Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

Why collectors notice it

It was one of the most talked-about cards of its release. Collectors also notice the alternative art versions printed in the set.

It shows how Magic now designs sets for different groups of players. Read more about Modern Horizons 2.

A closer look

Reading this card

Start with the word Legendary. A legendary creature is a named character, and the type line on this card also lists the subtypes Monkey and Pirate. It is Red, so the color pie says to expect speed and aggression.

The featured print is a Mythic Rare. That tier arrived in 2008 with Shards of Alara and is used for the most striking cards in a set. In Modern Horizons 2, the audience is experienced players, so many cards are built to work in non-rotating formats, where older cards remain playable. That helps explain why a creature like this one is designed for a strong early game. If you are new, compare it with Lightning Bolt, another red card, to see how the color's love of speed shows up in a spell and in a creature.

The ability to watch is dash. Cast this way, the creature has haste, which means it can attack right away, and it returns to your hand at the end of the turn. That reduces the risk that removal will catch it on your opponent's turn. It suits the aggressive style our archetype pages describe: cheap creatures and direct damage.

How it compares

Fury is from the same set and also Red, and it is also a Mythic Rare. The difference is in the alternate way to cast it: Fury uses evoke for a one-shot effect, while Ragavan uses dash for repeated attacks.

The Dash page explains the keyword in more detail.

Questions readers ask

Why do collectors mention alternative art?

The set printed alternative art versions, so there is more than one look to find.

What does it cost?

This site does not give prices.

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