Rampaging Hippo MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Hippo
Abilities	Cycling,Trample
Released	2017-07-14
Set symbol
Set name	Hour of Devastation
Set code	HOU
Power	5
Toughness	6
Number	128
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Aaron Miller

Key Takeaways

Enhances card flow through its cycling ability, replacing itself in hand for board state adaptability.
Its demanding mana cost can limit deck inclusion, potentially restricting its overall playability.
Despite high cost, adds value through versatility, cycling synergy, and potential battlefield domination.

Text of card

Trample Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"Respect is earned through deeds—or the capacity to bite someone in half." —Sana, former Ahn-crop initiate

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rampaging Hippo allows you to cycle it from your hand, which means you can replace it with a new card and maintain a healthy flow of card options as you play.

Resource Acceleration: Since this hippo comes with a sizeable body, it enables you to make impactful plays by exerting a stronger presence on the board, potentially leading to accelerated resource dominance.

Instant Speed: Although Rampaging Hippo itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the cycling ability can be utilized at the end of your opponent’s turn, adding tactical flexibility to your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rampaging Hippo requires players to discard a card to access its cycling ability. This can pose a setback when hand size is critically important or when every card in hand is of high strategic value. Cycling is intended to offer deck fluidity, yet sometimes it demands a heavy price, especially in tight game states where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Rampaging Hippo’s specific mana cost of two green and four generic mana can be challenging to meet in multi-colored or color-restricted decks. Its dependency on green mana sources means that not all deck types can accommodate it without potential mana base complications, thereby reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For six mana, the value Rampaging Hippo brings to the table may not compare favorably with other creatures or spells in the same cost bracket. In a game where efficiency is king, the Hippo might be a step behind more impactful six-cost options that offer immediate board presence or game-altering effects.

Reasons to Include Rampaging Hippo in Your Collection

Versatility: Rampaging Hippo serves as a beefy creature that can fill multiple roles on the battlefield. Its trample ability allows it to push through defenses, while its cycling ability helps you dig through your deck for key cards when the Hippo isn’t the most advantageous play.

Combo Potential: When you cycle Rampaging Hippo, it not only draws you a card but also triggers any abilities in your deck concerned with discarding or drawing. This can synergize well with strategies aiming to exploit these mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where large creatures can dominate and control the pace, Rampaging Hippo can act as a sizable threat. Additionally, its existence in your deck can affect how your opponent sideboards or plays, knowing you have the potential to quickly change the board state with this hefty creature.

How to beat

Rampaging Hippo is a creature card that can be a formidable presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This substantial beast not only possesses trample, allowing it to potentially deal excess damage to a player, but it also brings a cycling ability which can benefit the controller by drawing a card. Facing a Rampaging Hippo requires a strategic approach.

To effectively overcome this mammoth, removal spells are a player’s best friend. Efficient and cost-effective removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch the Hippo before it wreaks havoc. Additionally, countering it before it hits the field with spells like Counterspell ensures it never gets a chance to flex its muscles. Combat tricks and deathtouch creatures are also methods to remove the Hippo in combat without too much of a resource investment.

While Rampaging Hippo might appear daunting, understanding your deck’s available resources to deal with such threats is crucial. With the right strategy in place, this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut can be managed, preserving your life total and securing your position in the game.

Cards like Rampaging Hippo

Rampaging Hippo is an intriguing creature card that finds its place within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s big green beaters. When evaluating parallels, the Hippo draws certain comparisons to Overgrown Armasaur. Both creatures offer sizable stats for their cost and the added bonus of a secondary effect upon entering the battlefield. Where Rampaging Hippo distinguishes itself with its cycling ability, providing both deck filtering and a surprise card draw, the Armasaur relies on its Enrage ability to create additional creature tokens under specific conditions.

Analogous to Rampaging Hippo, we see Greater Sandwurm, another creature card that champions the cycling ability. The Sandwurm’s key appeal lies in its unblockable nature by creatures with power 2 or less, a subtle yet game-altering advantage. Despite this, the Hippo’s presence on the field with its bulkier form and trample attribute can become an immediate threat to opponents.

Upon closer comparison, Rampaging Hippo’s blend of formidable power, trample, and the strategic depth offered by cycling makes it a worthy contender in decks that capitalize on large creature plays and value from cycling mechanics within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse ecosystem of cards.

Cards similar to Rampaging Hippo by color, type and mana cost

Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions

Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions

Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rampaging Hippo MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation, 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 Rampaging Hippo and other MTG cards: