Kraul Raider MTG Card


Kraul Raider - Guilds of Ravnica
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect Warrior
Abilities Menace
Released2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set nameGuilds of Ravnica
Set codeGRN
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number270
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBen Wootten

Key Takeaways

  1. Kraul Raider offers card advantage by reclaiming creatures from the graveyard after dealing combat damage.
  2. Enables resource acceleration, cycling key creatures back into play for a faster victory.
  3. Supports instant-speed synergy, maintaining pressure and tempo within MTG matches.

Text of card

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)

The kraul once skulked in the outskirts of Golgari society, but with Vraska's rise, they became valued forces of the Swarm.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kraul Raider’s ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand upon dealing combat damage to a player offers inherent card advantage. This not only recoups resources lost earlier but also keeps your hand filled with options to outmaneuver your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By ensuring you regain creatures that could be high-cost or key combo pieces, Kraul Raider indirectly accelerates your resource management. This repetition of resources makes your deck more efficient, leading to potentially faster victory conditions.

Instant Speed: Although Kraul Raider itself isn’t an instant, its evasive capabilities enable it to synergize well with cards that are. By potentially recovering instants from the graveyard with its ability, or simply keeping the path clear for instant-speed plays, it upholds tempo and pressure at critical moments in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Kraul Raider demands a card discard to unlock its full potential, a trade-off that can deplete your hand quickly, especially in MTG games where maintaining card advantage is key.

Specific Mana Cost: Kraul Raider’s casting cost necessitates a specific mana combination, which could pose a challenge in multi-colored MTG decks that may struggle to meet the mana requirements consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be considered steep for its provided stats and abilities, Kraul Raider might not be the first pick where lower-cost alternatives are viable and synergize more effectively with your MTG strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kraul Raider is a flexible addition to decks that capitalize on aggression or those needing a resilient creature. Its ability to gain flying ensures it can adapt to various board states and become an evasive threat when needed.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergizing with strategies that revolve around creature-based tactics. Its ability works well with cards that boost creatures when they attack or when they have flying, making it a strong component in combo setups looking to maximize damage output.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, a card like Kraul Raider may become increasingly important for its capacity to fit well into aggressive decks that aim to outpace control or combo opponents. Its versatility and combat flexibility can make it quite a useful tool in the ever-changing MTG landscape.


How to beat

Kraul Raider is a card that demands attention on the battlefield within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to adapt and capitalize on card synergy makes it deceptively powerful in the right deck. To effectively counter Kraul Raider, it’s essential to manage the battlefield proactively. Removal spells are your strongest allies in this scenario, disrupting the potential combos that could make Kraul Raider a significant threat.

Consider using spells that can target and destroy creatures at instant speed, allowing you to respond agilely to your opponent’s moves. Sweepers that clear multiple creatures can also be particularly effective, especially if you’re facing a deck that aims to amass an army of insects or leveraging graveyard tactics. Be wary of the Raider’s recursive capabilities and plan your graveyard disruption accordingly. In summary, precise timing and smart card choices are the keys to overcoming the challenge presented by the Kraul Raider in MTG. A well-conceived strategy and prompt removal can ensure this creature’s impact is kept to a minimum.


Cards like Kraul Raider

Delving into the world of aggressive creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Kraul Raider holds its own with its menace ability, making it difficult for opponents to block without multiple creatures. This compares to other two-mana cost cards such as Grasping Scoundrel, which gains +1 power as long as you’re attacking. However, Kraul Raider offers consistent offensive pressure without conditional buffs.

In a similar bracket, Goblin Glory Chaser shares the potential to become more challenging to block by earning renown and consequently menace. Yet, it lacks the instant menace given to Kraul Raider, thus making Goblin Glory Chaser a slower option for aggro strategies. Alternatively, Keldon Marauders comes into play with an immediate impact, dealing damage upon entering and leaving the battlefield, but without the continuous threat posed by Kraul Raider’s evasion capability.

When analyzing similar cards, Kraul Raider’s menace provides steady and predictable combat advantages right out of the gate, securing its place in decks that aim for quick and relentless aggression in Magic: The Gathering.

Grasping Scoundrel - MTG Card versions
Goblin Glory Chaser - MTG Card versions
Keldon Marauders - MTG Card versions
Grasping Scoundrel - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Goblin Glory Chaser - Magic Origins (ORI)
Keldon Marauders - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Kraul Raider by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Dusk Imp - Tenth Edition (10E)
Severed Legion - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kraul Raider MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Kraul Raider and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kraul Raider has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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