Ramos, Dragon Engine MTG Card


Ramos can rapidly ramp mana—transforming spells into a colorful mana pool and spurring card draw. Requires managing a diverse mana base—challenging for decks without multi-color support systems. Despite its higher cost, Ramos’ versatility and combo potential make it a compelling deck inclusion.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Artifact Creature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast a spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Ramos, Dragon Engine for each of that spell's colors. Remove five +1/+1 counters from Ramos: Add . Activate only once each turn.


Cards like Ramos, Dragon Engine

Ramos, Dragon Engine is a dynamic artifact creature within MTG, presenting players with a potent source of mana acceleration and fixing. In comparison, there are other powerhouse mana engines, such as Golos, Tireless Pilgrim, which is known for not only fetch a land upon entering the battlefield but also providing a varied mana ability. Unlike Ramos, Golos’s ability doesn’t rely on casting spells, but the casting cost of spells from the top of the deck for free is comparable to the varied mana generated by Ramos after placing five counters on it from cast spells.

Another contender with synergies in deck building is Progenitus. While Progenitus doesn’t provide mana or have an engine effect like Ramos, both cards share the five-color identity that appeals to players seeking to build around a WUBRG (White, Blue, Black, Red, Green) theme or activate abilities. Where Progenitus boasts protection from everything, Ramos offers a more interactive playstyle with a built-in growth mechanic and mana production.

Ultimately, Ramos, Dragon Engine stands out with its unique blend of characteristics in MTG, combining mana generation, versatility, and an interactive strategy that is both challenging and rewarding for players.

Golos, Tireless Pilgrim - MTG Card versions
Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim - MTG Card versions
Progenitus - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ramos, Dragon Engine is a powerhouse when it comes to generating card advantage. Every time you cast a spell, you’re bulking up Ramos with +1/+1 counters. Once per turn, you can remove those counters to add a staggering amount of mana to your pool, funneling this into drawing more cards and outpacing your competition.

Resource Acceleration: This legendary artifact dragon excels at ramping up your resources. By converting its counters to mana of any color, Ramos can significantly accelerate your game plan, empowering you to unload powerful spells earlier than usual and flexibly manage your mana needs.

Instant Speed: While Ramos itself may not operate at instant speed, the mana it generates can be used at any time. This flexibility allows savvy players to react swiftly on an opponent’s turn, using the mana for instant speed interaction or to deploy threats at the most opportune time.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ramos, Dragon Engine does not directly impose a discard requirement, it may indirectly lead to discarding cards in order to activate its ability. This could deplete valuable hand resources, especially in decks that lack card draw capabilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Ramos, Dragon Engine requires a diverse mana base to fully utilize its ability, as it asks for a myriad of colors to grant the +1/+1 counters. This can prove challenging in decks that are not geared towards multi-color support.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of six, Ramos, Dragon Engine may arrive on the battlefield later than some might prefer. This high mana investment can sometimes result in a setback if the board state demands earlier interaction or pressure against opponents.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ramos, Dragon Engine is a highly adaptable card, capable of fitting into numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to generate mana of any color makes it a valuable asset in multicolored decks, giving players the flexibility to cast a wide array of spells.

Combo Potential: This legendary artifact creature excels at enabling combos due to its ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters and convert them into a rainbow of mana. This capacity for explosive plays can often lead to game-winning turns when paired with the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-changing landscape of competitive play, Ramos, Dragon Engine remains relevant as it can adapt to various meta shifts. Its very presence can shape gameplay, making it a smart choice for players looking to stay competitive.


How to beat

Ramos, Dragon Engine is a formidable commander in Magic: The Gathering with a unique ability to ramp mana and grow in power. Tackling this artifact creature can present a challenge due to its capacity to generate a burst of mana of any color, paving the way for game-swinging plays. Understanding its strengths is the first step to effectively neutralize its impact on the game.

To counter Ramos, consider using artifact removal spells that can bypass its colors, such as Fragmentize or Naturalize. These can help you dismantle Ramos before it transforms unrealized potential into a crushing defeat. Board wipes are another robust solution, wiping out multiple threats including Ramos without targeting it directly, dodging any protective measures your opponent may have in place. Cards like Wrath of God and Damnation are key examples. Additionally, exile effects like Path to Exile provide a clean answer to Ramos, ensuring it doesn’t return from the graveyard to terrorize the battlefield once more.

Being prepared for the explosive turns Ramos can produce is crucial. Adjust your deck with a mix of targeted removal, board control, and graveyard disruption to ensure that when Ramos, Dragon Engine roars onto the field, you have the tools to silence it.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ramos, Dragon Engine MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Treasure Chest, 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 Ramos, Dragon Engine and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ramos, Dragon Engine Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 862122015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 657492015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 552015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5452015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
52022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 471997NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
62022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 110z1997NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
72022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 1101997NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
82022-11-18The Brothers' War Art SeriesABRO 742015Art seriesBorderlessJoseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ramos, Dragon Engine has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-11-10 If you cast a colorless spell, Ramos's triggered ability triggers, but it won't get any +1/+1 counters.
2020-11-10 Ramos's triggered ability counts the number of colors a spell has (from zero to five), not how many colored mana symbols are there in its mana cost or how many colors of mana you spent.
2020-11-10 Ramos's triggered ability doesn't trigger until you've finished casting a spell, including paying all of its costs. If Ramos has fewer than five +1/+1 counters on it, there's no way to add counters with a spell and pay for that spell with the newly-added counters.
2020-11-10 Ramos's triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered. If that spell is countered, use its last known information to determine what colors it was.