Erg Raiders MTG Card


Erg Raiders pushes early aggression, demanding a fast response from the opponent or risking game tempo. While powerful early, its discard effect can become a liability if not attacking, limiting flexibility. Suited for specific decks, Erg Raiders requires careful planning around its mana cost and attack requirement.
Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

If you do not attack with Raiders, they do 2 damage to you at end of turn. Raiders do no damage to you during the turn in which they are summoned.


Cards like Erg Raiders

Erg Raiders, a classic from the earlier sets of Magic: The Gathering, is known for its aggressive nature within black creature cards. Similar to Erg Raiders, cards like Blighted Bat offer additional abilities, such as granting haste for a mana cost, potentially accelerating the offensive. However, Erg Raiders has an upkeep downside that demands you attack each turn or pay a life penalty. This is a unique aspect not seen in many similar low-cost creatures.

Drudge Skeletons could also be considered in the same category, providing resilience through its regeneration ability. Although not directly aggressive, it presents an enduring presence on the board unlike the conditional requirement tied to Erg Raiders. Looking at another comparable card, Dauthi Slayer boasts shadow, ensuring it’s unblockable by creatures without the same ability. While it shares the mandatory attack clause with Erg Raiders, the Dauthi Slayer typically has free reign over whom it can damage.

Deciding which card to include in a deck depends on the intended strategy. Erg Raiders perfectly fits into decks that valorize relentless pressure and are designed to overpower opponents quickly, whereas others may prefer the varied utilities of similar cost cards.

Blighted Bat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Slayer - MTG Card versions
Blighted Bat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Slayer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Erg Raiders by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Erg Raiders offers an efficient way to maintain pressure on your opponent without sacrificing card economy. This makes it valuable in decks that require persistent board presence to disrupt an opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: This card aligns with aggressive strategies that seek to outpace the opponent. By presenting a relentless offensive, it forces opponents to deal with it swiftly, potentially diverting resources away from their own game plan acceleration.

Instant Speed: While Erg Raiders does not operate at instant speed, it embodies the philosophy of an aggressive strategy that doesn’t need to wait. It compels immediate responses and keeps the tempo swift, fitting seamlessly into a well-tuned aggressive deck that prizes board state over instant-speed interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Erg Raiders is its end-of-turn effect which requires you to discard a card if it didn’t attack. This can be a significant disadvantage as it pressures you to commit to potentially unfavorable attacks or face the penalty.

Specific Mana Cost: Erg Raiders demands a specific combination of one black mana and one colorless mana, restricting it to black-centric or two-color decks that can consistently produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only two mana might seem low, the competitive landscape of MTG includes numerous two-mana creatures with favorable abilities without drawbacks. This makes Erg Raiders less attractive when deckbuilding.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Erg Raiders may not be the newest card on the block, but it’s a classic that fits effortlessly into aggressive black decks looking to apply early pressure. Its 2/3 stats for a low mana cost make it a formidable presence in the early game.

Combo Potential: This card holds significant potential when combined with cards that capitalize on creature damage, such as those leveraging the “Raid” mechanic. It enriches strategies where your goal is to keep the opponent on the backfoot while developing your board.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where early tempo is crucial, Erg Raiders claims a spot by being a consistent damage-dealer that can challenge control decks to have an answer by turn two. Moreover, its modest mana cost aligns well with low-curve, fast-paced decks that dominate certain meta environments.


How to beat

Erg Raiders is a card that many Magic: The Gathering players will recognize for its presence in older formats. This card comes with the unique downside of dealing damage to you during the turns it doesn’t attack. The key to overcoming Erg Raiders lies in preventing it from attacking without using resources that could be better spent on larger threats.

One effective strategy is employing cheap, defensive creatures that can block Erg Raiders efficiently. By doing so, you stave off the damage it could deal to you and force your opponent to consider the risks of attacking. Cards like Wall of Omens or Augur of Bolas serve this purpose well while also providing additional value through card draw or card selection.

Another tactic is utilizing removal spells or effects that don’t necessarily destroy the creature but neutralize the threat it poses. Pacifism or similar enchantments are excellent for this, as Erg Raiders will still be forced to attack each turn but will be unable to complete the attack due to the enchantment’s restrictions, thus not triggering its damaging ability.

In essence, when facing down Erg Raiders, the goal is to nullify its damage-dealing ability without unnecessarily depleting your own resources. By carefully selecting your defenses and control elements, you can easily mitigate the threat Erg Raiders presents and maintain a solid position in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Erg Raiders MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Arabian Nights, 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 Erg Raiders and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Erg Raiders Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 25†1993NormalBlackDameon Willich
21993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 251993NormalBlackDameon Willich
31994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1091993NormalBlackDameon Willich
41994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1091993NormalWhiteDameon Willich
51994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1091993NormalWhiteDameon Willich
61995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1351993NormalBlackDameon Willich
71995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1351993NormalWhiteDameon Willich
81997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1581997NormalWhiteStuart Griffin
92007-09-10Masters EditionME1 681997NormalBlackDameon Willich
102018-03-16Masters 25A25 902015NormalBlackKev Walker
112019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6472015NormalBlackKev Walker
122020-09-26The ListPLST A25-902015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Erg Raiders has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-03-16 A creature “comes under your control” if it enters the battlefield under your control or if you gain control of it while it’s already on the battlefield.