Rage Thrower MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	157
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Peter Mohrbacher

Key Takeaways

Rage Thrower enhances any MTG strategy relying on creature deaths, turning losses into damage against opponents.
It synergizes well with sacrifice-based decks, amplifying the power of mana-generating or instant-speed interactions.
Despite its benefits, the card requires careful play to avoid vulnerability and mana cost constraints in MTG.

Text of card

Whenever another creature dies, Rage Thrower deals 2 damage to target player.

"Some lament these haunted times, but I'm a geistflame-tank-half-full kind of person."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rage Thrower turns each creature’s death into potential damage against your opponents, effectively using your creatures’ demise to whittle down the opponent’s life total. It has the potential to turn the tide in a game where you’re churning through your creatures, due to sacrifice effects or board wipes, turning losses into offensive gains.

Resource Acceleration: While Rage Thrower itself doesn’t produce mana or ramp, it can be a catalyst for strategies that utilize sacrifice for benefits. In a deck with creatures that create mana when they die or are sacrificed, Rage Thrower can amplify the impact of those effects by also dealing damage, helping to close games quicker.

Instant Speed: While Rage Thrower operates at sorcery speed, it adds value to instant-speed interactions. Sacrificing creatures during an opponent’s turn, whether to instant-speed spells or abilities, means Rage Thrower is persistently a threat. Additionally, with creatures that can die or be sacrificed at instant speed, Rage Thrower bolsters your strategic options, applying pressure across multiple phases of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rage Thrower’s ability to deal damage hinges on sacrificing creatures, which could deplete your on-board assets and leave you vulnerable if not managed carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise red and five other mana for casting, which may be restrictive and potentially delay its play in non-monocolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six total mana cost for Rage Thrower can be somewhat steep, especially when considering alternative creature options that may offer more immediate board presence or lower casting costs.

Reasons to Include Rage Thrower in Your Collection

Versatility: Rage Thrower is a valuable asset to creature-heavy decks that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. Its ability to deal damage to an opponent whenever another creature dies lends itself well to strategies that involve sacrificing creatures for greater benefits.

Combo Potential: Paired with cards that generate tokens or with a board-presence strategy, Rage Thrower can become a repetitive source of damage. It thrives in decks that employ sacrifice effects, death triggers, and reanimation tactics to maximize its passive damage output.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where board wipes and creature control are common, Rage Thrower provides a persistent threat that punishes opponents for removing your creatures. It aligns well with controlled aggressive playstyles and can swiftly tip the scales in your favor during prolonged games.

How to Beat

Rage Thrower is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide of a game with its damage-dealing ability. Every time a player’s creature dies, Rage Thrower deals 2 damage to that player’s opponent. Despite its potential impact on the game, there are several tactics to undermine its effectiveness.

To counter this threat, priority should be on removing Rage Thrower from the battlefield before it can cause significant damage. Direct removal spells like Murder, Path to Exile, or Counter spells for when it’s cast are efficient ways to deal with this creature. Managing the battlefield by using board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also be effective, as they eliminate multiple threats at once, including Rage Thrower.

An alternative strategy is to prevent creatures from going to the graveyard in the first place. Cards that offer indestructible status or those that can bounce Rage Thrower back to its owner’s hand limit its ability to trigger. In conclusion, while Rage Thrower has the potential to inflict considerable pain, a well-prepared player can handle it with targeted removal, board control, and prevention tactics.

Cards like Rage Thrower

Rage Thrower elevates the strategy behind creature utilization in Magic: The Gathering. This card bears a resemblance to creatures like Hissing Iguanar which also inflicts damage to opponents whenever another creature dies. Yet Rage Thrower has a sweeter edge due to its ability to deal 2 damage instead of Hissing Iguanar’s 1, making it a more formidable force in formats where creatures are plentiful.

Moving on, we stumble upon Blood Artist, another card that capitalizes on the demise of creatures. While it does not deal direct damage to opponents, it offers a life-drain effect, gaining you life while diminishing an opponent’s, potentially resulting in a significant life points swing. Moreover, unlike Rage Thrower, Blood Artist impacts the board as soon as creatures start perishing, not limiting its effect to your creatures alone. Lastly, we consider Falkenrath Noble, which shares Blood Artist’s draining effect and also damages opponents, but with a higher mana cost and power and toughness addition.

Ultimately, Rage Thrower holds its ground among these cards in Magic: The Gathering’s vast library. It serves as a strong option for decks that sacrifice creatures frequently, leveraging each loss for maximum impact against opponents.

Cards similar to Rage Thrower by color, type and mana cost

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Greater Stone Spirit - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rage Thrower MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Rage Thrower and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rage Thrower has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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