Ebony Rhino MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Rhino
Abilities Trample
Power 4
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Its tough nature requires opponents to expend extra resources to tackle it, enhancing battlefield staying power.
  2. Though it doesn’t accelerate resources, it synergizes with other cards for potential mana or power boosts.
  3. Lacking instant speed, the Rhino compensates with a sturdy defense, deterring attacks just by being present.

Text of card

Trample

"That Rhino would fetch us a tidy sum, Joven. Perhaps it's time to make it ours." —Chandler


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite its uniqueness, Ebony Rhino doesn’t directly deliver card advantage. Nonetheless, its substantial toughness makes it a resilient presence on the battlefield, meaning you’ll have a creature that’s hard for opponents to deal with without committing multiple resources.

Resource Acceleration: The Ebony Rhino by itself won’t increase your resource pool. However, when coupled with cards that capitalize on artifact creatures or high-toughness creatures, it could potentially be a part of a strategy that ramps up your mana or leads to powerful synergies.

Instant Speed: While the Rhino is a creature and not an instant, its steadfast stature allows it to effectively block threats unexpectedly, similar to how instants can catch opponents off-guard. It’s the sort of card that remains on the board, discouraging attacks just by its mere presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Ebony Rhino doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, an inability to mitigate its presence on the battlefield can force players into unfavorable decisions, potentially resulting in discarding valuable cards later.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating a substantial amount of colorless mana, the Rhino may struggle to find a home outside of decks heavily reliant on artifact support or ramp strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of seven, the Rhino’s cost is steep when compared to other creatures. Its stats and abilities must be evaluated against alternative options with lower demands on your mana pool.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ebony Rhino’s status as an artifact creature means it can slide into various deck builds, particularly those capitalizing on artifact synergies or needing robust defensive options.

Combo Potential: With its banding ability, the Rhino pairs well with other creatures, offering strategic advantages in combat and potential for interesting battlefield collaborations.

Meta-Relevance: In certain game environments where longer matches prevail, Ebony Rhino serves as a durable obstacle, potentially shaping the flow of battle and challenging opponents to find answers to its imposing presence.


How to Beat

Ebony Rhino, an artifact creature card, is not your everyday play in Magic: The Gathering. Its intimidating presence on the battlefield stems from its high toughness and the banding ability which could turn the tides of combat in your opponent’s favor. To effectively counteract this powerhouse, especially in formats where it’s legal, you’ll want to adopt strategies that are superior in removal or evasion. Cards that can exile artifacts, such as Disenchant, provide a clean solution by removing the Rhino from the game entirely without triggering any potential death effects.

Another practical approach is to side-step combat altogether. Utilizing flying or unblockable creatures can let you deal damage without engaging with the Rhino directly. Alternatively, pacifism effects that prevent creatures from attacking or blocking combined with board control cards can nullify the Rhino’s banding advantage and leave your opponent’s strategy vulnerable. Each game of MTG calls for adaptability, and knowing how to dismantle a defense anchored by Ebony Rhino could be the key to your victory.


Cards like Ebony Rhino

Ebony Rhino carves its niche in the realm of beefy artifact creatures in MTG. Boasting a robust 4/5 stat line, this behemoth mirrors the characteristics of fellow artifact creature Traxos, Scourge of Kroog which also promises an imposing presence with its 7/7 stats. However, Traxos requires specific conditions to be met before it can shed its state of dormancy each turn.

Contrasting with Ebony Rhino, we discover the likes of Steel Golem which stands as an easier-to-cast artifact creature with a 3/4 body. Even though less formidable, Steel Golem restricts its controller from playing creature spells, unlike the Rhino that carries no such limitations. Also sharing the battlefield with Ebony Rhino is Phyrexian Colossus, another artifact giant with the downside of life payment for its untapping, posing a significant contrast to the Rhino’s more straightforward playability.

Despite these differences, Ebony Rhino serves as a reliable and straightforward choice for those looking to fortify their defenses with a creature that can consistently be called upon without restrictive conditions. Its uncomplicated nature often makes it a stable play in decks valuing resilience over intricate synergies.

Traxos, Scourge of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Steel Golem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Traxos, Scourge of Kroog - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Steel Golem - Weatherlight (WTH)
Phyrexian Colossus - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Ebony Rhino by color, type and mana cost

Mishra's War Machine - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Machine - MTG Card versions
Mirror Mirror - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Lotus Guardian - MTG Card versions
Wondrous Crucible - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Chromatic Orrery - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Dragon - MTG Card versions
Pentavus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Death-Mask Duplicant - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Lancer - MTG Card versions
Solarion - MTG Card versions
Triskelavus - MTG Card versions
Platinum Angel - MTG Card versions
Sphinx-Bone Wand - MTG Card versions
Myr Battlesphere - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Memorial - MTG Card versions
Aether Searcher - MTG Card versions
Mishra's War Machine - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Diabolic Machine - Renaissance (REN)
Mirror Mirror - Unglued (UGL)
Phyrexian Colossus - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Lotus Guardian - Invasion (INV)
Wondrous Crucible - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Myr Enforcer - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Chromatic Orrery - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Clockwork Dragon - Mirrodin (MRD)
Pentavus - The List (PLST)
Darksteel Gargoyle - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
Death-Mask Duplicant - Darksteel (DST)
Arcbound Lancer - Darksteel (DST)
Solarion - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Triskelavus - Time Spiral (TSP)
Platinum Angel - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Sphinx-Bone Wand - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Myr Battlesphere - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Akroma's Memorial - The List (PLST)
Aether Searcher - Conspiracy (CNS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ebony Rhino MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition IV, 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 Ebony Rhino and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ebony Rhino Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Amy Weber.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-10-01HomelandsHML 1061993normalblackAmy Weber
22011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1991997normalblackAmy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ebony Rhino has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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