Rancor MTG Card


Rancor generates card advantage by returning to your hand from the graveyard after a creature dies. It grants tactical acceleration, empowering creatures with +2/+0 and trample to pressure opponents. Despite its strengths, Rancor’s green mana requirement and potential for disruptive recursion must be weighed.
Card setsReleased in 18 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchanted creature gains +2/+0 and trample. When Rancor is put into a graveyard from play, return Rancor to owner's hand.

Hatred outlives the hateful.


Cards like Rancor

Rancor is a well-known Aura in Magic: The Gathering, recognized for its enduring presence and the substantial power boost it provides. What makes it unique is its resilience, returning to a player’s hand when sent to the graveyard from the battlefield. Comparable cards include Unflinching Courage, which also grants a creature a stat boost and lifelink, and Armadillo Cloak, which has similar abilities but without the returning mechanic that Rancor boasts.

Another card that mirrors the trample granting ability of Rancor is Gryff’s Boon. While Gryff’s Boon offers flight, Rancor strictly sticks to the ground game with trample. Both share the returning ability, yet Gryff’s Boon requires additional mana for its return to play, whereas Rancor does so automatically. This exemplifies Rancor’s efficiency in recycling itself without extra mana investment.

In sum, Rancor’s unique blend of power enhancement, trample, and its self-recurring ability places it in a league of its own compared to other Aura spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its low cost and self-recovering nature provide unparalleled value that has solidified it as a staple in many aggressive decks.

Unflinching Courage - MTG Card versions
Armadillo Cloak - MTG Card versions
Gryff's Boon - MTG Card versions
Unflinching Courage - MTG Card versions
Armadillo Cloak - MTG Card versions
Gryff's Boon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rancor by color, type and mana cost

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Web - MTG Card versions
Living Artifact - MTG Card versions
Fastbond - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions
Instill Energy - MTG Card versions
Cocoon - MTG Card versions
Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Elven Fortress - MTG Card versions
Earthlore - MTG Card versions
Revelation - MTG Card versions
Carapace - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Woods - MTG Card versions
Mortal Wound - MTG Card versions
Spider Climb - MTG Card versions
Elephant Grass - MTG Card versions
Storm Front - MTG Card versions
Bequeathal - MTG Card versions
Elven Palisade - MTG Card versions
Predatory Hunger - MTG Card versions
Hidden Spider - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Rancor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BoglesBogles PauperBoglesPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-21
Mono-Green AggroMono-Green Aggro PauperMono-Green AggroPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Even though Rancor doesn’t allow you to draw additional cards directly, its ability to return to your hand from the graveyard when the enchanted creature dies creates inherent card advantage. You can repeatedly use one card for a consistent effect, which improves your game’s longevity.

Resource Acceleration: Rancor may not produce mana or increase your resources in the traditional sense, but by enhancing a creature with +2/+0 and trample, it accelerates your ability to deal damage and potentially end the game quicker. This kind of tactical acceleration puts pressure on your opponent and forces them to respond.

Instant Speed: While Rancor itself is an Aura enchantment cast at sorcery speed, its ongoing impact on the game functions at an ‘instant’ level. Once on the battlefield, it can be reused after the enchanted creature’s demise, allowing for swift redeployment in your next main phase. This flexibility lets you adapt to changing board states promptly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike many auras that remain in the graveyard after use, Rancor has a tendency to return to a player’s hand, potentially causing a missed opportunity for strategic discards that benefit graveyard mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Rancor requires green mana, which may not suit all deck themes, limiting its application to mainly green or green-inclusive decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its cost is only a single green mana, which seems low, Rancor can sometimes be a tempo setback in hyper-aggressive decks that could otherwise deploy multiple threats.


Reasons to Include Rancor in Your Collection

Versatility: Rancor brings exceptional flexibility to green decks, easily returning to hand after the enchanted creature dies, allowing it to be reused to give another creature a persistent threat with its power boost and trample ability.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with sacrificial and creature-based strategies, enhancing the power of small creatures or turning them into formidable threats that can repeatedly punch through defenses.

Meta-Relevance: As aggressive strategies often dominate the field, Rancor’s low casting cost and buffing capabilities ensure it stays relevant in various competitive formats, empowering creature-heavy decks to overcome blockers and press for victory.


How to beat Rancor

Rancor presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its notable ability to return to a player’s hand once the creature it’s attached to dies. This resilience makes it a recurring threat that can rapidly enhance any creature, giving them a significant boost with its trample ability. Countering the effectiveness of Rancor revolves around timing and strategic play. It’s vital to dispose of it while it’s in the graveyard and before it bounces back, using timely removal spells like Scavenging Ooze or cards with graveyard sweeping abilities to ensure its effects are mitigated.

Another tactic to consider is focusing on creature control. Since Rancor needs a creature to latch onto, sweeps or spot removal like Doom Blade can disrupt your opponent’s board before Rancor has a target to empower. Also noteworthy is the employment of cards with hexproof or shroud to limit targeting by auras, sidestepping Rancor’s influence altogether. It’s essential to remember the cardinal rule when facing any threat: anticipation and preparedness can tilt the scales to your favor in MTG. With Rancor, hindering its recursion is the key to diminishing its formidable presence on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Rancor in MTG play can significantly influence your game strategy. This enchanting Aura has solidified its reputation by offering relentless power and a trample effect that repeatedly pressures your opponents. By masterfully incorporating Rancor into your arsenal, you create a cycle of resourcefulness and power boost that rivals can’t ignore. Compounded with its capability to self-recycle, it’s a gem no green deck should forgo. Dive deeper into the tactics and deck synergies that can maximize Rancor’s potential in our comprehensive guide. Elevate your gameplay and consistently outmaneuver opponents—let us show you how.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rancor MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Rancor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rancor Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 1101997NormalBlackKev Walker
21999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 ml1101997NormalGoldKev Walker
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 351122003NormalBlackKev Walker
42010-06-18ArchenemyARC 672003NormalBlackKev Walker
52012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 762003NormalBlackKev Walker
62012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1852003NormalBlackKev Walker
72014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 152015NormalBlackKev Walker
82015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 852015NormalBlackKev Walker
92016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1802015NormalBlackKev Walker
102016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 762015NormalBlackKev Walker
112017-11-24Explorers of IxalanE02 352015NormalBlackKev Walker
122018-03-16Masters 25A25 1862015NormalBlackKev Walker
132019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13042015NormalBlackKev Walker
142020-09-26The ListPLST A25-1862015NormalBlackKev Walker
152021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1672015NormalBlackKev Walker
162022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1562015NormalBlackKev Walker
172024-03-08FalloutPIP 2052015NormalBlackAndrea Piparo
182024-03-08FalloutPIP 7332015NormalBlackAndrea Piparo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rancor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rancor 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 If the creature this Aura would enchant is an illegal target by the time Rancor tries to resolve, the Aura spell doesn't resolve. It won't enter the battlefield, so it won't be put into a graveyard from the battlefield and its ability won't trigger.