Reaper of the Wilds MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Gorgon
Abilities Scry
Power 4
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Scrying upon creature death allows for strategic deck manipulation, providing consistent access to impactful cards.
  2. Instant-speed hexproof and deathtouch make Reaper of the Wilds a persistent and versatile board presence.
  3. Despite its strengths, specific mana requirements and reliance on creature deaths can limit its utility.

Text of card

Whenever another creature dies, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.) : Reaper of the Wilds gains deathtouch until end of turn. : Reaper of the Wilds gains hexproof until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reaper of the Wilds excels in granting card advantage through its scry ability. Every time another creature dies, you can look at the top card of your library and decide whether to put it on the bottom of your library. This ensures that you draw your most impactful cards more consistently.

Resource Acceleration: While this creature doesn’t produce mana, it does offer a form of acceleration by efficiently utilizing the mana you have available. With its relatively low casting cost and abilities that can be activated at any time, it allows you to maximize the use of your resources each turn.

Instant Speed: Boasting an ability to gain hexproof at instant speed provides a significant tactical advantage. The flexibility to protect Reaper of the Wilds from targeted removal during your opponent’s turn makes it a resilient threat on the board, one that opponents must plan carefully to remove.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Reaper of the Wilds doesn’t explicitly demand a discard, its scry ability is contingent on other creatures dying. This could be a disadvantage in decks without sufficient creature control, restricting its full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Reaper of the Wilds requires a particular combination of mana colors, black and green, which could hamper deck-building flexibility. Players not running those colors will find this card unplayable in their decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two specific colors, Reaper of the Wilds can be considered mana-intensive. In a format where speed can determine the victor, the cost of getting this creature on the field may delay other essential plays.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Reaper of the Wilds boasts a flexible role in decks, seamlessly fitting into various strategies. With its ability to scry whenever another creature dies, it excels in decks emphasizing creature control, allowing you to filter your draws and enhance your game plan.

Combo Potential: This card’s capacity to scry pairs well with top-deck manipulation or graveyard strategies, unlocking a wealth of synergy opportunities. Whether it’s setting up for powerful reanimation targets or ensuring smooth draws, Reaper of the Wilds serves as an enabler for combo-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures frequently enter and leave the battlefield, Reaper of the Wilds’ potential skyrockets. Its deathtouch ability is a surefire deterrent against opponent’s attacks, making it a noteworthy contender in creature-heavy metas.


How to beat Reaper of the Wilds

Reaper of the Wilds offers a unique blend of abilities that can control the battlefield in MTG. This Gorgon has the versatility to be both a threat and a valuable asset in manipulating your deck. With a solid 4/5 frame, the Reaper can withstand a fair amount of damage and combat. Its scry ability when another creature dies can help the controller keep the right cards flowing, while the deathtouch ability ensures it remains a formidable blocker.

Success against Reaper of the Wilds often comes down to managing battlefield conditions. Utilize removal spells that don’t involve combat, such as exile or instant-speed removal, to counter it without triggering its scry ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can mitigate the Reaper effectively. Board wipes that clear multiple creatures simultaneously also prevent the Reaper’s controller from capitalizing on scrying multiple times. Always plan to deal with the Reaper immediately, before it can leverage death-triggered abilities to the controller’s advantage.

By deploying precise removal or sweeping the board, you can negate the advantages of Reaper of the Wilds. With careful timing and strategic planning, this Gorgon can be rendered much less of a threat, allowing you to maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG strategy often leads to discovering cards with multifaceted benefits, like Reaper of the Wilds. Its abilities to scry, deter attackers with deathtouch, and sidestep removal with hexproof make it a savvy choice in creature-focused decks. For those looking to optimize their gameplay, considering the environment and identifying synergistic opportunities is key. Whether you’re refining your deck to harness the Reaper’s full potential or seeking countermeasures, staying informed and adaptive is crucial. Dive deeper with us, refine your skills, and reveal new strategies to claim victory in your next MTG duel.


Understanding Reaper of the Wilds’ Place in the Meta

Reaper of the Wilds is a distinct creature card that has carved out its niche within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering cards. Known for its synergy with death-triggered mechanics, it invites comparisons to other cards within the same space. Among them, Deathreap Ritual is a card that shares a death-themed connection, rewarding the controller with card draw whenever another creature dies.

Cards like Reaper of the Wilds

Grave Pact also harnesses the strategic advantages of creature deaths, compelling opponents to sacrifice creatures whenever one of your own is put to rest. While not directly impacting card advantage like Reaper of the Wilds does through its scry ability, Grave Pact focuses more on controlling the board state. Another classic, Morbid cards such as Tragic Slip, benefit from the same death-related mechanics, providing substantial removal options when a creature dies.

While Reaper of the Wilds boasts multiple abilities including deathtouch, scrying, and the capacity to become hexproof, its versatility and resilience in a creature-centric deck are what sets it apart from its counterparts. In conclusion, while there are similar cards that interact with creatures dying, Reaper of the Wilds remains a unique and versatile choice within Magic: The Gathering creature strategies, providing both board impact and information control through scrying.

Deathreap Ritual - MTG Card versions
Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
Tragic Slip - MTG Card versions
Deathreap Ritual - MTG Card versions
Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
Tragic Slip - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reaper of the Wilds MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Theros, 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 Reaper of the Wilds and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Reaper of the Wilds Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2015-01-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 557372015NormalBlackJeff Simpson
22013-09-27TherosTHS 2012003NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
32014-03-14Duel Decks: Jace vs. VraskaDDM 632003NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
42015-01-23Fate Reforged Clash PackCP2 42015NormalBlackJeff Simpson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reaper of the Wilds has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-09-15 If Reaper of the Wilds dies at the same time as another creature, its ability will trigger for that other creature.
2013-09-15 Reaper of the Wilds's first ability triggers separately for each creature. For example, if five creatures die at the same time, you'll scry 1 five times. You won't scry 5.
2013-09-15 Scry appears on some spells and abilities with one or more targets. If all of the spell or ability's targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't scry.
2013-09-15 When you scry, you may put all the cards you look at back on top of your library, you may put all of those cards on the bottom of your library, or you may put some of those cards on top and the rest of them on the bottom.
2013-09-15 You choose how to order cards returned to your library after scrying no matter where you put them.
2013-09-15 You perform the actions stated on a card in sequence. For some spells and abilities, that means you'll scry last. For others, that means you'll scry and then perform other actions.

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