Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch MTG Card


Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - Dragon's Maze
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Cleric
Abilities First strike,Haste,Unleash
Released2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameDragon's Maze
Set codeDGM
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number69
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAleksi Briclot

Key Takeaways

  1. Exava’s haste granting to creatures with +1/+1 counters creates immediate pressure on opponents in gameplay.
  2. Deck construction utilizing Exava benefits from synergy with counter placement spells for resource acceleration.
  3. Despite a specific mana cost and potential discard downside, her aggressive nature justifies inclusion in certain decks.

Text of card

First strike, haste Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.) Each other creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has haste.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch allows you to make strategic gameplay advancements without sacrificing card economy. Though she doesn’t provide direct card draw, her built-in haste and the ability to unleash other creatures can apply immediate pressure on the opponent, forcing them to respond and potentially leading to advantageous trades that benefit your hand and board presence.

Resource Acceleration: In a deck built to optimize Exava’s abilities, she bolsters your resource acceleration through the synergy with +1/+1 counters. By enabling your other creatures with +1/+1 counters to attack as soon as they hit the battlefield, Exava can turn the tide by overwhelming opponents with accelerated and unexpected aggression.

Instant Speed: While Exava herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, her ability to give other creatures with +1/+1 counters haste means you can capitalize on instant speed counter placement spells. This dynamic allows you to swiftly adapt during your turn for surprise attacks, making her a threat that demands an immediate answer from opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For deck strategies that conserve hand size or rely on specific cards, the unleash ability of Exava Rakdos Blood Witch can be a double-edged sword. While you can opt not to use it, doing so greatly diminishes the card’s potential in the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement of one black and one red mana plus two generic mana, Exava demands a dedicated mana base. This can potentially restrict her inclusion to exclusively Rakdos or multicolor decks that can reliably produce both colors, decreasing her versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana may not seem steep, but in fast-paced formats or aggressive Rakdos builds, it’s essential to maximize impact per mana spent. Therefore, Exava’s cost juxtaposed with other cards offering immediate board impact or cheaper creatures that fit the aggressive curve can make her less favorable.


Reasons to Include Exava Rakdos Blood Witch in Your Collection

Versatility: Exava Rakdos Blood Witch offers a robust presence on the battlefield that can swiftly adapt to various deck builds. Her ability to grant haste to other creatures with +1/+1 counters makes her a valuable asset for aggressive strategies keen on delivering swift blows.

Combo Potential: Exava synergizes well with decks focused around +1/+1 counters. Utilizing her in tandem with cards that proliferate or add counters can lead to powerful, game-altering plays, accelerating your board’s threat level significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies prevail, Exava’s dominance is undeniable. Her capacity to immediately pressure your opponent with hasty, enhanced creatures can outpace many control decks, securing her status as a formidable threat in the right environment.


How to Beat

Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, represents a combination of aggression and synergy for creature-focused strategies in MTG. She is recognized for her ability to grant ‘haste’ to other creatures with +1/+1 counters and for being a formidable figure herself. This makes her a potent force on the battlefield, especially when she empowers a board filled with unleashed creatures. Nevertheless, there are effective strategies to outmaneuver her impact.

One straightforward method is to utilize removal spells that can handle Exava before she can affect the board state. Instant speed spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade allow you to respond before the combat phase, thereby neutralizing her hasty advantage. Counterspells also serve as a preemptive measure to keep her off the battlefield entirely. Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, removing Exava along with her legion. It’s also beneficial to block or handle creatures with +1/+1 counters since Exava’s influence diminishes significantly without them.

Given these tactics, facing down Exava requires both preparation and a willingness to act decisively. Control the pace of the game, maintain resources for key removal, and you can overcome the mayhem that Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch aims to unleash on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch exemplifies strategic depth and dynamism in MTG. Harness her abilities to capitalize on haste and +1/+1 counter synergies, navigating through decks that thrive on ceaseless aggression. Understanding her strengths and limitations is vital for optimizing your strategies, whether you’re at the heart of a fierce battle or meticulously assembling your next invincible deck. Her unique blend of power and pace can turn the tides of any match in your favor. Challenge the meta and infuse your collection with Exava’s potency. Embrace the chaos of Rakdos and let loose the full potential of your plays. Learn more with us and command the game.


Cards like Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch stands out in the compendium of MTG creatures, especially among those that lead the charge in an aggressive strategy. Akin to other formidable commanders like Olivia, Mobilized for War, Exava provides value in haste-enabling mechanics. Olivia also permits creatures to enter the battlefield with haste, but she further allows the option to gain a +1/+1 counter at the small price of discarding a card, whereas Exava grants haste to any creature with a +1/+1 counter already on it without additional cost.

Looking at counterparts that synergize with +1/+1 counters, Judith, the Scourge Diva comes to mind. While she does not provide haste, her ability to deal damage upon the death of non-token creatures provides a different kind of reactive threat. Then consider Flayer of the Hatebound, offering direct damage to opponents whenever a creature with a +1/+1 counter lands from the graveyard, amplifying the aggression in a more post-reanimation strategy – a different approach from Exava’s battlefield-oriented haste tactics.

Ultimately, Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch occupies a specific niche. She combines haste with +1/+1 counter synergy, providing immediate board impact, and promoting a strategy where creatures not only hit the ground running but also potentially grow stronger, making her a unique choice for players fostering a fast-paced, counter-heavy game.

Olivia, Mobilized for War - MTG Card versions
Judith, the Scourge Diva - MTG Card versions
Flayer of the Hatebound - MTG Card versions
Olivia, Mobilized for War - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)
Judith, the Scourge Diva - Ravnica Allegiance Promos (PRNA)
Flayer of the Hatebound - Dark Ascension (DKA)

Cards similar to Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch by color, type and mana cost

Lim-Dûl's Paladin - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Dead - MTG Card versions
Discordant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Volcano Imp - MTG Card versions
Possessed Barbarian - MTG Card versions
Pardic Collaborator - MTG Card versions
Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Rats - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Ashenmoor Liege - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Singe-Mind Ogre - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Paladin - Alliances (ALL)
Balduvian Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Discordant Spirit - Mirage (MIR)
Volcano Imp - Planeshift (PLS)
Possessed Barbarian - Torment (TOR)
Pardic Collaborator - Torment (TOR)
Prosper, Tome-Bound - Forgotten Realms Commander Display Commanders (OAFC)
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Blim, Comedic Genius - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rakdos Firewheeler - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Immersturm Predator - Kaldheim (KHM)
Murderous Redcap - The List (PLST)
Hellhole Rats - Dissension (DIS)
Wort, Boggart Auntie - Lorwyn (LRW)
Sootwalkers - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Ashenmoor Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Viashino Skeleton - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Singe-Mind Ogre - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Olivia Voldaren - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 A creature with unleash can’t block if it has any +1/+1 counter on it, not just one put on it by the unleash ability.
2013-04-15 Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block.
2013-04-15 The unleash ability applies no matter where the creature is entering the battlefield from.
2013-04-15 You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks