Massive Raid MTG Card


Massive Raid - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Number100
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

  1. Massive Raid converts creature quantity into direct damage, offering strategic advantage without combat.
  2. Its instant speed allows for unexpected plays and reactive strategies in crucial moments.
  3. While strong, it requires a large creature presence, making board state preservation essential.

Text of card

Massive Raid deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of creatures you control.

"The Boros lack vision. Give them a convenient scapegoat and they'll be blind to the true threats." —Lazav


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Massive Raid offers a direct way to utilize your creature count, turning a broad board state into immediate impact without the need to engage in combat, potentially swaying the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not providing mana resources or tokens directly, Massive Raid can significantly reduce the pressure of resource allocation by dealing with threats or closing games, allowing saved resources for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Massive Raid allows for flexibility and surprise factor, offering the chance to react to opponent’s moves or end the game unexpectedly during their turn if the conditions are met, making it a powerful and versatile tool in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Massive Raid necessitates having a substantial number of creatures on the battlefield to maximize its effect. This can be a substantial downside if your board state has been cleared or if you’re unable to establish a presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s mana cost is exclusively red, which makes it restrictive and sometimes difficult to cast in multicolored decks that may not have sufficient red mana sources at the critical time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be deemed high for its damage output, there are scenarios where Massive Raid may not provide the best mana-to-damage ratio, especially compared to other direct damage spells in your arsenal.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Massive Raid is a flexible inclusion in red-based decks, particularly those that focus on swarm tactics and aggression. Its damage output scales with the number of creatures you control, making it adaptable to various game states.

Combo Potential: For decks that rapidly multiply creatures or tokens, Massive Raid can serve as a game-ending play. It pairs well with cards that raise your creature count, amplifying the damage dealt dramatically.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence is key, Massive Raid shines by turning your creature swarm into direct damage. This can be especially potent against decks that can’t handle sudden bursts of damage or in formats where massive creature attacks are prevalent.


How to beat

Massive Raid is a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering, packed with potential to deal a devastating blow based on the number of creatures you control. To successfully navigate against this red instant, focus on limiting the number of creatures your opponent can amass. Efficient removal spells, board wipes, or even applying pressure to force unfavorable trades can keep the Raid’s impact to a minimum.

Employing strategies such as creature count reduction and targeted removal, such as Doom Blade or Wrath of God, allows you to manage the battlefield and subdue the Raid’s power. Playing control-type decks with plenty of counterspells can also thwart an opponent’s attempt to cast Massive Raid, rendering their strategy ineffective. Control the creature flow, and you control the Raid.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s moves can turn the tide in your favor. Maintain a vigilant defense and a strategic offense, and Massive Raid will be more of a minor skirmish than a full-blown assault on your life total in your Magic: The Gathering duels.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into MTG strategy and learn to harness the power of your creature army with Massive Raid. While this card can turn the tides in your favor, it’s vital to understand both its strengths and limitations. Getting the maximum benefit from Massive Raid means mastering the art of building and maintaining a strong board presence. Whether you’re refining an existing red deck or constructing a new battle plan, we can guide you on creating synergies and overcoming common pitfalls. Expand your MTG knowledge, discover new deck ideas, and become adept at deploying precisely timed strikes that leave your opponents reeling.


Cards like Massive Raid

Massive Raid stakes its claim in the array of red damage spells within Magic: The Gathering by offering a twist on the traditional damage-to-player mechanics. This spell earns its stripes by capitalizing on the number of creatures you command, inflicting damage equal to that count directly to any target. In the family of red spells, cards like Mob Justice and Burn at the Stake resonate with a similar beat. Mob Justice, for one, directly damages a player based on the number of creatures you control at a cheaper mana cost, but it lacks the versatility of selecting any target as Massive Raid does.

Burn at the Stake stands out for allowing you to tap any number of creatures to triple the damage to a single target. Though potentially more powerful, it requires a considerable amount of mana and pre-setup, contrasting with the instantaneous nature of Massive Raid.

Magic: The Gathering players evaluating damage spells will notice that Massive Raid offers a blend of manageable cost and flexibility to target creatures or players, setting it apart from alternatives that may either limit the targets or require more preparatory actions.

Mob Justice - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions
Mob Justice - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Massive Raid MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Massive Raid and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Massive Raid has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-01-24 Count the number of creatures you control when Massive Raid resolves to determine how much damage is dealt.

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