Ragavan MTG Card
2017-01-20 - Number 2
2022-09-09 - Number 6
2023-11-17 - Number 7
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Legendary Creature — Monkey |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Ragavan generates card advantage and disrupts opponents by exiling their top card upon dealing damage.
- Treasure tokens from Ragavan ensure extra mana, enabling quicker and bigger plays in the game.
- Offering surprise attacks, its Dash ability makes Ragavan a dynamic and unpredictable asset.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ragavan excels at providing consistent card advantage by allowing you to exile the top card of your opponent’s library and play it this turn. This not only disrupts their strategy but also potentially gives you access to additional resources beyond your own deck.
Resource Acceleration: With Ragavan, every time it deals combat damage to a player, you create a Treasure token. This extra mana source can be pivotal, giving you the ability to cast more spells or larger threats earlier than your opponents expect.
Instant Speed: While Ragavan itself is not an instant, its Dash ability can be activated at a speed akin to it, allowing you to decide each turn whether you want to commit it to the board or leave mana open for other instant-speed interactions, thus keeping your opponents guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ragavan’s presence on the battlefield can become a double-edged sword in gameplay. If capitalized on by an opponent, it may force discard actions, leaving you resource-deficient at pivotal game moments.
Specific Mana Cost: Ragavan requires a dedicated build-around with its specific mana alignment. Its Red mana cost makes it less flexible and can narrow deck diversity, locking players into mono-Red or two-color strategies where Red is a primary component.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a one-drop creature, Ragavan’s eminence comes at the cost of being a prime removal target. To extract maximum value, investing additional mana into protection spells or abilities is often necessary, draining resources that could be allocated elsewhere.
Reasons to Include Ragavan in Your Collection
Versatility: Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, has found a home in numerous archetypes due to its low mana cost and ability to provide both an early threat and card advantage. It’s a powerful turn-one play that can continue to affect the game as it progresses.
Combo Potential: This clever Monkey Pirate synergizes with a range of strategies that capitalize on extra mana and card theft. From utilizing the Treasure token for mana acceleration to playing spells from the opponent’s deck, Ragavan can fit into various combos, enhancing the deck’s flexibility and reach.
Meta-Relevance: In current competitive formats where pace and resource advantage are crucial, Ragavan shines by disrupting the opponent while bolstering your own position. It’s particularly effective in games where keeping tempo is the difference between victory and defeat.
How to beat
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, has become a widely discussed card due to its potential to skew early game advantage in Magic: The Gathering decks. This clever monkey pirate has the ability to coin extra mana and expropriate cards from the opponent’s library, creating significant early tempo swings. Facing off against Ragavan requires a game plan that undermines the card’s strengths and neutralizes its impact quickly.
The key to conquering Ragavan lies in prompt removal. Instant-speed removal spells are the best reaction during the combat phase before Ragavan can deal combat damage and trigger its ability. Efficient removal options include Fatal Push, Path to Exile or Lightning Bolt, costing only one mana and aligning well with the principle of answering threats with less investment than they cost. Moreover, cards like Unholy Heat that can potentially deal with Ragavan despite the possibility of it getting boosted are exceptionally valuable in this scenario.
Taking Ragavan off the board swiftly mitigates its ability to disrupt your game plan, which is especially crucial in high-pace formats. Denying this piratical primate the chance to plunder pays dividends, leveling the playing field and ensuring your opponent doesn’t sail ahead with bonus treasure.
Cards like Ragavan
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer stands out among creatures with its potential to boost your mana and card advantage. Analogous in function to Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, both cards can create tokens that add value in combat, yet Ragavan excels by its ability to produce Treasure tokens and exile cards from your opponent’s library. Another notable card is Robber of the Rich, which also takes advantage of card exile mechanics and redistributes card advantage, although it requires attacking with a certain number of creatures.
Comparatively, we look at Goblin Guide, one of the most iconic red one-drops. Though it offers a faster and reliable damage output, it lacks the card advantage mechanics inherent to Ragavan. Meanwhile, Dash Hopes and Eidolon of the Great Revel provide a different style of value within red gameplay, focusing more on disrupting the opponent’s strategy while Ragavan shifts the balance by offering additional resources and strategic options for its controller.
Assessing these cards, it becomes clear that Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer offers a unique combination of early-game pressure, resource generation, and strategic depth that makes it a powerful tool in MTG’s ever-evolving metagame.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ragavan MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Dominaria United Commander, 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 Ragavan and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Ragavan Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-01-20 | Aether Revolt | AER | 2 | 2015 | Token | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 2 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Commander | DMC | 6 | 2015 | Token | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 3 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 7 | 2015 | Token | Black | Daniel Ljunggren |
