Ravages of War MTG Card


Ravages of War can offer a strategic edge by resetting the land bases of all players during your turn. It has potential to function as a resource acceleration tool, especially with mana-generating artifacts and creatures. Although it has a precise mana cost and slow play, it can significantly disrupt opponent strategies when timed right.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy all lands. (This includes your lands.)

"Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed. Lean years follow in the wake of a great war." —Lao Tzu, *Tao Te Ching* (trans. Feng and English)


Cards like Ravages of War

Ravages of War stands as a powerful strategic tool within the arsenal of land destruction cards in Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors the effects of the iconic Armageddon, which also devastates the battlefield by destroying all lands. Ravages of War shares the same mana cost and effect, making it a functional reprint often sought after for its scarcity and presence in the Portal Three Kingdoms set.

Comparable to these is Catastrophe, another card that paves its way into this space with a dual mode – destroy either all creatures or all lands. While offering flexibility, it carries a heftier mana cost. Cataclysm is another notable card, forcing a ruthless reset by allowing players to keep only one creature, one land, and one artifact. The sweeping effect of Ravages of War and Armageddon can be mirrored to an extent by Doomwake Giant’s constellation ability, which can lead to a gradual attrition of your opponent’s board but doesn’t touch the lands.

The impact of a card like Ravages of War in a player’s deck can be game-changing due to the way it can completely alter the state of the game, stalling opponents and seizing the opportunity for victory.

Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Catastrophe - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions
Doomwake Giant - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Catastrophe - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions
Doomwake Giant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ravages of War by color, type and mana cost

Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Resurrection - MTG Card versions
Cleanse - MTG Card versions
Breath of Life - MTG Card versions
Vengeance - MTG Card versions
False Defeat - MTG Card versions
Gerrard's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Decree of Justice - MTG Card versions
Presence of the Wise - MTG Card versions
Retether - MTG Card versions
Windborne Charge - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Excoriate - MTG Card versions
Battle Screech - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions
Great Teacher's Decree - MTG Card versions
Dawn to Dusk - MTG Card versions
Spectral Reserves - MTG Card versions
Refurbish - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Resurrection - MTG Card versions
Cleanse - MTG Card versions
Breath of Life - MTG Card versions
Vengeance - MTG Card versions
False Defeat - MTG Card versions
Gerrard's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Decree of Justice - MTG Card versions
Presence of the Wise - MTG Card versions
Retether - MTG Card versions
Windborne Charge - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Excoriate - MTG Card versions
Battle Screech - MTG Card versions
Cataclysm - MTG Card versions
Great Teacher's Decree - MTG Card versions
Dawn to Dusk - MTG Card versions
Spectral Reserves - MTG Card versions
Refurbish - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Ravages of War doesn’t draw cards, it offers a strategic advantage by decimating all players’ lands. This can translate into a major lead if you can recover your land base faster than your opponents or are positioned to capitalize on a less crowded battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Despite this card not directly accelerating resources, its power lies in setting everyone back, giving you an opening to pull ahead if you’ve planned around having fewer lands. For instance, playing land-heavy strategies or utilizing artifacts and creatures that produce mana can turn Ravages of War into a pseudo acceleration tool for you.

Instant Speed: Operating at sorcery speed ensures that while you won’t surprise opponents during their turn, the timing of Ravages of War can be meticulously planned to your advantage. You control when the reset button is hit on lands, allowing for calculated plays that align with winning strategies especially beneficial if you are leading in resources or possess a board state that is less reliant on land-based mana.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Ravages of War demands a precise combination of mana for casting. Tapping into a full playset of mana with one color can prove challenging, especially in a multicolor deck that may not always have the right sources available at the crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that requires three colorless and one white mana, Ravages of War is a significant investment during a game. There are alternative cards that can disrupt opponents’ lands at a lower cost, potentially allowing for a more flexible and faster gameplay strategy.

Discard Requirement: While Ravages of War doesn’t have a discard requirement, its mana cost and impact on the board can leave players at a strategic disadvantage. Utilizing this card may require sacrifices in other areas of play, either by holding back mana resources or by not developing the board as aggressively in anticipation of its casting.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ravages of War fits into numerous deck types, particularly those looking to control the board by resetting everyone’s land-base. It can swing games in your favor by decimating opponents’ resources while you maintain an advantage.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with land recursion strategies or decks that benefit from having fewer lands in play, allowing you to capitalize on the state of an empty board while recovering your own resources or advancing your board state.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where land-heavy or ramp decks are dominant, introducing Ravages of War disrupts those strategies significantly. Players building their decks around land accumulation will find this card a considerable threat, making it a strategic inclusion in many metagame contexts.


How to beat

Ravages of War is a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering that can be daunting to face on the battlefield. This card is known for its devastating effect of destroying all lands, which resets the mana base for each player and can drastically alter the course of the game. To effectively counteract this, one strategy is to focus on land regeneration abilities or indestructible lands that withstand the card’s impact. Cards like Crucible of Worlds which allows you to play lands from your graveyard, or having a robust mana rock suite can keep your gameplay uninterrupted. Running enchantments that produce mana or creatures that tap for mana can also ensure that you maintain a lead even after a Ravages of War has resolved.

Another approach to beating Ravages of War is through playing at instant speed, casting spells and establishing a board presence before your lands are targeted. Deck types that rely less on lands and more on alternate casting methods or creatures with mana abilities may find it easier to recover from this disruption. Additionally, keeping hand size large with card draw spells ensures that even after lands are destroyed, you have plenty of options for play. The key is to adapt your strategy and have a recovery plan for post-Ravages of War’s resolution.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ravages of War MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Magic Online Promos, 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 Ravages of War and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ravages of War Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-05-01Portal Three KingdomsPTK 171997NormalWhiteFang Yue
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 558642015NormalBlackFang Yue
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 271997NormalBlackFang Yue
42024-03-08FalloutPIP 3542015NormalBorderlessAKQA
52024-03-08FalloutPIP 8822015NormalBlackAKQA

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ravages of War has restrictions

FormatLegality
PredhLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal