Ravenous Baboons MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Monkey |
| Released | 1998-06-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Exodus |
| Set code | EXO |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 97 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daren Bader |
Key Takeaways
- Ravenous Baboons excels in disrupting opponent strategies through targeted nonbasic land destruction.
- The card’s requirement to discard upon entering play can be a drawback for resource management.
- Highly effective in metagames where nonbasic lands are prevalent, enhancing deck performance.
Text of card
When Ravenous Baboons comes into play, destroy target nonbasic land.
Build something and the baboons will tear it down. Leave the pieces lying and they will scatter them.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the Ravenous Baboons’ primary features is its ability to disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to discard resources. Every time the Baboons enter the battlefield, you potentially remove an opponent’s nonbasic land. This doesn’t just slow them down but also can deprive them of crucial resources, giving you an upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration for the player, Ravenous Baboons indirectly accelerates your board state by setting your opponent back. This card levels the playing field in your favor, especially when you’re up against decks that heavily rely on nonbasic lands for complex mana bases.
Instant Speed: Although Ravenous Baboons is a creature card and not an instant, its impact can be similarly disruptive during the turn it’s played. Once on the battlefield, it can immediately impact the game’s state by targeting a nonbasic land. This can be quite unexpected and make your opponent rethink their strategy on the fly, akin to the flexibility provided by instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Ravenous Baboons is that it mandates a discard when played. This requirement can become a hindrance, especially when your hand is already depleted from deploying previous strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to summon the Ravenous Baboons is very particular, requiring both red and generic mana. This demand for a specific mana type can potentially restrict the card’s inclusion, as it’s less versatile for decks that are not heavily red-oriented.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When examining the overall mana curve of aggressive red creature decks, the cost-to-impact ratio of the Ravenous Baboons might not be as favorable. The three mana needed to put these Baboons into play could be considered steep, considering other creatures or spells available might deliver similar or greater effects with less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ravenous Baboons offers a unique ability to disrupt opponents by targeting nonbasic lands, making it a strategic inclusion in decks designed to hamper mana development in games where land-based strategies are prevalent.
Combo Potential: This card can be combined with effects that bounce creatures back to your hand, allowing repeated use of its land destruction ability. It can also be used effectively with cards that control or take advantage of land destruction.
Meta-Relevance: As nonbasic lands are a cornerstone of many competitive decks, Ravenous Baboons brings a level of utility that can be crucial in a meta where mana fixing is key to dominating the board. This red creature card could become a game-changer in your arsenal.
How to beat
Ravenous Baboons is a crafty card that challenges players with its unique ability to destroy nonbasic lands. Its presence can shift the dynamics of a game by targeting the versatile utility lands that many decks rely on. To mitigate the impact of Ravenous Baboons, consider deploying a deck that relies less on such lands. Basic lands become invaluable as they remain untouched by the baboons’ disruptive entrance.
Another strategy is to employ removal spells that can swiftly eliminate the creature before its ability takes effect. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push are excellent choices, as they can deal with the baboons before they cause any land destruction. Counterspells are equally effective, by denying the baboons a chance to enter the battlefield in the first place.
In summary, adapting your land composition and including reactive spells in your deck are key to countering the potential threat posed by Ravenous Baboons. This approach allows you to maintain a stable mana base and minimize interruptions to your game plan, keeping you in control even when faced with such disruptive creatures.
Cards like Ravenous Baboons
Ravenous Baboons, a disruptive creature in Magic the Gathering, enters a space inhabited by a few compelling cards that impact land control. Stone Rain stands out as it directly destroys a target land. Though not a creature, it aligns with the Baboons’ land destruction ability, yet at a lower cost without the body on the board.
Acidic Slime brings a versatile approach to the table. While the Baboons focus solely on nonbasic lands, Slime can target both lands and other problematic permanents. Its deathtouch ability also makes it a considerable threat to creatures. However, it comes at a higher mana cost and with a lesser power and toughness compared to the Baboons.
Ultimately, Ravenous Baboons carves a niche with its specific application on nonbasic lands coupled with a decent power level. In games where nonbasic land destruction can pivot the tide of battle, the Baboons can be instrumental. They provide a unique blend of board presence and strategic disruption, allowing for a nuanced approach to land control strategies in Magic the Gathering.
Cards similar to Ravenous Baboons by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ravenous Baboons MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Ravenous Baboons 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ravenous Baboons has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ravenous Baboons card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If there is no non-basic land to destroy, the ability does nothing. |
| 2004-10-04 | You have to pick one of your own non-basic lands if the opponent does not have any and you do. |
