Ogre Slumlord MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Ogre Rogue
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Ogre Slumlord bolsters your battlefield by producing deathtouch Rat tokens upon non-token creatures’ demise.
  2. Synergistic with removal spells, the card turns losses into gains and enhances resource acceleration.
  3. Despite its benefits, Ogre Slumlord requires a well-managed board presence and can be mana-intensive.

Text of card

Whenever another nontoken creature dies, you may put a 1/1 black Rat creature token onto the battlefield. Rats you control have deathtouch.

"His tenement is filled with the most vile, disgusting vermin. It's infested with rats, too." —Branko One-Ear


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ogre Slumlord provides consistent card advantage by creating 1/1 black Rat creature tokens whenever another nontoken creature dies. Each of these tokens can potentially translate into extra damage, blockers for defense, or sacrifice fodder for various synergies, ensuring that you maintain a presence on the board while gradually overwhelming your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Beyond just creature generation, these 1/1 Rats also become a valuable resource themselves. As each Rat has the potential to turn into a piece of treasure or additional mana when combined with other cards that capitalize on creatures dying, Ogre Slumlord can accelerate your resource pool vastly, putting you ahead in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Ogre Slumlord itself does not operate at instant speed, it significantly enhances the value of all your instant speed removal spells. With the Slumlord on the battlefield, every creature’s death becomes more beneficial, turning your removal spells into dual-purpose tools that eliminate threats and simultaneously expand your army.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ogre Slumlord provides a steady stream of Rats and boosts their effectiveness, it does necessitate that you have creatures to sacrifice, potentially leaving you in a tight spot if you’re unable to maintain a board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Ogre Slumlord’s casting cost requires two specific black mana, which may be difficult to generate consistently in multicolored decks, potentially causing delays in getting it onto the battlefield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ogre Slumlord faces steep competition from other five-drop creatures or spells that might provide immediate impact or better board advantage.


Reasons to Include Ogre Slumlord in Your Collection

Versatility: Ogre Slumlord offers a unique blend of offense and defense for your deck. Its ability to generate a 1/1 black Rat creature token with deathtouch whenever another nontoken creature dies creates an ever-present threat that opponents must consider before engaging in combat.

Combo Potential: These Rat tokens not only bolster your army but can catalyze various synergies, lending themselves to sacrifice strategies or powering up cards that thrive on creature deaths. They make excellent fodder for sacrificial effects while deterring attackers with their deathtouch ability.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies are common, Ogre Slumlord can be a reliable source of board control. Its inherent resistance to board wipes that don’t exile and its capacity to deter ground attacks make it a valuable asset in certain meta environments.


How to beat

Ogre Slumlord is a challenging card to face off against in Magic: The Gathering, primarily due to its ability to generate an army of rodents whenever another nontoken creature dies. This trait makes it a resilient adversary, as it turns potential losses into new, evasive threats. Tactical removals are essential when dealing with Slumlord’s mechanic. A strategic approach involves prioritizing the elimination of other creatures to prevent the Slumlord from flooding the board with deathtouch rats.

Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can be remarkably effective, as they can clear both the Slumlord and its minions in one fell swoop. Alternatively, exile effects from cards such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can permanently deal with Slumlord without triggering its pesky ability. Timing is also crucial; it is advisable to expend removal spells when your opponent is tapped out or unable to respond, thereby minimizing the chances of counterplay.

Ultimately, being proactive in managing the creature state of the board and making judicious use of removal spells are key in overcoming the challenge posed by the Ogre Slumlord. A well-timed intervention can dismantle an opponent’s strategy centered around this formidable card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhance your MTG strategy with Ogre Slumlord’s unique ability to turn the tide of battle. As you build your deck, consider how this card’s token generation can create a formidable defense and a relentless offense, pressuring opponents at every turn. Keep in mind the importance of balancing your creature count and mana resources to leverage the Slumlord’s full potential. For those seeking to refine their deck with strategic depth and increased synergy, we invite you to delve deeper into the intricate mechanics of Ogre Slumlord. Unveil new tactics, engage with the community, and elevate your gaming experience. Dive in and discover the compelling dynamics this card offers.


Cards like Ogre Slumlord

Ogre Slumlord stands out in MTG as a dynamic creature that adds an extra layer of strategy. It’s somewhat comparable to Pawn of Ulamog, as both cards generate tokens upon death of other creatures. Ogre Slumlord, however, grants Rats you control deathtouch, making each token a lethal threat. Pawn of Ulamog falls slightly behind since it produces Eldrazi Spawn tokens that are more suited as mana fodder than offensive pieces.

Blood Artist offers another point of comparison, though with a different approach. This card doesn’t produce tokens, but it creates a life-sapping effect every time a creature dies, reflecting Ogre Slumlord’s death-triggered theme. Where Ogre Slumlord bolsters your army with menacing tokens, Blood Artist whittles away at your opponent’s life total, providing a more indirect route to victory.

Assessing Ogre Slumlord’s place within MTG reveals its unique position. It can turn creature deaths into a formidable army of deathtouch Rats, a factor that could tilt the scales in prolonged games. The Slumlord’s token-generating ability, coupled with the deathtouch mechanic, makes it a card that can dominate the battlefield under the right circumstances.

Pawn of Ulamog - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Pawn of Ulamog - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Blood Artist - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

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Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Ogre Slumlord Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 742003normalblackTrevor Claxton
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2602015normalblackTrevor Claxton
32020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 502015normalblackTrevor Claxton
42021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1042015normalblackTrevor Claxton
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 712015normalblackWoonak
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5182015normalblackTrevor Claxton
72023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1772015normalblackTrevor Claxton

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ogre Slumlord has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-01-24 All Rats you control have deathtouch while Ogre Slumlord is on the battlefield, not just the ones created by Ogre Slumlord.

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