Orazca Raptor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dinosaur
Released	2018-01-19
Set symbol
Set name	Rivals of Ixalan
Set code	RIX
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	108
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jakub Kasper

Key Takeaways

Orazca Raptor’s synergy with instant-speed spells can bolster reactionary strategies within certain MTG decks.
Its restrictive casting cost may limit deck-building versatility, especially in decks requiring diverse mana sources.
Despite a higher mana cost, its solid power and toughness ratio can be an asset, strengthening red-focused strategies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Orazca Raptor can potentially give you an edge by replacing itself in your hand when it dies if you meet certain conditions, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: While the Orazca Raptor itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it complements strategies that capitalize on the presence of creatures to unlock mana-generating abilities or other synergistic effects that speed up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although the raptor is cast at sorcery speed, it synergizes well with instant speed spells and abilities that can be enhanced by the presence of a 4-powered creature, fitting seamlessly into strategies that operate on maintaining open mana for reactionary plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Orazca Raptor doesn’t directly require discarding, its value could be reduced if forced to discard due to hand-size limitations or effects from other cards in play, which could diminish its potential on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a specific combination of mana to cast—two generic and two red. This can restrict its inclusion in multi-colored decks that might not always have the necessary red mana sources readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Orazca Raptor is moderately high, especially considering its lack of immediate board impact. With a cost of four mana, players often expect a creature to have a significant presence or an immediate effect upon entering the battlefield, while this dinosaur simply offers a basic set of stats without any additional abilities that justify the mana investment.

Reasons to Include Orazca Raptor in Your Collection

Versatility: Orazca Raptor provides solid offensive capabilities for a variety of red-inclusive decks. Its role as a 3/4 flying creature makes it a consistent aerial threat against opponent defenses.

Combo Potential: As a dinosaur, it has synergy with cards that support and power up this creature type, easily integrating into tribal-themed strategies and amplifying your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where evasive creatures hold an advantage, the flying ability of Orazca Raptor becomes increasingly impactful, giving it a place in meta decks that focus on dealing combat damage through less contended skies.

How to beat

Orazca Raptor, a formidable creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offers players robust stats for its mana cost. With its aggressive stance in the early to mid-game, it can apply pressure on opponents quickly. To effectively counter Orazca Raptor, consider using removal spells efficiently. Options such as Fatal Push and Path to Exile can dispatch the raptor before it can inflict significant damage.

Additionally, control strategies are quite effective. By playing cards like Essence Scatter or Negate, you can prevent the Orazca Raptor from ever hitting the battlefield. If the raptor manages to sneak through, having a well-timed Wrath of God or Doomskar for a board wipe can reset the playing field. Creatures with higher toughness or those that can block multiple creatures, like Guard Gomazoa, also serve as excellent defensive measures against the raptor’s assault.

Lastly, consider adjusting your play tempo. Slowing down the game by setting up your own defenses or by advancing your board position can outweigh the early advantage the Orazca Raptor provides. Through strategic removal, control, and tempo play, you can turn the tide against this predatory beast.

Cards like Orazca Raptor

The Orazca Raptor represents an interesting creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, carrying with it a solid blend of cost to power/toughness ratio. As a comparable creature, Frenzied Raptor from the Ixalan set also boasts a 4 power stat but falls short with one less toughness. The Orazca Raptor, however, gains a slight edge with its balanced 3 toughness, providing some additional durability in combat.

When examining Ember Weaver, we find a creature that shares the same power level, but its additional green mana cost for an ability related to red permanents is less consistent than the straightforward aggression of the Orazca Raptor. Another dino-themed card is the Thrash of Raptors, and while it potentially gains trample if you control another dinosaur, this is contingent on meeting that condition. The Orazca Raptor, meanwhile, provides its raw stats without prerequisite.

Taking everything into account, within the dinosaur archetype and among four mana creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Orazca Raptor holds its own, providing reliable stats for its cost, thereby offering a crucial asset for players seeking a straightforward, no-frills creature for their decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Orazca Raptor MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Orazca Raptor and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Orazca Raptor has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal