Raging Poltergeist MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spirit
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	6
Toughness	1
Number	150
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Slawomir Maniak

Key Takeaways

Raging Poltergeist applies board pressure, making opponents overcommit resources to manage it.
Enables specific strategies, enhancing decks that leverage creature power or sacrifice.
Offers psychological play, suggesting you might have instant speed responses available.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Raging Poltergeist doesn’t directly let you draw cards, its aggressive stats for a low mana cost can press the advantage on the board and pressure your opponent, potentially causing them to expend more resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: This spirit creature might not produce mana or tokens, but its presence can enable strategies that capitalize on high-power creatures. For decks that benefit from sacrificing creatures or using the power of creatures for various effects, Raging Poltergeist can serve as an efficient resource.

Instant Speed: Although Raging Poltergeist itself is a creature card and not an instant, its inclusion in your deck means you could be holding mana for an instant response during your opponent’s turn if you choose not to cast it. It gives the illusion of potential instant speed interaction, which can be just as valuable in the psychological aspect of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Raging Poltergeist often leads to a strategically unsound discard, making you lose grip on vital cards necessary for game-progressing plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The rigorous mana demand restricts this card’s flexibility; it necessitates a particular combination that might not align effortlessly with diverse deck structures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Tapping into the essence of the Raging Poltergeist requires a substantial mana commitment which, in comparison to other options within the same mana range, may not result in a favorable balance of power and cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Raging Poltergeist offers a dynamic range of uses within various deck builds. Given its power level that aligns with its mana cost, it can easily slot into Red aggro decks or act as a sizable threat in Limited formats.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies designed to exploit high power creatures. It works well with cards that harness the power of creatures for direct damage or those that sacrifice creatures for greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where lower-cost creatures dominate, Raging Poltergeist can offer a substantial mid-game presence. Its raw power can outmatch other creatures within its mana range, making it a crucial addition for players looking to maintain momentum and pressure opponents in the current meta.

How to beat Raging Poltergeist

Raging Poltergeist presents a challenge on the board with its power swinging mechanic in the world of Magic: The Gathering. As a creature known for its ability to increase in strength equally to the number of creature cards in its controller’s graveyard, it can escalate into a formidable threat. The key to overcoming this spectral adversary lies in effective graveyard management.

Strategies to combat Raging Poltergeist include employing graveyard hate cards such as Tormod’s Crypt and Relic of Progenitus. These allow players to exile cards from opponent’s graveyards, thus diminishing the Poltergeist’s potency. Additionally, cards that offer exile effects upon creatures, like Swords to Plowshares, bypass the graveyard entirely, preventing any power boost the Poltergeist might receive from other creatures hitting the graveyard later on.

Ultimately, staying ahead of Raging Poltergeist means prioritizing the containment of an opponent’s graveyard while maintaining removal spells that sidestep the usual death-to-graveyard pipeline. By controlling these aspects of the game, players can minimize the impact of Raging Poltergeist and keep the spectral threat at bay in their matches.

Cards like Raging Poltergeist

Raging Poltergeist, a spirited entry in the world of Magic: The Gathering, stands among creatures known for their aggressive stats. Its kin includes Looming Spires which, much like Raging Poltergeist, offers a boost to power without additional mana cost upon entering the battlefield. However, what sets Raging Poltergeist apart is its consistently heightened power level, ready to unleash formidable attacks every turn.

Alongside this ethereal presence is Havoc Devils, which shares the trample ability, a trait that allows them to push excess damage through defenders. While Havoc Devils boast the trample across turns, they lack the sheer force behind each strike that Raging Poltergeist provides. Another contender, the Skizzik, presents haste for immediate impact but comes at the expense of sacrificing it if you don’t pay its kicker cost.

In considering the balance between cost, power, and utility, Raging Poltergeist holds a unique position. Its raw power is a significant advantage for anyone seeking to maximize damage output from early stages of the game and overwhelm opponents with unabating force.

Cards similar to Raging Poltergeist by color, type and mana cost

Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions

Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions

Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions

Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions

Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Raging Poltergeist MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Raging Poltergeist and other MTG cards: