Rith, the Awakener MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Rith creates Saproling tokens, offering both board presence and resource acceleration through creature conversion.
  2. Naya color identity supports diverse strategies, but requires precise mana fixing for consistency in play.
  3. Has vulnerabilities that can be exploited by controlling its ability to attack or by managing token generation.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Rith, the Awakener deals combat damage to a player, you may pay o G. If you do, choose a color. Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play for each permanent of that color.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rith the Awakener offers a unique edge by generating Saproling tokens whenever you deal combat damage to a player. This ability can quickly fill the board with creatures, translating into significant card advantage as each token represents potential draw power or battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does this legendary dragon help swarm your field with tokens, but those tokens can be pivotal for ramping up your resources. Rith enables the conversion of creatures into mana through various synergies, leading to explosive turns and accelerated plays.

Instant Speed: While Rith itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the flexibility provided by the tokens it creates allows you to adapt swiftly to changing game states. Instant-speed interactions become more potent with an army at your disposal, giving you the means to react to opponents’ moves effectively or capitalize on openings as they appear.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rith the Awakener necessitates a significant setup. On attacking, you must have other permanents that share a color with the defending player’s choice, making it less predictable and reliable compared to cards that don’t hinge on board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Its identity is aligned with the Naya colors (red, green, white), which can be restrictive. Deckbuilding around Rith means dedicating slots to mana fixing or running a tri-color deck that can reliably cast it, potentially limiting your versatility against opposing strategies or faster decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: A six mana 6/6 flyer with its abilities might seem fair, but in a format that values speed and efficiency, Rith might come down too late. Other creatures or token generators come into play sooner and start impacting the game faster than Rith has the opportunity to.


Reasons to Include Rith, the Awakener in Your Collection

Versatility: Rith, the Awakener is a flexible powerhouse, capable of slotting into numerous deck strategies. This dragon’s color identity opens doors to Naya (red, green, white) builds, supporting various styles from aggro to token generation. The flying ability ensures Rith is a formidable threat in the air, often able to bypass ground defenses.

Combo Potential: Upon dealing combat damage to a player, Rith’s ability to create a multitude of Saproling tokens offers excellent synergy with cards that thrive on creature count. This can quickly become the linchpin of a combo, bolstering effects from cards like Purphoros, God of the Forge or Impact Tremors for explosive turns.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that values creatures and board presence, Rith’s ability to consistently populate the board with tokens makes it a contender in various metas. The capacity to accumulate a large army lends itself well to overcoming control decks that struggle with multiple threats and ensures your board remains resilient against sweepers.


How to beat

Rith, the Awakener can be a formidable adversary in Magic: The Gathering, turning the tide of the game with its dragon might and token-generating ability. However, it’s not without vulnerabilities. Handling Rith starts with denying it the chance to attack. Cards like ‘Pacifism’ or ‘Frost Lynx’ are useful for keeping Rith grounded. Artifact-based strategies can also be deployed using ‘Tangle Wire’ to tap Rith down, preventing it from becoming an immediate threat after summoning.

Preventing the token generation is another pivotal tactic. This involves countering triggered abilities with cards such as ‘Stifle’ or removing the dragon before the ability resolves. Should Rith succeed in creating its saproling army, sweepers like ‘Wrath of God’ can reset the battlefield. It’s also strategic to manage the kind of mana you’re allowing Rith’s controller to access; hindering their tri-color pool can delay or outright stop Rith’s activation. Lastly, keeping up pressure and maintaining control of the board state is vital; a well-timed ‘Counterspell’ or ‘Unsummon’ can shift momentum in your favor.

Ultimately, knowing when to disrupt Rith’s summoning and when to let it land, only to sweep away its followers, is the key to overcoming this draconic challenge. Responding flexibly to the situation at hand will lead to victory over Rith, the Awakener.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the deep strategies of MTG can be an invigorating challenge, especially when exploring the dynamic abilities of a card like Rith, the Awakener. Unleashing an army of Saprolings or plotting the perfect play that aligns with your mana resources makes every match a thrilling battle of wits. Understanding the strengths and addressing the limitations are what make a player stand out. It’s critical to consider Rith’s role in your deck and the overarching strategy of your gameplay. Ready to take your MTG skills to the next level and harness the full potential of your cards? Let’s journey together, and you too can harness the might of Rith in your deck builds and beyond. Join the community and continue crafting your path to becoming a master strategist in the world of MTG.


Cards like Rith, the Awakener

Rith, the Awakener, remains a classic commander choice for players seeking a potent blend of flying force and token generation in MTG. Dragons are a favorite tribe, and Rith stands tall amongst them, particularly in comparison to Intet, the Dreamer. Both creatures embody the iconic ability to produce a substantial effect upon dealing combat damage to a player. Unlike Rith, Intet’s ability leans towards manipulating the top of the deck rather than creating an army of tokens, which provides a different strategic advantage.

Another comparison can be made with Teneb, the Harvester, also part of the cycle that Rith comes from. Teneb, much like Rith, has a strong presence in the air and a trigger dealing with combat damage. However, instead of generating tokens, Teneb brings the ability to reanimate creatures from graveyards, offering a different angle to gaining board advantage. Furthermore, while Rith can create multiple tokens and therefore has an edge in wide strategy, Teneb focuses on the strength of individual creatures.

Assessing Rith’s capabilities within MTG’s array of dragon-themed powerhouses, it’s evident that this particular dragon excels in games that favor token proliferation and board presence, uniquely positioning itself as a formidable choice for enthusiasts of the fiery-scaled titans.

Intet, the Dreamer - MTG Card versions
Teneb, the Harvester - MTG Card versions
Intet, the Dreamer - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Teneb, the Harvester - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Rith, the Awakener by color, type and mana cost

Johan - MTG Card versions
Realm Razer - MTG Card versions
Nacatl Hunt-Pride - MTG Card versions
Meglonoth - MTG Card versions
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Johan - Chronicles (CHR)
Realm Razer - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Nacatl Hunt-Pride - Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (DDH)
Meglonoth - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Palladia-Mors, the Ruiner - Core Set 2019 Promos (PM19)
Phabine, Boss's Confidant - New Capenna Commander (NCC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rith, the Awakener MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and From the Vault: Dragons, 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 Rith, the Awakener and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rith, the Awakener Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 2671997normalblackCarl Critchlow
22008-08-29From the Vault: DragonsDRB 122003normalblackTodd Lockwood
32010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 482003normalblackCarl Critchlow
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14762003normalblackCarl Critchlow
52020-09-26The ListPLST DDE-482003normalblackCarl Critchlow
62023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1982015normalblackMathias Kollros
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3661997normalblackMathias Kollros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rith, the Awakener has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 You choose whether to pay as Rith’s ability resolves. Once you make that choice, no player may take actions until the Saprolings are created (if you paid) and the ability has finished resolving.

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