG, especially when optimizing synergy within artifact-laden decks. Its capacity for an explosive increase in power makes it a remarkably impactful card and a cornerstone in artifact-deck construction.

Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Hangarback Walker - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Walking Ballista - Aether Revolt (AER)
Hangarback Walker - Love Your LGS (PLGS)

Cards similar to Arcbound Ravager by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Winter Orb - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Amulet of Kroog - Rinascimento (RIN)
Nacre Talisman - Ice Age (ICE)
Howling Mine - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Essence Bottle - Tempest (TMP)
Emerald Medallion - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Scrying Glass - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Cursed Totem - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Tsabo's Web - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Millikin - Odyssey (ODY)
Ark of Blight - Scourge (SCG)
Surestrike Trident - Darksteel (DST)
Energy Chamber - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Water Gun Balloon Game - Unhinged (UNH)
Angel's Feather - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Demon's Horn - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Wurm's Tooth - Magic 2011 (M11)
Liquimetal Coating - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arcbound Ravager MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Darksteel, 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 Arcbound Ravager and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arcbound Ravager Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 728882015normalblackChase Stone
22004-02-06DarksteelDST 1002003normalblackCarl Critchlow
32004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 ap1002003normalgoldCarl Critchlow
42007-02-10Pro Tour PromosPPRO 20192015normalblackChase Stone
52013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1982003normalblackKev Walker
62016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 312015normalblackDaarken
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 562015normalblackDanny Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arcbound Ravager has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-09-25 If this creature gets enough -1/-1 counters put on it to cause its toughness to be 0 or less (or the damage marked on it to be lethal), modular will put a number of +1/+1 counters on the target artifact creature equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on this creature before it left the battlefield.

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