Urza's Rage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Kicker

Key Takeaways

  1. Urza’s Rage presents direct damage potential for strategic creature removal or decisive game endings.
  2. Instant speed casting increases tactical options, key for surprise plays or as a reaction to threats.
  3. High mana cost and color specificity may challenge inclusion in diverse decks, requiring strategic resource management.

Text of card

Kicker o8o R (You may pay an additional o8o R as you play this spell.) Urza's Rage can't be countered by spells or abilities. Urza's Rage deals 3 damage to target creature or player. If you paid the kicker cost, instead Urza's Rage deals 10 damage to that creature or player and the damage can't be prevented.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Urza’s Rage offers the ability to deal damage directly to a creature or player, which can equate to removing an opponent’s card from the game while maintaining your own hand. When kicked, its sheer power often results in eliminating a high-value target or ending the game altogether.

Resource Acceleration: While Urza’s Rage itself doesn’t provide traditional resource acceleration, it can be a game-ender in the late stages when you have amassed the resources to pay its kicker cost. This ensures that any excess mana you’ve accumulated can be converted into a decisive advantage.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Urza’s Rage at instant speed allows you to adapt to the battlefield dynamics, using it as a surprise element or in response to an opponent’s actions. This versatility makes it a formidable card in your arsenal, able to turn the tides when least expected.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limiting aspect of Urza’s Rage is that it doesn’t require a discard, but it does demand an intensive mana investment for its kicker cost which can be burdensome for players to assemble, especially in the early game or in a mana-strained situation.

Specific Mana Cost: Urza’s Rage has a specific mana requirement of triple red for its kicked version. This can be restrictive and often only fits comfortably within mono-red decks or those with a heavy red mana base, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card delivers a powerful punch with its ability to deal unpreventable damage, the cost of 12 mana to unleash its full potential is steep. Other spells or creatures could potentially offer similar levels of impact or better mana efficiency, making Urza’s Rage a sometimes underwhelming choice when considering its mana-to-damage output ratio.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Urza’s Rage is a unique instant that can find its place in various MTG decks, adept at dealing direct damage in both aggressive and control game strategies. Its ability to be uncounterable when kicked ensures that crucial damage cannot be prevented, making it a flexible option for any collection.

Combo Potential: This card can be a powerhouse when combined with spells that copy instant cards or effects that reduce its casting cost. It can play a pivotal role in decks built around instant and sorcery synergies, leading to satisfying and potentially game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creatures and planeswalkers dominate, Urza’s Rage provides a reliable removal option. Its scalability with the kick option allows it to remain relevant from early skirmishes to late-game finishing moves, making it a versatile choice for shifting metas.


How to Beat

Urza’s Rage is an iconic spell card in Magic the Gathering, known for its kicker ability to deal unpreventable damage. To effectively counter Urza’s Rage, necessity dictates the adoption of versatile strategies. One such method involves utilizing counterspells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto to intercept the spell before it takes effect. Additionally, manipulating your life total beyond the reach of Urza’s Rage’s maximum damage can prove invaluable. Employing life gain cards like Life Goes On or leveraging the power of cards that provide you hexproof, such as Leyline of Sanctity, ensures that you’re not a legal target for Urza’s Rage. Advanced tactics also include minimizing the potential for your opponent to amass the mana needed to activate the kicker cost, thus limiting the spell’s impact. Resource disruption plays a pivotal role here, with land destruction cards or those that add to the cost of your opponent’s spells, like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, effectively handcuffing their ability to escalate to Urza’s Rage’s full potential. Mastery of these techniques provides a well-rounded defense against this potent card.


Cards like Urza's Rage

Urza’s Rage is a notable spell in the vast pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s instant cards, often compared to other potent direct damage options. Like Lightning Bolt, Urza’s Rage delivers direct damage, but it excels with its “kicker” feature allowing for an unpredictable burst that can’t be countered. While Lightning Bolt is cost-efficient, it lacks the sheer finishing power of Urza’s Rage under the right circumstances.

Another card that echoes the characteristics of Urza’s Rage is Comet Storm. This card also provides flexibility through its multikicker ability, permitting a scale-up in damage that can target multiple creatures or players. Though Comet Storm is scalable, it doesn’t share Urza’s Rage’s uncounterable guarantee when kicked. Banefire, too, offers damage that can’t be prevented or countered if enough mana is invested, but it doesn’t have the base efficiency of being a playable option at lower mana costs as Urza’s Rage does.

In weighing the merits of these cards, Urza’s Rage stands out in MTG for its potential to end games unexpectedly and its versatility as both an early game tool and a late-game finisher. Its unique mixture of immediate impact and formidable late-game potential makes it a distinctive choice amongst direct damage spells.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Banefire - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Comet Storm - Worldwake Promos (PWWK)
Banefire - Conflux (CON)

Cards similar to Urza's Rage by color, type and mana cost

Solfatara - MTG Card versions
Trumpet Blast - MTG Card versions
Turf Wound - MTG Card versions
Char - MTG Card versions
Chaos Warp - MTG Card versions
Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - MTG Card versions
Seething Song - MTG Card versions
Unforge - MTG Card versions
Aura Barbs - MTG Card versions
Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions
Smash - MTG Card versions
Fiery Temper - MTG Card versions
Orcish Cannonade - MTG Card versions
Chaos Wrap - MTG Card versions
Fatal Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Seismic Strike - MTG Card versions
Staggershock - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Blood Hand - MTG Card versions
Rally the Forces - MTG Card versions
Brimstone Volley - MTG Card versions
Solfatara - Visions (VIS)
Trumpet Blast - Masters 25 (A25)
Turf Wound - Invasion (INV)
Char - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Chaos Warp - Fallout (PIP)
Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Seething Song - Mirrodin (MRD)
Unforge - Darksteel (DST)
Aura Barbs - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Path of Anger's Flame - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Smash - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Fiery Temper - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Orcish Cannonade - Time Spiral (TSP)
Chaos Wrap - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Fatal Frenzy - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Seismic Strike - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Staggershock - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Flames of the Blood Hand - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Rally the Forces - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Brimstone Volley - Conspiracy (CNS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Urza's Rage MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Urza's Rage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Urza's Rage Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 1781997normalblackMatthew D. Wilson
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 tvdl1781997normalgoldMatthew D. Wilson
32001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 jt1781997normalgoldMatthew D. Wilson
42001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ar1781997normalgoldMatthew D. Wilson
52010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 362003normalblackJim Murray
62015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1692015normalblackJim Murray
72019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1512015normalblackJim Murray
82019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10892015normalblackJim Murray
92020-09-26The ListPLST C15-1692015normalblackJim Murray
102021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 472015normalborderlessDominik Mayer
112021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 1102015normalborderlessMaiko Aoji
122021-04-23Strixhaven Art SeriesASTX 792015art_seriesborderlessDominik Mayer
132021-04-23Strixhaven Art SeriesASTX 79s2015art_seriesborderlessDominik Mayer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Urza's Rage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 A spell or ability that counters spells can still target Urza's Rage. When that spell or ability resolves, Urza's Rage won't be countered, but any additional effects of that spell or ability will still happen.
2019-06-14 If the target for Urza's Rage becomes an illegal target, the spell won't resolve and will be put into its owner's graveyard with no effect. This is true even if its damage can't be prevented and even though it can't be countered.

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